Ogawa Award Honoree: Ryan Brill

The Betty and Hiro Ogawa Award is open for applications! Here is Ryan Brill, the recipient of last year's award, recounting where he came from and where he plans on going in promoting the relationship between these two countries!

The Betty and Hiro Ogawa Award grants two $5,000 scholarships each year to University of Washington students who promote cross-cultural understanding between Japan and the United States through their involvement in FIUTS programs. Here is Ryan Brill, the recipient of last year's award, recounting where he came from and where he plans on going in promoting the relationship between these two countries!

When I was in 3rd grade, shortly after our class had finished reading the tragic story of Sadako Sasaki and her quest to fold 1000 paper cranes, a high school student from Japan visited my elementary school and taught us all how to fold paper cranes. I was fascinated by the process and in the weeks following developed something of a childhood obsession with origami. Later that same year when the opportunity to get involved with the school's pen-pal program arrived, I knew exactly which country I wanted to write to: Japan. This is how my lifelong interest in Japanese culture came to be.

After finishing my BA at Central Washington University, I moved to Seattle in order to find work. In Ellensburg, I had become very close with the international community there on campus, and quickly found the opportunity to connect and make friends with FIUTS. Though at the time I was not a student at UW, I felt welcome to participate as a volunteer and was thoroughly impressed by the variety of the events. FIUTS helped me plug in quickly, and when the opportunity to intern arose, I did not hesitate to apply.

While I had worked at UW for almost 2 years before applying to graduate school, money had remained tight. This award has given me the confidence to put my graduate education in first place on my list of priorities, and has given me a much needed head start on what I hope to be a long and fruitful academic career, as I hope to continue exploring my love and passion for Japanese culture for many years to come.

The Betty and Hiro Ogawa Award is now open for applications. Click here for more information and to apply.