St. Louis JACL

St. Louis JACL member Dr. John Hara passed away in Alton, Illinois on December 26, 2025 at age 93. Dr. Hara served as St. Louis Chapter President in 1969 and served on the St. Louis JACL Board in many additional roles including Speakers Bureau and Historian. Dr. Hara created the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) to address common goals of the Asian Pacific American community including responses to Hate Crimes.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/stltoday/name/john-hara-obituary?id=60434776

Gabriela (Gabi) Senno began her involvement with JACL while studying American Studies at Washington University of St. Louis. As a PhD student in American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, Gabi will explore the understudied postwar connections and relations between Japanese Americans and African Americans.

Gabi will also continue her work in curation and public education to promote greater consciousness about the legacies of the incarceration of Japanese Americans.

Kiera Hosack, a graduate from Eureka High School, is planning to earn a degree in chemistry at the University of Tulsa.

Outside of academics, she plans to actively participate in programs that foster and uplift diverse groups of people. Kiera would like to educate others on LGBTQIA+ culture so that those outside of this community understand and embrace those within it. Kiera is a member of the St. Louis JACL and has worked at the annual Japanese Festival booth.

Ayla Kim, a graduate from Kirkwood High School, is planning to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Child and Family Development at St. Louis Community College at Meramec.

Ayla remains committed to volunteering at the Japanese Festival and staying actively engaged with community members–efforts that reflect her belief that preserving a child’s connection to their heritage is a vital component of social justice and diversity. Ayla is also member of the St. Louis JACL and has worked at the annual Japanese Festival booth.

Presentations of the St. Louis JACL Scholarship awards will be conducted at the St. Louis JACL July 4th Picnic at Vlasis Park at on July 4, 2025. Congratulations to the 2025 St. Louis JACL Scholarship recipients!

Students are welcome to apply to the local St. Louis JACL Scholarship that is separate from National JACL Scholarships starting April 22 until May 31, 2025. Any current or incoming undergraduates or graduate students at any college, trade school or graduate school may qualify. Preferred consideration will be given to students that participate in current or past events with the St. Louis JACL Chapter. However, the applicant does not need to be a member of the St. Louis JACL Chapter. Applicants must be active in issues of diversity, civil rights, and/or social justice. Applicants cannot apply if they have previously received a scholarship from a JACL Chapter.

The link below will take you to the webpage where you may enter in your scholarship application online. Applications must be completed (with recommendation) and submitted by May 31, 2025, midnight Central Time.