In early 1942, in the midst of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, forcibly removing people of Japanese ancestry from their homes on the United States’ West Coast. Some 120,000 individuals were interned at camps around the country. More than 2,500 of these were students at California’s public colleges and universities.

Now, nearly 70 years later, the State of California and its colleges and universities, including SCCCD, are officially recognizing these former students whose education was disrupted or cut short by their internment. State Assembly Bill (AB 37) was enacted for this purpose, establishing the Nisei College Diploma Project. The term Nisei refers to a person born in the U.S. or Canada whose parents were immigrants from Japan: from the Japanese, literally “second generation.”

“Our hope is that this honor will offer Nisei an opportunity for healing…”—Paul Osaki
Executive Director
Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California

The Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) is coordinating the project. Executive Director Paul Osaki explains further: “The JCCCNC California Nisei College Diploma Project is available to help make the process as simple as possible. Our hope is that this honor will offer Nisei an opportunity for healing from this grave injustice and the loss of critical educational years during their youth.”

Following the lead of the University of California, Berkeley—which bestowed honorary diplomas to 42 former students in December—SCCCD will present honorary degrees to all Japanese Americans who were students during World War II and had their education disrupted by incarceration in internment camps. Nisei students attending Fresno City College or Reedley College in 1941 or 1942 are eligible to receive the honorary degree. Families of eligible individuals who are now deceased may apply on behalf of their relatives to accept the honorary degree.

Identifying potential honorees

The colleges need your assistance in identifying potential honorees. If you know of any potential recipients, contact Deborah Ikeda at 559-325-5214 or email deborah.ikeda@scccd.edu. The colleges will validate the honoree’s attendance and contact the family regarding the ceremony. Please provide potential honoree’s first and last name, date of birth, and any other names he or she may have used (e.g., maiden name). In addition, please provide contact information including your name, telephone number with area code, street address and email.

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