South Bay JACL Scholarship Recipients

ERNEST K. TSUJIMOTO SCHOLARSHIP

Ernie Tsujimoto, one of the founders of the South Bay Japanese American Citizen League Chapter passed away on May 12, 2017. As one of the founders of the South Bay JACL, Ernie spent many, many hours volunteering for many of the activities that the SBJACL held. Most recently, Ernie was on the Planning Committee for the TANOSHII Fun Camp, Japanese American youth cultural education camp for elementary aged students held at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.

Ernie Tsujimoto was born in Toole, Utah, a small town outside of Salt Lake City, Utah in March 1935. He was the middle of three boys growing up in Utah. In 1948 the family moved to East Los Angeles where Ernie attended and graduated from Hollenback Junior High School, Roosevelt High School and Los Angeles City College where he majored in Electronics.

After college, Ernie worked for Rutherford Electronic in Culver City, California for several years. After that he started his own business with two friends. The company was first called Advanced Automation and later renamed Tri-Phoenix. The company ended when Ernie retired in 2007.

In 2018, after his passing, his family established the Ernest K. Tsujimoto Memorial Scholarship for students planning to attend or be enrolled in a college or university in pursuit of an Undergraduate/Graduate Degree majoring in the STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

ERNEST TSUJIMOTO SCHOLARSHIPRECIPIENT FOR 2026

George Bessho, son of Akihide and Ikue Bessho of Rancho Palos Verdes graduated from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School with many academic achievements including Global Seal of Biliteracy, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, member of California Scholarship Federation , he an AP Scholar and earned First Generation Recognition Award.

George’s on campus activities include being a Member. Of the Physics Team, Captain and Leader of the Solar Engineering Club, Captain of thr Wharton Investment Comp.

George’s off campus activities include being Volunteer Assistant for Nishiyamato Academy, Data Engineer Intern for Nova School AI Internship and a Bible Camp Leader. George is also a Tennis Player for USTA.

George will be attending the University of Southern California in the fall, majoring in Environmental Engineering.

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