UM's Heart Goes Out To Japan

2011 Tōhoku Great East Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami Relief Efforts

Special Announcement:

(March 16, 2012) UM RAISES FUNDS FOR JAPAN RISING OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

The Japanese Student Association at The University of Montana hosted a fundraising dinner March 3 at the First Presbyterian Church in Missoula to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The event raised $3,737 for the Japan Rising Opportunity Scholarship established to assist future UM students from the Tohoku region that was most affected by the disaster.  

Following a speech by the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle, UM students and faculty from the Tohoku region gave personal testimonials and members of the Japanese Student Association performed music and danced. The dinner attracted more than 170 guests and ticket sales revenue support the scholarship fund.

Foreign Student and Scholar Services, International Programs, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center and the Office of Vice President for Student Affairs sponsored the event. The Japanese Student Association and the planning committee thank those who contributed to the dinner and scholarship fund. Additional support came from Betty and Ralph Thisted, Japan Friendship Club of Montana, Japanese Section of the Modern and Classical Language and Literature,and the Missoula International Friendship Program. Click here for the official UM Press Release of 3/15/12.

For more information contact:

Mika Watanabe-Taylor, fundraising dinner co-organizer, 406-243-6535, mika.watanabe-taylor@umontana.edu

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About UM's Efforts

As the world continues reaching out to help those suffering in Japan, UM also expresses our support to the Japanese students at The University of Montana.  In spring 2011, sixty-five Japanese students were part of our community at UM.  All were profoundly affected by the natural disaster in their country.

The University reached out to those students in many ways. For example, the UM Foreign Student Assistance Fund for those needing financial assistance with college expenses and emergency travel to Japan was established.  The donations to this fund in Spring 2011 were impressive. On behalf of the University and those students who applied to utilize those funds, we thank you for your generosity.

Beginning summer 2011, UM is focusing efforts to support future students to UM who are from the most impacted regions in Japan.  To do this we have established a Japan Rising Opportunity Scholarship with the help of the UM Foundation, UM Foreign Student and Scholar Services (FSSS) and others.

Please consider making a contribution to this scholarship so new students may purse their dream of college education here at UM.   You may give online  or mail a check to the UM Foundation, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159. Please designate your gift for UM's Japan Rising Opportunity Scholarship.

Since the days when alumnus Mike Mansfield was U.S. Ambassador to Japan, UM has had a strong connection to the Japanese people. Your support of the Japanese students at UM is one way you can be personally involved in continuing this tradition.