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Issue date: 5/29/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Shayla Durrett Yoshito Kawahara spent time with Constance Carroll, Chancelor of the San Diego Comm. College District, at his retirement party.

Mesa Psychology Professor, Yoshito Kawahara has survived life in an internment camp,
received two national honors and has dedicated much of his time to the community, but he's
most proud of his 32 years of teaching at Mesa College.
Kawahara was chosen by his alma mater, Indiana University, to receive a national award and
recognition for his work in the Asian American Psychological Association, the Asian American
community and his research on culturally based values.
"To receive a distinguished alumni award from Indiana University was almost overwhelming,"
said Kawahara. "It was quite awe-inspiring for me to go back to Indiana University, a place that
was awe-inspiring for me when I was there as a graduate student."
He had a chance to meet with some of his former professors and friends that were still in Indiana.
"It was an experience that I think went beyond my fondest expectations in terms of making a real connection to my past," Kawahara said.
The award was given to him by the Asian Alumni Association, Asian Cultural Center, and a group of Asian American student associations at Indiana University that felt a need to recognize one of their own.
Kawahara's colleagues in the AAPA heard about the award and they nominated Kawahara and wrote several letters of recommendations for him.
"My friends and colleagues all told me that I was an important and historical figure for the AAPA and that they were very happy that I was being recognized by my university," said Kawahara.
At the ceremony Kawahara spoke about his time at Indiana University and how grateful he is to have gotten such a prestigious education. He also spoke about his time in an internment camp and his achievements.
"This shows that the opportunities for achievement, and to be honored for these achievements, are still a part of this country," said Kawahara. "This country has always been known as a land of opportunity and I certainly thought of myself within that same vein, going from a concentration (internment) camp to being honored with a distinguished alumni award."

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