Alan Kent Akiyama, Reed College graduate of the class of 1982, has established a scholarship in memory of his parents, Dr. Henry I. Akiyama, Reed Class of 1953 and Grace T. Ebihara Akiyama Reed Class of 1950. The scholarship will be awarded to a Reed student with demonstrated financial need, who is studying pre-med or biology and comes from the Pacific Northwest, with first preference going to residents of Juneau, then other Southeast Alaska towns.
The Akiyamas met at Reed and were married while Henry was still enrolled. The family moved to Juneau in 1961, after Henry graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School and completed his residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Henry worked at the Juneau Medical Clinic for several years before starting his own private practice focused on internal medicine and cardiology. Grace’s lifelong passion for music led to the establishment of a scholarship in her name for the Juneau Alaska Youth Choir.
The Akiyama family was instrumental in establishing and promoting quality health care in Juneau for decades. In addition to Henry’s involvement in establishing a Medic One/ EMT CPR program, and a coronary care unit in Juneau. Grace was the president of the Alaska Lung Association and representative on the National American Lung Association board. The establishment of the Akiyama scholarship continues their longstanding dedication to health and wellness as well as the belief in Reed’s model of education.
The scholarship will be awarded to a Reed student who meets the scholarship criteria and has demonstrated financial need.
