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Follow on Google News | Woodbury University Bestows Honorary Degree on Fashion Design Student from Class of '42Her Studies Interrupted by War, Sadako Alison Yamanaka (Watanabe) Awarded BFA, Realizing Lifelong Dream; Degree Presented During Ceremony at State Capitol
For Woodbury University (http://www.woodbury.edu) Alison Watanabe left her home on Maui to enter Woodbury College in September 1940, majoring in Executive Fashion Arts. In the wake of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, she made the decision to leave California and move to Colorado. Alison was just six months shy of graduating, but, owing to the disruption of the war, never earned her degree. “I am so grateful to Woodbury University for presenting me the diploma, which I was unable to obtain due to World War II,”Mrs. Yamanaka said. “I really never expected to receive anything once the events after December 1941 took place. What a special honor this is, beyond anything I dreamt. My granddaughter Cheryl began pursuing this without me knowing. It has taken me by surprise and I can’t express my gratitude enough to everyone involved. At my age, I simply try to keep life quiet and appreciate the nicer things that happen.” “I knew it as Woodbury College back in the ‘40s but they have always had such marvelous faculty and leadership,” “Sadako made the bold decision to leave the familiar comforts of her Maui home to advance her education and fulfill her dreams,” said Rep. Souki. “Her remarkable determination to pursue her education and her dedication to family is what we are celebrating today. I am proud that we share two special things in common: we are both from Maui and attended Woodbury University in California. I would like to congratulate Alison and her family, and thank Woodbury University for recognizing her accomplishments.” “On behalf of my daughter and our entire family, we are extremely grateful to the university for making this happen,” said Bill Yamanaka, her son, who described editing and publishing three short booklets based on her informal recollections: “A member of the Nisei community of second-generation Japanese-Americans whose lives were disrupted during World War II, Alison has shown tremendous perseverance,” About Woodbury University Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. Woodbury offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture, School of Business, School of Media, Culture & Design, and College of Transdisciplinarity, along with a Master of Arts (MA) in Media for Social Justice, Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Interior Architecture (MIA), Master of Science in Architecture (MSArch), and Master of Leadership. The San Diego campus offers Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees, as well as an MSArch degree with concentrations in Real Estate Development and Landscape + Urbanism. Woodbury ranks 15th among the nation’s “25 Colleges That Add the Most Value,” according to Money Magazine. Visit www.woodbury.edu for more information. Media Contact: Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. (323) 469-3397 ken@edgecommunicationsinc.com End
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