About Thomas I. Yamashita
Thomas Isao Yamashita was an undergraduate student in civil engineering at the University of California at Berkeley and a member of the class of 1942. He was one of the first Asian Americans elected to two of the University of California’s honor societies—Winged Helmet and the Order of the Golden Bear. The internment of Americans of Japanese descent on the West Coast of the United States in 1942 made it impossible for him to graduate from Berkeley. He eventually received his engineering degree from the University of Nebraska. Even so, Tom supported and cherished the University of California at Berkeley and was a life member of the Alumni Association.
As a civil engineer, Tom spent the majority of his career in Hong Kong. His work did not involve building the structures that typify its landscape. His work was unseen, focusing on foundations, on solving the complex engineering problems that enable steel and glass towers to be built. His work made possible the transportation corridors that allowed the city to become a regional economic hub. Through his leadership, Tom developed new construction techniques that altered the practice of building. His work changed the city’s landscape. In this spirit of engineering the foundations of change, the FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: Thomas I. Yamashita Prize is housed at the Institute for the Study of Social Change. This award of $2,500 supports transformative work that alters the social landscape, often in subtle and previously unappreciated ways.
About the FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: Thomas I. Yamashita Prize
The FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: Thomas I. Yamashita Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding young social change activist in Northern California. The award of $2,500 honors a person whose work transforms the existing social landscape and serves as a bridge between the academy and the community. An awardee helps to build the capacity of community-based organizations and social movements to confront pressing issues by applying her/his academic expertise. Simultaneously, she/he enriches academic scholarship by sharing the insights and knowledge produced from community engagement with the broader academic community. The award is not limited to students, but an honoree's work should reflect a commitment to strengthening ties between the academy and the community.
The FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: Thomas I. Yamashita Prize uses a nomination system, where someone other than the nominee identifies the nominee, their contributions, and the kind of expertise they bring to understanding how change works.
Contribute to FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: The Thomas I. Yamashita Prize.
Read about the 2009 Yamashita Prize winner and honorable mentions.
Read about the 2008 Yamashita Prize winner and honorable mentions.
Read about the 2007 Yamashita Prize winner and honorable mention.
Download a FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: Thomas I. Yamashita Prize Nomination Form.
Nomination due date Monday, March 2, 2009
Please send nomination forms and supporting materials to:
FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: The Thomas I. Yamashita Prize
Institute for the Study of Social Change
University of California
2420 Bowditch Street, MC 5670
Berkeley, CA 94720-5670
Yamashita Prize Announcement
The Prize will be announced within four to six weeks after the deadline date. An award ceremony will be held in the spring.
Please direct your questions about the Prize and the nomination process to Dr. Christine Trost, ctrost@berkeley.edu, (510) 643-7237.