San Jose State University Judo
05/17/05 - Mike Swain and SJSU Judo Team Announce New Scholarship
The SJSU Judo Team and Mike Swain are proud to announce the establishment of The Swain Scholarship at San Jose State University. The scholarship is the only Judo scholarship in the country from a major State University and was specifically created to give financial assistance to Judokas who want to pursue their education while furthering their Judo training in an elite Judo program.
The Swain Scholarship is the largest of its kind in the American Judo community and will reduce college costs more any other Judo scholarship offered. It is dedicated to Judokas who want to attend SJSU while realizing their potential as a student-athlete at a major University with over sixty (60) years of developing some of America's greatest Judoka. We encourage parents and young Judokas from across the United States to inquire about the educational opportunities available to them at San Jose State University.
When asked about the scholarship Swain answered, "I am extremely excited that we can now offer a true Judo scholarship at a major university in the United States-- this is a chance to give young kids and parents something they've never seen in Judo before. I know that without the education and Judo experiences I received at San Jose State I would not be where I am today. One of the largest obstacles faced by US Judo is losing our valuable High School athletes to other sports or to colleges that don't have dedicated Judo programs. I believe that education and quality instruction are the keys to building the type of long-term success we have at SJSU. Thanks to the educational philosophy of Yosh Uchida, the founder of SJSU Judo, and our strong alumni support, we have a 95% graduation rate, with many of our alumni going on to become CEO's of major corporations, Congressmen and even a Senator."
The initial funding of $50,000 for The Swain Scholarship was a joint venture between the SJSU Judo Team Executive Committee and Orange County Kodokan Judo Dojo (OCK), located in Cypress, California. It began as a conversation between Mike Swain and Ted Okada in February. Less than three months later, the scholarship program was created with matching donations from SJSU alumni and OCK.
Ted Okada, spokesperson for Orange County Kodokan, said, "The OCK Dojo welcomes the opportunity to work with a world champion and Olympic medallist like Mike Swain. He has not only proven himself to be a winner on the mat, but his devotion to the higher ideals of Judo off the mat make him a role model for all the youth in our sport. OCK is proud to be presented with the Swain Scholarship's Inaugural Commitment to Education Certificate and OCK has committed itself to raising an additional $5000 for the Swain Scholarship over the next five years."
Ted Okada went on to say, "Providing educational opportunities for our children is a cause that all Judo clubs can agree on. The Swain Scholarship at San Jose State University is the best vehicle for achieving that goal. Every Judo club across America should support Mike Swain in his efforts to bring more educational opportunities to our kids."
Donations to The Swain Scholarship are tax-deductible and 100% of all donations go to funding the education of America's Judo youth. To show your Commitment to Education by making a donation or to inquire about how you can assist the scholarship, please call SJSU Judo at (408) 924-3013 or by e-mail at scholarship@sjsujudo.org.
Representatives from the San Jose State University Judo Team will be present at this year's USJF Jr. Nationals in Irvine, CA. We welcome all parents, players and coaches to stop by the booth for more information about SJSU and The Swain Scholarship. In the meantime, you can find out more information about SJSU and the SJSU Judo Team at www.sjsuJudo.org.
