Public school education is the foundation for a harmonious and prosperous society. Unfortunately, public school teachers pay for classroom supplies and educational material with their own money because of school budget reductions. The Buddhist Church of Florin supports public school teachers by offering a monetary grant for classroom supplies and education materials; and if necessary, for Personal Protection supplies and equipment.

To be eligible for the Kikuyo and Kinjiro Nakatani Public School Teacher Grant, you must be a full-time public school teacher in Kindergarten through 12th grade; and a member of the Buddhist Church of Florin (church membership dues are paid and current).

Contact Walter Menda (florinbuddhist@gmail.com) for a Kikuyo and Kinjiro Nakatani Public School Teacher Grant Application. Applications are to being accepted on an ongoing basis.

How to become a member of the Buddhist Church of Florin? On this website go to the Membership page and fill out and submit the online Membership form. Specify the Membership Category as New Member. If you are married, please join under the couple/family category or if single, the adult single category.

The Buddhist Church of Florin’s Kikuyo and Kinjiro Nakatani Scholarship program offers academic financial assistance to our church members’ high school and college students with multiple scholarships annually.

Graduating high school students who will be attending full time and/or students attending an accredited college, university or vocational school full time may apply for the scholarships.  The student’s parent(s) or student must be a member of the Buddhist Church of Florin to be eligible for the scholarships.

The evaluation criteria will be:

$5,000 Scholarship and $3,000 Scholarship for Graduating High School Students

  • Must be graduating from high school this academic year;
  • Plan to attend an accredited university, college or vocational school full time next year.
  • Your parent is a member of the Buddhist Church of Florin (church membership dues are paid and current before the scholarship application deadline); and
  • You have been a Florin Dharma School student prior to enrolling in a university, college, or vocational school.

Applicants will be judged on:

  • Participation in the Florin Dharma School
  • Participation in church program activities
  • Participation in community programs
  • Academic achievements
  • Essay (approximately 300 words) on the topic of how Buddhism affects your life
  • In-person interview

$5,000 Scholarship, $3,000 Scholarship, $2,500 Scholarship, $1,500 Scholarship and $1,000 Scholarship for Students Attending a University, College or Vocational School

  • Must be attending an accredited university, college or vocational school full time this academic year and plan to continue next year full time and for the full year;
  • You or your parent is a member of the Buddhist Church of Florin (church membership dues are paid and current before the scholarship application deadline); and
  • You have been a Florin Dharma School student prior to enrolling in a university, college, or vocational school.

Applicants will be judged on:

  • Participation in a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church and/or program activities
  • Participation in community programs
  • Academic achievements
  • Essay (approximately 400 words) on the topic of how Buddhism affects your life
  • In-person interview

Church Member Parents-Please encourage your children to apply for the Buddhist Church of Florin’s Kikuyo and Kinjiro Nakatani Scholarships.  Applications will be available from the Nakatani Scholarship Chairperson, Walter Menda (florinbuddhist@gmail.com), or Florin Dharma School Superintendent and YBA advisors in January.

Application Deadline: Applications must be received by the Nakatani Scholarship Chairperson by midnight, April 1.

Please see the Buddhist Church of Florin’s monthly Newsletters in January through March for additional information.

Each year, the Buddhist Church of Florin’s (BCF) Dharma School (DS) awards scholarships to seniors graduating from high school who meet or exceed the scholarship requirements.

Requirements:

  1. If you are graduating from high school this academic year, and
  2. If you have been a registered/paid member of the BCF’s Dharma School for at least two of the most recent years, and
  3. If you plan to attend college and/or trade school next year,

You are encouraged to apply for the Florin Buddhist Church Dharma School Scholarship. 

Applicants will be judged on:

  • Active participation in Florin Dharma School (participation of DS/BCF events/activities for all years enrolled in Dharma School)
  • Active participation in church/community programs/fundraisers/events/activities
  • An essay (minimum 800 words) 

Applications will be available from the Dharma School Scholarship Chairperson, Ginny Yamamoto Syphax (florinbuddhist@gmail.com).

Applications for the current year must be postmarked or received by the scholarship chairperson by midnight May 1. Scholarships will be awarded on the last Family Service in June.