By Harry Mok

University of California campuses are still looking for Japanese American students who had their studies derailed by being interned during World War II. Ceremonies to award honorary degrees to the former students are set for December and spring 2010. The campuses want to honor as many people as possible and are still seeking potential recipients.

On July 16, 2009, the University of California Board of Regents agreed to grant special honorary degrees to Japanese American students who were enrolled at UC and never received a UC degree as a result of the internment.

Ceremonies to award the degrees have been scheduled at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA and UC San Francisco — the four campuses in existence at the time of the internment order. During the ceremonies, campuses also plan to acknowledge former students who were interned but returned to UC to finish their degree.

Former students who may be eligible, their families or friends are encouraged to contact individual UC campuses about receiving an honorary degree. Campus contacts and ceremony information can be found at http://honorary.universityofcalifornia.edu.

Approximately 700 UC students withdrew from school in 1942 when they and approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast were sent to internment camps.

Ceremonies and contact information:

UCSF
When: Dec. 4, 3-6 p.m.
Where: Robertson Auditorium at Mission Bay
Contact: Maria Blandizzi
(415) 476-9063
maria.blandizzi@ucsf.edu

UC Davis
When: Dec. 12
Where: TBD
Contact: Louise F. Uota
(530) 754-2007
lfuota@ucdavis.edu

UC Berkeley
When: Dec. 13, 3 p.m.
Where: Haas Pavilion
Contact: Caroline Allum
(510) 642-3805
callum@berkeley.edu

UCLA
When: spring 2010, exact date TBD
Where: TBD
Contact: Patricia Lippert
(310) 794-8604
tricial@ucla.edu

Harry Mok is a principal editor in the UC Office of the President's Integrated Communications group.