Overview:
A decade of giving has reached a milestone as the Masami Siksei Memorial Scholarship awards its 10th $5,000 scholarship to Yuri Hosei for the 2026-27 academic year. Since 2017, the scholarship has helped 10 Palauan students pursue higher education, providing $50,000 in total financial support.
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (Aug. 24, 2026) — The Masami Siksei Memorial Scholarship has reached a milestone, awarding its 10th scholarship to Yuri Hosei, who will receive $5,000 for the 2026-27 academic year.
The scholarship was established in 2017 after the Palau National Scholarship Board and Ilana Seid signed a memorandum of understanding. Seid created the scholarship in memory of her late grandfather, Masami Siksei, a strong advocate for education.
Each year, the scholarship provides $5,000 to one student through the Palau National Scholarship Board. The Pacific Academic Institute for Research provides the $5,000 funding to the board for the scholarship.
Since its establishment, the memorial scholarship has awarded a total of $50,000 to 10 students. It has received 103 applications over the past decade, with 10 students selected as recipients.
The scholarship is designed to support well-rounded students who demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities and community programs. It also prioritizes students pursuing studies in fields including medicine, law, engineering, aquaculture, agriculture, education, business and special education, as well as related disciplines.
Eligible recipients must be enrolled at universities outside Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.
The 10th award to Hosei reflects the scholarship’s continuing role in helping Palauan students pursue higher education and supporting the educational values that inspired its creation.