The Eilene Oyama Award

For the graduating senior who best embodies the legacy of Whitney teacher Eilene Oyama. For 26 years, Ms. Oyama dedicated herself to shaping students’ lives through language, culture, and connection. As the founder of the school's Japanese language program in 1994, she built it from the ground up, teaching every level, including AP courses for students with little to no prior experience, through engaging, interactive lessons that ensured every student could participate and succeed. In addition to her work in the classroom, she served as the Yearbook advisor from 1996 to 2020, helping students capture and preserve the memories and spirit of their school community. Beyond the classroom, she was the Japanese Club advisor since its inception, fostering community and initiative by guiding students in fundraising efforts that enabled the purchase of taiko drums and enriched cultural experiences. Her commitment extended to advising Japan Quiz Bowl from 2016 to 2020, chaperoning the Japan Exchange Program for four years, and serving as Department Co-Chair from 2019 to 2020. Through these many roles, she created meaningful opportunities for students to immerse themselves in Japanese culture, inspiring passions that often shaped their future paths. She cherished watching her students grow not only in language proficiency but as individuals, and reflects on her teaching career with deep fulfillment, never once regretting the path she chose.