Congratulations to the 2025-26 GEJ Scholarship Award Recipients!
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2025-26 GEJ Scholarship Awards! These Camp Rising Sun alums embody the values of leadership, excellence, and commitment to social justice across a variety of fields and disciplines. We congratulate them on all of their achievements and wish them well in their future endeavors!
Please read on below to meet each of this year’s GEJ Scholars:
Elizabeth Liang Hudak (CRS '18-'19, '22-'23)
“I'm feeling so grateful that the LAJF community has continued to help support my academic journey through the GEJ Scholarship and in so many other tangible and intangible ways.”
Elizabeth, a three-time GEJ Scholarship recipient, is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and Digital Narrative and Interactive Design and AsianAmerican Studies. Elizabeth is passionate about GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) spaces and aspires to use her degree to expand access to ethical representations of art and culture. She is very proud to have worked with local and national organizations whose missions are to tell Asian American diasporic stories in digital and physical spaces. Elizabeth credits her time at CRS for her interests that have led to her current dream job of creating public histories of the Chinese-American communities of Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh. Her goal is to continue working to reform cultural and academic institutions so they can more justly serve past, present, and future publics. Elizabeth attended Camp Rising Sun in 2018 and returned as a Second Year Camper in 2019, worked as a Counselor in 2022 and 2023, taught a TELE intensive on museums as public spaces in 2025, and remains further connected to CRS by leading the CRS At-Large Selection Committee.
Isabella Marker (CRS '19)
“This award was invaluable last year and will be so helpful again this year to pay for my education at a school I love. I am eternally grateful to CRS and LAJF and continually reminded of their generosity and support for the alumni community.”
Isabella, a two-time GEJ Scholarship recipient, is a junior at Purdue University where she is pursuing majors in Genetics and Anthropology with a minor in Chemistry. She looks forward to pursuing higher education in genetic counseling or entering the workforce as a cosmetic chemist to merge her interests in chemistry and skincare products. Isabella credits her love of the violin to her time at CRS where a fellow camper gave her lessons. Isabella attended Camp Rising Sun in 2019 and remains in contact with the many friends she made at Camp.
Carla martinez becerra (CRS '22)
john litsios scholar
"This scholarship reminds me that my path has never been mine alone. The circle that held me at CRS still holds me now and calls me to hold others along the way, with courage that listens, truth that softens, and joy that multiplies when shared."
Carla is a sophomore at the College of the Atlantic, where she is studying Human Ecology and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Carla was named the John Litsios Scholar for her demonstrated commitment to technical and scientific pursuits. Upon earning her undergraduate degree, Carla plans include, but are certainly not limited to, earning a PhD in hydraulic engineering and using her knowledge to lead a water revitalization initiative in her native Peru. Among Carla’s many extracurricular pursuits, she is, most signficantly, the Founder and Executive Director of MenstruAcción, a 30-member NGO that delivers free, sustainable menstrual products to marginalized girls across Peru. Carla attended Camp Rising Sun in 2022.
Jelon Thomas (TELE ‘24-’25)
Inaugural Irwin Nydick Memorial Medical Scholarship Recipient
“To me this scholarship is more than just financial support but a duty to continue carrying out LAJF’s mission. I am truly honored and grateful and look forward to my continued involvement with LAJF through TELE and CRS.”
Jelon is an incoming freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University where he will continue the pursuit of his dream of becoming a doctor with a master’s degree in public health or healthcare administration. Jelon is also interested in the development of technologies that improve healthcare delivery and accessibility. In high school, Jelon volunteered with the Autism Siblings and Friends Network that focused on therapy through education and interactions. He was also the president of the Interact Club, a Rotary-sponsored organization, that raised over $7,000 for community service projects such as donating over fifty hampers to geriatric homes and more than 100 toys to a children’s home. Jelon’s demonstrated commitment to healthcare and community pursuits make him the perfect candidate for the first ever Irwin Nydick Memorial Medical Scholarship, established to help defray the tuition of a promising and humanitarian future physician who exemplifies Dr. Nydick’s character and commitment to improving medical care, especially within the underserved community. Jelon attended TELE in 2024 and 2025. He is the first TELE participant to become a GEJ Scholarship recipient.
Mira Wagabaza (CRS '22, ‘25)
pete seeger scholar
“Receiving the GEJ Scholarship eases the financial burden of my education while honoring the dedication I have put into my work. I am so grateful for the foundation's support and am excited to continue building upon the knowledge and experiences I gained at CRS.”
Mira, a two-time GEJ Scholarship recipient, is an incoming sophomore at Brown University where she is studying Applied Mathematics and Biology. Mira is this year’s Pete Seeger Scholar, a designation given to students who exemplify Pete Seeger's courage, integrity and humanity, and who over time, we believe will help others. At Brown, Mira looks forward to researching genetics and its influence on human behavior and/or contributing to stem cell research in behavioral genetics. Mira aspires to obtain a PhD and facilitate healthcare studies that benefit women of color, a community that is routinely overlooked in clinical research. When at home, Mira plays the flute with the Santa Monica College Wind Ensemble and works with an organization that creates ensembles and accessible music classes for young musicians to improve their skills and try new instruments. Mira attended Camp Rising Sun in 2022 and was a CRS counselor in 2025.
Misaki Yoshimura (crs ‘23)
“My experiences at CRS are a direct reason for applying for U.S. colleges. In the U.S., there are colleges with a lot of international students, and where I can deepen the values I got at Camp. I am thankful to the GEJ Scholarship for helping me pursue my studies in the U.S.”
Misaki is an incoming freshman at Mount Holyoke College where her studies will include computer science and where she hopes to get a deeper understanding of societal issues by learning in a diverse community with varying perspectives. Before attending CRS, Misaki had little understanding of the different cultures around the world and her studies at a US institution will help Misaki to continue expanding her world. Misaki aspires to return to Japan to help solve some of her countries agricultural problems using her computer science skills. She is also interested in contributing to the conservation of Japanese gardens. Misaki attended CRS in 2023, spoke about her CRS experience at a CRS seminar, provided advice for future CRS campers, and hopes to attend CRS again as a counselor.
As part of our commitment to supporting young leaders, each year LAJF awards scholarships to CRS alumni obtaining their undergraduate or graduate degrees at institutions in the United States. The GEJ Scholarships, dedicated to the memory of George E. ("Freddie") Jonas, founder and benefactor of Camp Rising Sun, are made possible thanks to the generosity of Seth Frank (CRS ‘48, ‘49), the creator of the GEJ Scholarship Fund. We invite you to join Seth, the Georges Lurcy Trust, and many other donors in their ongoing support of our future GEJ scholars with your generous donation to the GEJ Scholarship Fund!