(Standing, from left) Katrina Perez, executive director, UOG Endowment Foundation; Ai Motomura; Jeanie Nguyen, both scholarship recipients; Francis Baba, chief operations officer, Baba Corp.; (Seated, from left) Hideharu “Bo” Baba, president, Baba Corp.; Yoshie Baba, chairwoman, Baba Corp.; Wilfred Leon Guerrero, chairman, UOG Endowment Foundation; and Yuka Baba, vice president, Baba Corp.

The Akira Baba Memorial Scholarship was created by the Baba family in honor of the late businessman Akira “Mike” Baba, who established several hospitality-related businesses under Baba Corp., including Atlantis Submarines, Coco Palm Garden Beach, and Nippon Rent-A-Car. The company also operates Burger King and Nanyo Realty. Applicants for the award must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.

The UOG Endowment Foundation, which administers scholarship funds donated to the university, encourages members of the public to support the education of local students by establishing scholarships that align with an industry of particular interest or in memory of those who have passed. Individuals and companies may also make tax-deductible donations to any existing scholarship fund or to a particular school or college within the university at give.uog.edu.