20th Anniversary Celebration

On. May 2, 2021 3,000 viewers tuned into Soka University of America’s YouTube channel to share in 1½ hours of virtual celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the dedication of the Aliso Viejo campus. The event started with a preshow giving a student-led tour of campus, followed by a live greeting from alumni MCs Corina Giselle, Class of 2015, and Zane Romano, Class of 2009. An introduction video shared the history of SUA’s founding and was followed by a blessing song from the Acjachemen tribe. Tribal members originally blessed the campus in 2001 as SUA acknowledged their history on the land.

SUA President Edward Feasel shared that both the City of Aliso Viejo and the County of Orange had declared May 3, 2021 to be “Soka University of America Day” in honor of the university’s 20th Anniversary in Aliso Viejo. Other resolutions and proclamations were received from the California State Assembly, California Senate and U.S. Congress. Donors around the world were acknowledged for their many years of support that have made so many achievements at Soka University possible. Dr. Feasel also announced that SUA has received a $1 million matching grant from the John Stauffer Charitable Trust to provide summer research fellowships to SUA students in chemistry and biochemistry. Soka University’s goal is to raise the $1 million match over the next years fellowships beginning in summer 2022. He also shared a new fund-raising campaign for diversity scholarships at SUA.

Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Dunham

Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Dunham announced in honor of the 20th Anniversary, the Board is honoring the founder of Soka University of America, Daisaku Ikeda, in two ways – with the creation of a new Daisaku Ikeda Endowed Chair to support faculty excellence, and the naming of SUA’s undergraduate liberal arts program as the Daisaku Ikeda College.

One highlight of the evening came when current SUA students from Honduras, Nepal and Zambia shared their experiences – and student members of the orchestra and jazz ensemble clubs performed the student song, “On The Path of Peace” (virtually from their own homes).

President Edward Feasel

Dr. Feasel awarded the university’s inaugural “Soka Global Citizen Award” to Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury in recognition of his life’s work and achievements for peace and women’s rights. Ambassador Chowdhury accepted the honor and shared his late wife Mariam’s contributions to all of his efforts and her love of SUA. He proposed using his $25,000 award to continue her legacy at SUA.

Soka University’s strong academics and new Life Sciences Concentration were spotlighted – with a special tour by faculty of the new labs in the 91,000 square foot Marie and Pierre Curie Hall.

A very personal alumni experience from Jennifer Ohrstrom, Class of 2008, evoked the spirit of Soka Education, and Soka Student Union president Shunji Fueki was proud to announce that students have compiled a new book entitled Dear Global Citizens which will include all of Mr. Ikeda’s messages to SUA students and ten of his university lectures. Dear Global Citizens will be published this summer.

If you missed the original broadcast, you can still see an edited version at www.youtube.com/SokaUnivAmerica. You may also view the 20th Anniversary mosaic of campus memories at: Reflect and Recommit Soka University of America, www.soka.edu/20th-anniversary#mosaic.

Soka University thanks everyone who supported us during our first 20 years in Aliso Viejo…and we look forward to growing with you over the next 20!