I am Arthur Yoshinami serving you as a member of the Board of Directors from November 2023. My relationship with the school began in elementary school, and I was in the second-high school graduating class of ten pupils in 1974. YIS is a community-owned, non-profit international school. We are guided by a shared commitment to excellence in education and to the well-being of our students. We hope we can enhance our student learning and create new opportunities for them through our efforts.
YIS was established in 1924, but did not have a high school for a long time. Looking at the school from a historical perspective, the seventies was when YIS moved from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Faculty members were young and energetic, always exploring and initiating new things! Students were represented from around the world with a colorful background in language, history, culture, religion and family. Our classroom and school were a big family living and learning in ‘interesting times’! On one hand, it was exhilarating with many things happening simultaneously. On the other hand, we wondered if we had the ‘right stuff’ to get into college! During this time, the first yearbook was produced in 1972 and was named ‘Chowa’ (Harmony in Japanese) by our 1974 classmate Joji Sato. I truly believe this word ‘Chowa’ embodies the soul and spirit of YIS; an ideal ‘melting pot’ for learning and fun. The school prepared me for higher education; the joy of learning for life; communication, and the art of building long-lasting relationships.
I started the Alumni Association Launching Committee (AALC) and engaged closely with the school to establish an alumni association for the last five years. As we worked together, I was encouraged by my liked minded alumni to join and work with the Board of Directors to create a permanent alumni association. The AALC was organized to create a formal alumni association – a dedicated, like-minded alumni team working with the school to connect alumni, students, faculty, and our community.
What are the benefits of having an alumni association? One of the most critical challenges that enhances one’s achievements in our life is building a network of friends, partners, and teams. An alumni association builds bridges between our alumni community around the world and students to enhance the lives of both groups throughout their lives!
As a member of the Board, it has been a great learning environment and an opportunity to contribute to the school’s future. The first engagement and committee I joined was the Head of School search assignment. An exhilarating four months of intensive candidate assessment; interviews; Zoom meetings over multiple time zones! Furthermore, planning & executing multiple candidate meetings with students, faculty and the community. We wish Carla’s quick recovery and to welcome her to YIS soon. The second engagement was working on the committee to initiate the school’s institutional advancement office. The school appointed Emily Rose as Advancement Coordinator at the beginning of this school year. She is organizing new avenues of communication to our alumni, connecting alumni around the world, initiating new engagements with alumni & current students. I am looking forward to speaking you, our community members to improve our learning & teaching experience for our students.
Arthur Yoshinami
YIS Alum, 74′
Board of Directors Member