By Jonah Reynolds, YIS Advancement Coordinator
This year, Yokohama International School’s Advancement work has focused on a simple idea: when alumni, families, and friends stay connected to YIS, they strengthen today’s student experience and expand what’s possible for future Dragons. From new ways to engage alumni voices, to renewed storytelling, to growing support for student access through the Chowa Scholarship Fund, the Advancement program has been busy building momentum across the YIS community.
Alumni & Community voices in action: Panel Discussions
One of the most direct ways alumni and community members can make an impact is by sharing real experiences with students who are beginning to imagine life beyond YIS. This year’s Alumni Panel Discussions invite graduates to speak with students about career paths, decisions after graduation, and what they’ve learned along the way. We are constantly seeking alumni and parent speakers for panels to help students explore possibilities, build confidence, and see the wide range of directions a YIS education can lead. Interested alumni & parents are encouraged to contact advancement@yis.ac.jp.
These panels are more than “career talks.” They are community moments, students hearing firsthand how YIS graduates navigate university, work, creativity, entrepreneurship, and global life. For alumni and parents, it’s a meaningful way to give back: a reminder that their story might be exactly what a student needs to hear at the right moment.
Storytelling that travels: A revamped Alumni Newsletter (with Spotlights)
Another major focus this year has been refreshing how YIS stays in touch with alumni, making communication more personal, more consistent, and more reflective of the diverse alumni community around the world. The updated YIS Alumni Newsletter is designed to keep Dragons connected with campus updates, upcoming events, and alumni stories, especially through Alumni Spotlights that celebrate what graduates are building in their lives and careers. These features do more than highlight impressive achievements. They help current students see role models, help alumni discover classmates across generations, and reinforce a shared sense of identity: Dragons grow into many forms and they keep the spirit of YIS with them.
Recent spotlights include:
Bringing Dragons together: Reunions in Yokohama and beyond
Reunions remain a cornerstone of Advancement work because they create the conditions for long-term connection. Looking ahead, YIS has announced a Save the Date for a special Alumni Reunion Dinner on May 15, 2026, welcoming alumni back to campus for an evening of reconnection and celebration.
At the same time, YIS is nurturing alumni networks globally, currently organizing community-led gatherings in places like UK, Australia and the US, and offering support with promotion and coordination for alumni interested in hosting meet-ups.
Expanding access: Raising support for the Chowa Scholarship Fund
A central pillar of Advancement work this year is building support for the Chowa Scholarship Fund. A need-based scholarship program designed to ensure that financial constraints never stand in the way of accessing a YIS education.
Every contribution helps move the school closer to a future where students can thrive at YIS regardless of family circumstances, strengthening the school’s diversity, impact, and mission.
As part of the Chowa giving effort, donors can also receive a special edition “Chowa” publication that captures YIS history and features each graduating class linking today’s support to decades of Dragon legacy.
If you are interested in supporting the YIS community in this meaningful way, please visit https://yis.ac.jp/support-yis/
Looking ahead
In a year shaped by renewed connection, the message is clear: Advancement at YIS is not only about events or fundraising, it’s about building a living network of people who care about student opportunity, community belonging, and the long arc of what a YIS education makes possible.
If you would like to speak at a panel, share your story for the newsletter or podcast, host a gathering, or support the Chowa Scholarship Fund, YIS would love to hear from you at advancement@yis.ac.jp.