The University of Puget Sound awarded honorary degrees to 36 Japanese American students at the 2009 Commencement Ceremony on May 17. In 1942, the students’ education had been abruptly stopped when they were sent to relocation camps during World War II.
Interned Japanese students receive honorary degrees
For Kimiko Mukai’s 90th birthday, she received an honorary degree. Mukai, a Japanese American who was a sophmore at Seattle Pacific University (SPU) in 1942 (then called Seattle Pacific College), had to suddenly leave school due to an order issued by President Roosevelt. Her education was stopped due to Japanese American internment during WWII.