2020 Tokyo Tech Award for Student Leadership

December 25, 2020

Five students received the 2020 Tokyo Tech Award for Student Leadership on November 13. Awarded annually since 2002 to 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-year bachelor's program students with extraordinary intellect, humanity, creativity, and energy, the award aims to encourage highly motivated students to continue with their studies and work towards becoming global leaders.

President Masu addressing recipients

Each of the students received certificates and prizes from President Kazuya Masu, after which they discussed their achievements and plans openly.

2020 Tokyo Tech Award for Student Leadership recipients and award-winning activities

Airi Sato	4th year, Chemical Science and Engineering	Active participation in Tokyo Tech Science Techno and Design Society student clubs Contributions to two 1st-place student club awards at 2017 and 2018 Tokyo Tech Festivals Leadership activities at off-campus educational institutions and as part-time exam supervisor
Moe Takahashi	4th year, Life Science and Technology	iGEM Tokyo Tech team leader Planning and execution of symposium for middle and high school students Promoting lives of students at School of Life Science and Technology through 2019 Suzukake Science Day and 2020 promotional videos
Nanami Ashizawa	4th year, Civil and Environmental Engineering	Team Tokyo Tech leader at Asia Bridge Competition 2019 Independent overseas training supported by Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering alumni association Swimming team executive member and vice-captain of women
Loh Zhan Teng	4th year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering	Tokyo Tech Student Association for Global Exchange (SAGE) representative Project leader at 9th Asian Students Collaboration Encouragement Program in Technology (ASCENT) Participant in 60th International Speech Contest in Japanese
Nao Takizawa	3rd year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering	Active participation in overseas training through Encouragement Project for All Tokyo Tech Students (EPATS) Founder of student clubs volunteer group and host of related online info sessions Team management, captain-elect of Tokyo Tech Sailing Team

Comments from recipients

Airi Sato
4th year, Chemical Science and Engineering

Thank you very much for this honorable award. I am glad to hear that I have spread the joys of deepening one's science knowledge and solving problems — both if which have fascinated me since childhood — through my off-campus and student club activities. My professors, seniors, and all those around me have played in big part in this, and I would like to thank you all. Encouraged by this award, I will continue to take on various challenges while making use of these experiences in my future research activities.

Moe Takahashi
4th year, Life Science and Technology

I am pleased and honored to receive such a prestigious award. My iGEM activities throughout my four years at Tokyo Tech have been supported by numerous professors and my iGEM teammates, and I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards all these people. In the future, I would like to utilize my experience to continue improving my leadership skills as I become more involved in research activities. Thank you everyone for your continued guidance and encouragement.

Nanami Ashizawa
4th year, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thank you very much for granting me the Tokyo Tech Award for Student Leadership. At the Department Civil and Environmental Engineering, there are various opportunities for students to try different activities, with Asia Bricom and overseas training being great examples. I am pleased I had the courage to take on these challenges, and as a result, received this award. I would like to thank the professors and seniors who advised me, and the younger colleagues who placed great trust in me. I look forward to immersing myself in research and other new challenges in the future.

Loh Zhan Teng
4th year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering

I am honored to receive this award. Throughout my four years at Tokyo Tech, I have been engaged in various activities focused on international exchange. The driving force for me has been the support and motivation received from fellow members of the Student Association for Global Exchange, who I would like to thank again here. I am currently conducting research on intermodal freight transport, and my dream is to contribute to logistics and transportation development in developing countries through port and railway planning. With this award, I will continue to devote myself to fulfilling these dreams.

Nao Takizawa
3rd year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering

Fifth recipient Nao Takizawa, who missed the ceremony due to lab work

Thank you very much for this award. For me, this has been a great opportunity to reassess my strengths. I feel that one of these is connecting people. I have experienced being a leader in student and club activities, launching and bringing together volunteer groups, and facilitating collaborations between Tokyo Tech's Departments. Next year, I will graduate early and move on to a master's program, during which I will research communication design that connects technology with healthcare-related issues. So once again, I will have the role of connecting people. I will continue to do my best to remain worthy of this award.

President Kazuya Masu (front, center) and other Tokyo Tech staff with four award recipients