Carrying the Torch: Celebrating the 2026 Dr. Jean Yonemura Wing Scholars
This month, Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO) announced the 2026 recipients of the Dr. Jean Yonemura Wing Memorial Scholarship. Aligning with the celebration of Malcolm X’s birthday, the announcement marked a historic milestone for the fund: crossing over $105,000 in cumulative direct financial aid distributed to young Black men from Oakland transitioning into higher education.
Dr. Jean Yonemura Wing was a foundational advisor and fierce champion for KOO. Over her distinguished 16-year career within Oakland Public Schools, she pioneered the district’s first equity dashboards—ensuring data served the promise of educational excellence and empowerment. Following her passing in 2021, her family and KOO established this memorial fund to ensure her legacy thrives through the town’s next generation of leaders.
This year’s Round 4 cycle distributed $25,000 to nine exceptional scholars heading to campuses nationwide: Sterling Sims and Jaylin Turner (SFSU); Naim Mothudi and Corey Douglass (UC Merced); Kingston Baker and Kaiden Taylor (Sacramento State); Kavon Gaines (CSU East Bay); Josiah Cola (University of New Mexico); and Carmelo Harris (Lewis & Clark College).
In the video above, these young men share their academic pathways—ranging from Bioengineering to Environmental Science—thank the foundation, and discuss how they plan to continue a legacy of impact. Oakland Promise collaborated closely to help distribute these vital awards.
To explore the full history of past cohorts and discover more ways to get involved, community members are invited to visit the official landing page at