In Pursuit of Prosperity and Peace

For generations, The University of Texas at Austin has exerted a gravitational pull on students from across the world. In a pre-internet, pre-social media era, word about UT’s opportunities, academic rigor and Longhorn spirit reached across the Pacific Ocean and sparked the dreams of Shinichi “Joe” Iimura, B.S. ’74, B.A. ’77. The force of the Forty Acres drew Shinichi from Japan to Austin in 1971, creating an impact that would extend beyond his years on campus throughout his career as CEO of Koyo Engineering, his family’s electrical contracting business. By creating several scholarships, Shinichi is offering his support for international students who answer UT’s call to follow their academic dreams.

Other memories that have stayed with him are a particular meal with his host family — “They treated me to a Texas-sized T-bone steak, and I was amazed at how large and delicious it was!” — and the sight of “tens of thousands of students, adults and children crowding the stadium, wearing burnt orange T-shirts and cheering for the Longhorns.” Shinichi didn’t miss one home football game during his years on campus, and to this day, he keeps up with his favorite team by watching videos of their games online.

Shinichi also maintains his strong UT connection as the co-founder of The University of Texas Japan Alumni Association (Texas Exes Japan Chapter), which currently boasts a membership of approximately 200 active members. For the past five years, he has served as chapter president and has visited the UT campus annually.

“I was very impressed by the vision of aiming to be the highest-impact research university in the world,” says Shinichi. “IBA members are active in the world and successful in business after graduating from UT, so I enjoy exchanging opinions with them. I am exploring with my colleagues how we can make effective use of technology and ways to collaborate with the network of UT alumni in Japan.”

With gratitude for all the opportunities UT provided him, Shinichi has created three scholarships. The Koyo Endowment, awarded by Texas Global, helps UT recruit top students who otherwise might have chosen to attend some other prestigious school. With his wife, Satoko, he recently added the merit-based Iimura Family Scholarship Endowment, which will provide two full tuition scholarships to students from Japan. Since 2018, he has offered The Iimura Peace Endowed Scholarship, for which international students from East Asia compete by submitting an essay on how they would promote peace throughout East Asia and in their home country after graduation. Shinichi hopes this scholarship will help recipients fulfill their dreams — and one more of his own.

“People start wars, but it is also people who make peace,” says Shinichi. “I hope that many peace-loving students will grow up on the UT campus, and together we will see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting peace in the world.”