KCS News & Happenings

KCS is pleased to announce that Noah Sumikawa '25 has been named as a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Recognition is based on Selection Index scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which is taken during students' junior year. On September 27, Mrs. Ahn and Mr. Kanakanui presented Noah with a Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). He is the eighth KCS high school student to be recognized for this honor.

Noah's Selection Index score on the 2023 PSAT/NMSQT test placed him among the top 50,000 students who took the test. According to an NMSC spokesperson, "Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success." Congratulations, Noah, for your scholastic recognition and commendation! 
 

For Kris Tokioka (Christian ‘24, Taylor Ann ‘30), whose parents own Fukuda Seed Store, drawing a comparison between gardening and prayer comes naturally. Just as a seed can sprout unexpectedly, after seasons of faithful care or even forgetfulness, prayers are answered through God working, often in ways unseen, through the soil and weeds. This understanding and heart for prayer prompted Kris to step out in faith to lead the Moms in Prayer group in 2020. By offering her time, presence, and focus to the group these past four years, she has seen an overflow of blessings result from these bi-weekly gatherings centered on prayer.

Coming together to pray for KCS has been a desire of moms for nearly two decades. Children’s Chaplain Sandy Simmons led a Mothers Prayer Group in the early 2000s, and Renee Mola revitalized the group in 2010 under Moms in Touch. Since then, a handful of dedicated moms (Lei Voss, Linda Lee, and Kris) have humbly answered the call to carry on the legacy under Moms in Prayer, which provides resources and support for groups internationally. Meetings are kept to one hour, following a structured time outlined on prayer sheets provided; each meeting focuses on an attribute of God and flows from praise and scripture reading to praying for students and staff members by name. The group also prays for requests shared by Principal Mrs. Ahn and intercedes on behalf of schools across the state, country, and world.

From starting with four moms meeting via FaceTime during the height of the pandemic, Kris has seen the group grow through the years as this special ministry has drawn more moms. Tracy Fujinaka (Sanoe ‘30), who joined Moms in Prayer in 2019, said she put aside her initial hesitancy to join other moms in “laying [their] hearts out on the line” in prayer for their children. The group has led Tracy to “develop a deep connection and bond with… other moms in Christ.” Kris also acknowledges a similar impact of seeing God’s faithfulness at work, encouraged by Mrs. Ahn’s praise reports, the increase of moms attending the group, and answered prayer in her own family’s life.

With a willingness to show up during their lunch break or join virtually, this year’s group has given Kris a deep feeling of excitement and expectancy for the school year. Her big prayers are for the next generation and seeing “more miracles” and “more coming to Christ.” Kris also hopes to reach more moms (and grandmothers) and invites those with a heart for prayer to experience the sweet blessing of Moms in Prayer!