On November 19, 2008, the Asian Bar Association of Washington announced a new scholarship named after ABAW founding President Sharon A. Sakamoto. At a joint reception with members of the ABAW and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association members, co-president Jill Otake announced the new scholarship award to be named after Ms. Sakamoto in honor of her years of service to the community and the legal profession. The first recipient of the Sharon A. Sakamoto scholarship was Hai-Ching Yang. Ms. Yang is a first year student at the University of Washington School of Law.