ALISO VIEJO, Calif.—What do you get when you combine the mission of Soka University of America with the spirit of the Olympics?
Sokalympics—a daylong event held March 9, 2025, and organized by the university’s Student Leaders Assembly (SLA) to create opportunities for students to foster meaningful bonds within and across different classes and communities.
The event organizers chose the word Olympics not because of the physical or athletic aspect of their event but because of what the Olympics represent for people worldwide—a neutral ground where athletes and spectators can come together to celebrate human excellence and respect among nations. The day’s activities provided opportunities to build meaningful connections through games, an outdoor barbecue and a delicious dessert booth.
The SLA drew inspiration for the event from SUA founder Daisaku Ikeda’s November 2005 message to the Fifth SUA Student Festival, where he states in part:
I am fully aware of the spirit and tenacity with which you tackled the challenge of adding a new chapter in the advancement of this university, coming together as true friends as you learn from one another’s values and cultures. I am confident that the experience will serve as a lifelong source of inspiration and instruction, for you will never be deterred from paving new paths as you go on to assume leadership roles in the world.[1]
Julia Miyagawa Braga, president of the student body’s executive council, said that the students faced challenges in cultivating a sense of community and creating spaces for dialogue after returning to SUA following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
Since then, the executive council teams have embodied a strong “never give up” spirit, working tirelessly to overcome these obstacles. Watching the students come together for the event, she said “not only marked the culmination of the efforts of many individuals but also represented a new chapter for SUA, grounded in trust and friendship.”
SUA’s mission is “to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.” It was founded on May 3, 2001, by Daisaku Ikeda as a nonsectarian, four-year undergraduate university grounded in the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life. The university is open to top students of all nationalities and beliefs. SUA is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Yuuma Ishii, the executive council attorney general, said they hope the event sets a new precedent for future SUA student festivals. “I drew many of my motivations to support SUA from my seniors when I was a first-year student,” he said. “Now, as a senior myself, I hope this event inspired hope in current students to take on the baton to support SUA wholeheartedly.”
March 21, 2025 World Tribune, p. 4
References
- https://libguides.soka.edu/founder_messages/student_festival <accessed on March 11, 2025>. ↩︎
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