Fueling UT’s Future: Three-Time Endowment Donor Ignites UT Spirit Through Giving

“People start wars, but it is also people who make peace. 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.” 
— Shinichi Iimura (B.S. ’74, B.A. ’77) 

For Shinichi “Joe” Iimura — accomplished University of Texas at Austin alum, former Koyo Engineering CEO and three-time endowment founder — “What starts here changes the world” represents more than just a slogan. It embodies his commitment to creating a positive, lasting impact for Longhorns from around the globe.  

Passion for Learning Abroad  

Since he was a child, Iimura longed for the country he believed was the most prosperous in the world: the United States. 

His determination and passion for studying abroad pushed him to take three months of intensive English classes prior to attending UT. Once accepted, he spent most of his time studying to balance the demands of a new language with the dense content of his classes.  

In 1974, after years of hard work, he earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, and three years later he earned a Bachelor of Arts in computer science.  

“Despite my language [barriers], I eventually graduated from this prestigious school,” Iimura said. “It is no exaggeration to say that graduation — my biggest challenge — gave me great courage and confidence for the rest of my life and was a major driving force for the success of my business in Japan.”  

Longhorn Pride On and Off Campus 

Beyond the classroom, Iimura absorbed Texan, U.S. and global cultures by staying with a host family and actively participating in campus events such as home football games, which he never missed during his years on the Forty Acres. He also attended international exchange meetings, where he traded ideas with students from all over the world and interacted with people with varied perspectives, which he said broadened his worldview.  

“In my interactions with Americans, I learned how friendly, cheerful and generous they are,” he said. “They would make eye contact and smile, giving a good feeling to strangers and manifesting the spirit of tolerance of the American people.”  

When he returned to Japan, he expanded his family’s electrical contracting company, Koyo Engineering, and eventually served as its CEO. Iimura has maintained strong connections with the University through his annual visits to the UT campus and his work as co-founder and president of the UT Japan Alumni Association (Texas Exes Japan chapter), which boasts a membership of approximately 200 active members.  

In May 2023, he accepted an invitation to serve as a member of UT’s International Board of Advisors (IBA), which provides advice, support and direction to the University president and leaders, strengthening and enhancing UT’s global visibility. Alongside his colleagues on the IBA, he hopes to explore ways to make effective use of technology and find opportunities for further collaboration with the network of Longhorn alumni in Japan. 

A Lasting Legacy of Peace and Learning 

To express his gratitude for the opportunities UT has provided him, he has created three scholarships, stewarded by Texas Global. The Koyo Endowment helps UT recruit top students who otherwise might choose to attend another prestigious school. With his wife Satoko, he recently added the merit-based Iimura Family Scholarship endowment, which provides two full-tuition scholarships to students from Japan.  

At a recent reception honoring endowment and scholarship donors, Senior Vice Provost of Global Engagement Sonia Feigenbaum spoke about Iimura’s legacy: “We are deeply grateful to Mr. Iimura for his unwavering commitment to international education and leadership among UT alumni in Japan. His kindness continues to prepare international leaders and inspire our Longhorn community.”  

He has maintained a deep and lasting relationship with Texas Global, the organization that supports his philanthropy efforts by administering the aforementioned endowments as well as the unique Iimura Peace Endowed Scholarship.  

The first scholarship for UT Austin international undergraduate students who completed their primary education in East Asia, the Peace Endowed Scholarship is a $5,000 award that recognizes students with an intent to promote peace in Asia. Since its inception in 2018, the scholarship has granted $110,000 to 24 recipients, serving the dual objectives of helping students leverage financial assistance to make the most of their academic studies on campus and fostering peace and understanding among Asian countries. 

Kanyuni Iemoto, a sophomore astronomy major and 2025 recipient of the Peace Endowed Scholarship, said the financial assistance has allowed her to focus on her studies and research without worrying about working to cover expenses.  

“I’m incredibly honored to have received the Iimura Peace Endowed Scholarship this fall. It means the world to me and my family,” Iemoto said. “Financial challenges were one of the biggest concerns when I considered UT Austin, and there was a real question of whether I could attend. The scholarship has made a huge difference in my academic journey.”  

Iimura 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,” he said. “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.”  

To learn more about Shinichi Iimura’s Longhorn pride and philanthropy, read the story in the Texas Leader.