During the late 1990’s, the Seattle JACL helped fight for getting a school named after Aki Kurose. Since that time, Seattle JACL has helped take care of the school by helping fund a reader board for the school, as well as sponsoring an annual clean-up of the school. Every summer, the Seattle JACL spends a day volunteering to help plant new trees, weed, mulch, and clean the grounds in a tradition that they helped start.

When she was just a young girl her family was incarcerated during World War II at the Minidoka camp in Idaho. Kurose was honored for her work as an educator by two American presidents, the United Nations, various governors and city officials.

Additional honors include: the Seattle Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the National Science Honor Roll of Teachers, the United Nations Human Rights Award, and the Asian Pioneer Award for Peace.