October 2018

2018 APIA Scholars Gala

APIA Scholars President and Executive Director Noël Harmon pictured with Scholars and Board Members.
 
On September 28, at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, DC, APIA Scholars hosted our annual gala where we celebrated 15 years of strengthening APIA communities.  The evening brought together current Scholars, their friends and families, alumni, and supporters from across the country to honor and acknowledge the amazing accomplishments of the Scholars over the last 15 years.  Starting with a rousing taiko performance by Nen Daiko and continuing with a beautiful hula performance by the E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center, the evening showcased the depth and breadth of the Scholars and their supporters. 
APIA Scholars Board Chair Kimo Kippen offering a toast.
   
The honorees for the evening were Hewett Chiu, the Executive Director of the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene who received the Distinguished Alumni Award; Dr. Vidalino Raatior, who has spent his life creating pathways for success for APIA students and received the Inspiring Dreams Award; and General Motors for their long-standing commitment to education received the Excellence in Education Award.

The Gala also featured two alumni, Ms. Lily Sooklal an APIA/Wells Fargo Scholarship recipient who graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Bioengineering and is now designing and developing medical devices, and Ms. Betty Tran who was an APIA/Frances Sonn Nam Memorial Scholar who graduated from the University of Southern California and received a Masters in non-profit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
  
The emcee for the Gala was ABC7-WJLA-TV anchor Nancy Chen who gracefully showcased and highlighted the impressive array of Scholars and their stories.  
 
APIA Scholars congratulates all the honorees for their well-deserved honor and expresses our gratitude to all the attendees for supporting our mission of Educating, Elevating, and Empowering our Scholars. Thank you for all your support!

Nancy Chen, ABC7-WJLA-TV Anchor, pictured with several APIA Scholars.


If you could not attend but still want to help 
support our Scholars you can click here to donate.
 
If you want to see photos from the Gala, click here.
Apply for the 2018 APIA Scholarship !
 
We are accepting applications for the APIA Scholarship! Please visit our website for more details on our scholarship programs and eligibility requirements. Applicants can email us if they have any questions regarding the application process.   
Apply by November 1st 
for the 2018 AANAPISI Scholarship!

Less than a month left to apply for the APIA Scholars AANAPISI Scholarship! Applicants who are interested must apply by November 1st at 5:00 PM EST. Please visit our website for more details on our scholarship programs and eligibility requirements. Applicants can email us if they have any questions regarding the application process.   
Upcoming Jump Start College Tour:
University of Massachusetts Boston!


Our next Jump Start College Tour (JSCT) will take place at the University of Massachusetts 
Boston on October 20, 2018 from 9:00am to 3:15pm. JSCT is a FREE college readiness workshop that partners with the nation's Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) to provide culturally relevant financial aid and college success strategies to APIA high school students and families. This event will include free meals and free prizes. 
 

Scholar Highlight

Gala Chair Scott Loretan with Betty Tran.

Betty Tran
2013-2014 Frances Sonn Nam Scholar
Nonprofit/NGO Leadership, Master of Science
University of Pennsylvania
 
Betty's passion to be a leader comes from truly understanding the struggles of a low-income community of color by being an insider; she has lived this experience firsthand by being a part of the community's population and culture. Betty attended the University of Southern California and while there, became an active member of the USC Vietnamese Student Association. Betty regularly interacted with her fellow Vietnamese and Asian American peers to brainstorm ways to impact the community. Betty's hope is to strengthen the support network between the APIA community and other communities of color.

Betty is grateful for the generosity, compassion, and support provided by APIA Scholars and the Frances Sonn Nam Memorial Scholarship. Betty feels this scholarship is a testament to collaborative perseverance, faith, and community support that leads to positive change and moves a community forward. Betty feels blessed for this opportunity to pursue her dreams of becoming an educator, social activist, leader, and role model.

Thank you, General Motors!



 
General Motors (GM) has been a valued partner and mentor to APIA Scholars since 2012. GM has funded multiple facets of education access, success, and persistence for underserved Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) students.  

GM's generous support has funded important and ground-breaking research reports encompassing the entire spectrum of a diverse and growing community. GM has as also funded our SMART mentorship program which is an e-mentoring program designed to increase student persistence and success, particularly in the stage of college to career transition. As a result, over 90% of APIA Scholars are still enrolled or have earned their degrees.

We applaud GM for their lasting commitment to supporting the lifecycle of students in education, especially those with an interest in the growing STEM field. 


APIA Scholars, formerly the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, is the nation's leading provider of college scholarships and resources for Asian & Pacific Islander Americans to access, complete, and succeed.