On May 18, 2024 more than 85 people gathered at Pier 29 Restaurant in Alameda to meet and celebrate the fourteen winners of this year’s merit scholarship awards. We had a hearty lunch followed with a delicious dessert of fruit filled sponge cake with real whipped cream. Donna Chan Chu and Linyi Yu were the co-MCs who begin the afternoon’s program with histories of Wa Sung and the Merit Awards. Howard Lee, President welcomed everyone to the event and introduced our keynote speaker, Dr. Jennifer Kim-Anh Tran. She is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at Cal State University, East Bay and the President of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce. She had read each of the winners’ essays and knew a little bit about them before meeting them. She shared her own story which was relatable to many of them. She spoke of the importance of her parents who planted seeds for her future Part of the seed planting was going to Vietnamese school to continue her language learning and culture. As an AAPI woman she spoke of other AAPI women who have inspired her, like the Trưng Sisters who are regarded as national heroines of Vietnam, Maxine Hong Kingston an American novelist, and Helen Zia, journalist and activist. She goes on to say as AAPI we should not be fitting in, but standing out. Dr. Tran closes by saying, “You need to know your history and know yourself. When you are tired, we will lift you up. You are not alone.” Manyi Leung, as the Young Professional League Representative spoke about the YPL and its benefits. And then the highlight of the day – presenting scholarship awards to the fourteen recipients. Thirteen received a scholarship award of $1,500 and the fourteenth received $2,500. We began with the six scholarships provided by the Endowment Funds and the Raise Right Scrip program. From Encinal High School in Alameda, Allen Liao will be attending Stanford University and majoring in Computer Science and Public Policy. Representing the Leung Family Scholarship, Eileen Leung made the presentation. From Oakland Charter High School in Oakland, Eric Zhong will be attending UC San Diego while he has yet to declare his major. Representing the Freeman & Mary Chan Memorial Scholarship, Richard Fong made the presentation. From Los Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, Ethan Kim will be attending Brown University and majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Representing the Al & Becky Wong Humanitarian Scholarship, Alfred Wong made the presentation. From Alameda High School in Alameda, Jiajie Jacky Luo will be attending UC Los Angeles and majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Entrepreneurship and Neuroscience. Representing the Richard & Doris Wong Lee Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Richard Lee made the presentation. From Head Royce School in Oakland, Mitchell Liu will be attending John Hopkins University and majoring in International Studies. Representing the Joseph & Dr. Janet Lee Memorial Scholarship and the Karen Dea Scholarship, Karen Dea made the presentation. Kora J. Shin, Associate Director of College Counseling at Head Royce School who wrote Mitchell’s letter of recommendation surprised him by attending the event. From Oakland Charter High School, Tristan Hoang will be attending MIT and majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Representing the Walter Y. & Mildred L. Chinn Scholarship, Deborah Chinn Murray and Randall Chinn made the presentation. Dr. Erick Kong, Associate Professor at Cal State University East Bay who wrote Tristan’s letter of recommendation was also there to show his support. From Oakland Charter High School, Trisha Ho will be attending UC Berkeley and majoring in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Representing our newest Endowment Fund Scholarship, the Annis Skousen Memorial Scholarship, Genie Young and Garrienne Nakano made the presentation. From Alameda Science and Technology Institute in Alameda, Henry Lee will be attending the University of Pennsylvania and majoring in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in Economics. Representing our second newest Endowment Fund Scholarship, the Hoover Ginn Memorial Scholarship, Bruce Ginn made the presentation.
The Next Five Scholarships were made possible by donations from members, friends and families of Wa Sung. We thank and acknowledge the family of Edward H. & May Chan, Mrs. Bessie Lok, America’s Charities, Eden Eisenbarth, Ruth Simon, Mel & Anne Everton, Julie & Anders Thorson and friends and family of Anna Lee.
From Monte Vista High School in Danville, Angelina Zhang will be attending Case Western Reserve University and majoring in Nursing. The scholarship in Memory of Edward H. & May Chan was donated by Edy Chan, Dick Chan, Paula Chan Carpenter and Barbara Chan was presented by Cyndee Lim. From Oakland High School, Everlynn Le will be attending Duke University and majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. The scholarship in Memory of Dr. Wai Bong Lok donated by his wife Bessie Lok was presented by Michael Lok. From Oakland Technical High School, Natalie Ma will be attending UC San Diego and majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. The scholarship in Memory of Anna Lee was donated by Howard Lee, his family and friends was presented by Howard Lee. From San Leandro High School, Kevin Cao will be attending UC San Diego and majoring in Computer Science. This scholarship was donated by Roger Werner and presented by him. Hazel P. Amina, Associate Director at UC Berkeley’s Upward Bound Program who wrote Kevin’s letter of recommendation surprised him by attending the event. From Middle College High School, Laura Khuu will be attending UC Davis and majoring in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. The many donations we received made this scholarship possible was presented by Audrey Huie. From Encinal High School in Alameda, Caitlin Tran will be attending UC Berkeley and majoring in Astrophysics. Caitlin was selected to receive this scholarship for her high commitment to community service. She received the $2,500 Community Service Perpetual Scholarship made possible by the interest from Nancy J. Lee’s large endowment fund. Howard Lee and Dr. Jennifer Tran made the presentation. The afternoon ended with many group photos of the scholarship recipients. We met many new faces, happy and appreciative parents and overjoyed scholarship recipients. Overall it was very successful. Much appreciation goes to the Merit Scholarship Committee, who were Manyi Leung, Adrienne Fong, Peggy Woon, Linyi Yu, Priscilla Ma, Isaac Tong, Howard Lee, Cyndee Lim, Karen Dea and Donna Chan Chu. Others to be thanked are Garrienne Nakano, Jennifer Gee Cheung, Chun Huang, Tsz Wai Kwok and Eileen Leung. Please let us know if you want to be a part of this wonderful event that honors our young people by being on the committee. You can also make a donation to our Endowment Scholarship Fund for $10,000 or more to keep these scholarships going annually. www.wasung.org/support-wa-sung
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