Information on Scholarships

Come and see the opportunities and resources available to reach your goals and dreams.

Scholarships available for Asian American students are:

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is a new national organization devoted solely to the financial scholarship needs of Asian and Pacific Islander American students. The scholarship fund's historic formation is credited to founding corporations, community-based organizations and civic leaders such as McDonald's Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, Asian McDonald's Owner/Operators Association, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, Organization of Chinese Americans, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, the University of Hawai'i, Native Hawaiian Community-Based Education Learning Centers, United Negro College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund and former U.S. Congressman Robert Underwood. -(http://apiasf.org/)

The Gates Millennium Scholars program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a 1 billion dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential by: • Reducing financial barriers for African-American, Hispanic American, American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian Pacific Islander American students with high academic and leadership promise who have a significant financial need • Increasing the representation of these target groups in the disciplines of education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and the sciences, where these groups are severely underrepresented • Developing a diversified cadre of future leaders for America by facilitating successful completion of bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees • Providing seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Gates (http://www.gmsp.org/)

Every year, AAJA offers scholarships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. Awards range from $1,000 to $25,000. Students are selected based on the following criteria: commitment to the field of journalism; sensitivity to Asian American and Pacific Islander issues; journalistic ability; scholastic ability; and financial need. Since its inception, AAJA has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships and internships to more than 500 students pursuing a career in journalism. (http://www.aaja.org/programs/for_students)

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization dedicated to building leadership and public policy knowledge within the Asian Pacific American community. Its mission is to promote APA interests and success in public sector careers, to provide information and education on policy issues affecting the APA community, and to serve the APA community at large. (http://www.capal.org/ee/pages/)

The NAPABA Law Foundation Scholarships are awarded each fall to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve or contribute to the Asian Pacific American community as future leaders. Since 1995, the first year in which Foundation Scholarships were granted, 53 students have received scholarships totalling over $90,000. (http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=scholarships)

The US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce’s Asian American Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 to provide financial assistance to Asian American high school seniors who have demonstrated scholastic achievements, financial need and will pursue post-secondary education at an accredited educational institution in the United States. (http://www.uspaacc.com/web/programs/scholarship_programs.htm)

Partnership to Ameliorate the Life of Minority Adolescents (PALMA)

Partnership to Ameliorate the Life of Minority Adolescents (PALMA) : PALMA is the first community-based initiative on substance abuse prevention and HIV prevention for at-risk youth among the 27,000 Vietnamese living in the DC-metropolitan area. This project maps the profile of the target population, identifies their needs and barriers, and is forming a community-based coalition to formulate a strategic plan for prevention services.

Goals:

1. Assess the level of substance abuse and the prevalence of HIV among the target population.

2. Build capacity for the local community to implement a strategic plan of substance abuse and HIV prevention services.

Objectives:

1. Measure the prevalence of substance abuse among the target population. Identify viable SAP/HIVP models for the target population. Identify the resources available in the community for SAP/HIVP.

2. Build in-house expertise on SAP/HIVP issues.

3. Build capacity for other youth-focused organizations in the community.

4. Form a coalition with a focus on SAP/HIVP.

Partner organizations:

Eternal Spring Association (ESA) http://www.spiritmountain.org/

Ket Doan Association http://www.ketdoan.org/

Vietnamese American Television (VATV) http://www.vatv.org/

Vietnamese Culture and Science Administration, DC Chapter (VCSA-DC) http://www.vhkhvn.org/

Boat People SOS- Maryland (BPSOS-MD)

TEENS WAIT Project

TEENS WAIT has been created to provide support for Vietnamese American teens and their parents with the goal of better understanding and communicating with each other about teen issues.

The program consists of five workshops that address topics such as building self-esteem, identifying values to make wise decisions, effectively communicating, understanding the health issues related to sexuality, and setting goals for life planning. Four of the five workshops are designed for teenagers, and one workshop is set aside for parent-teen dialogue.

 Teens Wait Workshop

Vietnamese Gang Prevention Project

Vietnamese Gang Prevention Project has been created to counter the problems relating to community violence and gang activity within the Vietnamese community by having the youth lead the project. The program consists of 4 workshops that address issues such as building self-esteem, setting goals and future plans, understanding consequences of violence, unprotected sex, and substance abuse as related to gang activities. There is also a final event that is open up to all members of the Vietnamese community.

Students with local police officers together to talk about community violence and gang activity

Water Conservation Project

To involve the youth in the environmental movement, the water conservation program allows them to spread awareness to the Vietnmese American community on specific ways we can protect the environment.

The youth develop leadership skills through creating brochures, poster presentations, workshops, and website.

For more information about how you can help, please see the brochure developed by the students. (in Vietnamese)

Youth Activities

Our children are growing and developing academically and socially in the community and society. We want to celebrate their achievements and success. Come and share the celabration with us. Click on the links to see what they have accomplished.

Adelphi: http://public.fotki.com/bpsos/

Camden:

Falls Church:

Gulf Coast:

St. Louis: