Asian Sisters Participating In Reaching Excellence, or ASPIRE, will be honoring an Asian American woman in high school or college for her exceptional contributions to the community. The winner will be announced at the 2008 Asian American Women In Leadership Conference at Simmons College, Mass., on April 26.
Here is a look at the 10 semifinalists.
Linda Chu
21, Monterey Park, CA
School: University of California, Los Angeles
» Worked to increase funding for upgrading emergency services equipment in Monterey Park
» Youngest member, co-chair, and only Asian American on Monterey Park’s Environmental Commission
Role Model: “State Board of Equalization member Judy Chu. Inspired by Judy, I have overcome many adversities in the form of negative stereotypes about minority females in law enforcement to realize my dream to be a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
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Stephanie Drenka
22, Southlake, TX
School: DePaul University
» Steering committee member for 121 Coalition, which lobbied for a House resolution pressing Japan to officially apologize to World War II “comfort women”
» Site Committee member for the Association for Asian American Studies National Conference; runs a workshop on Asian American mixed heritage issues for educators
Role Model: “Lee Yong-Soo, survivor of Japanese military sexual enslavement during World War II, because through everything that has happened, she has never lost her faith, hope or vitality.”
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Karina Kubota
18, Culver City, CA
School: Humboldt State University
» Overcame her disabilities of hearing impairment, asthma and allergies
» President of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Eco-Corps Student Volunteer program
Role Model: “Jane Goodall because she is such an amazingly calm and peaceful woman, despite how hard she works and how busy she is with her various organizations. She is one of the reasons why I am dedicated to becoming a wildlife biologist.”
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Kumudha Kumarchandran
20, Eillicott City, MD
School: University of Maryland, College Park
» Chair of a subcommittee on APA women’s issues at University of Maryland’s Asian American Student Union
» Educates peers on domestic violence, human trafficking and negative stereotypes of APA women in the media
Role Model: “My mother because she has shown me what it means to be a strong, independent and confident woman. Although being a single mom is not common for South Asian women, she completed dental school and now has her own practice.”
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Jasmine Nachtigall
17, San Mateo, CA
School: Hillsdale High School and the College of San Mateo
» As Miss Teen Chinatown first runner-up, she raised money for victims of the Sri Lanka tsunami and of Hurricane Katrina.
» Volunteers for the Asian American Cancer Support Network
» Founded her high school’s Student Run Volunteer Center
Role Model: “Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau’s words inspired Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to work toward a more peaceful world, and now they have inspired me to do the same.”
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Daphne Nguyen
17, San Jose, CA
School: Silver Creek High School
» Overcame substance abuse and autoimmune disease (lupus)
» As a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, she created a Southeast Asian organization for students to understand social, economic and political injustices.
Role Model: “My mom — she has gone through so many difficulties in her life, such as escaping the Vietnam War, living in a refugee camp, raising two children on her own and creating a new life in a foreign country. Somehow, she manages to smile and laugh.”
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Jessie Pan
17, New York, NY
School: Baruch College Campus High School
» Participates in the Chinatown after-school program Chinese American Youth Now!
» Participated in a peace project contest hosted by artist Faith Ringgold on the impact of 9/11 on New York City youth
Role Model: “My grandfather, a survivor of the Chinese cultural revolution, inspired me to value education and art. I hope to use the knowledge I acquired from him to become an architect of change in our global community.”
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Neha Singhal
20, Gaithersburg, MD
School: University of Maryland, College Park
» Coordinator of a national day of public service organized by South Asian Americans Leading Together
» Implemented a 10-week leadership program to empower and educate Asian American high school students about Asian American history, social issues and current events
Role Model: Yuri Kochiyama, the Japanese American civil rights activist. Through her, I have recognized the connections between the struggles of all people of color, and I hope to emulate her passion for social justice.”
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Mihiri Tillakaratne
21, Los Angeles, CA
School: Harvard College
» Founder and executive director of Empower a Village, a nonprofit organization that works to bring breast cancer awareness workshops, mobile eye clinics, and English and computer literacy programs to rural Sri Lanka
» Raised awareness about global poverty in her high school and community through Net- Aid’s Global Citizen Corps
Role Model: My mother has taught me both the importance of a balanced life, as well as how to be a compassionate person who gives to my community.”
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Connie Zhang
17, San Francisco, CA
School: Lowell High School
» President of the Adopt-An-Alleyway Youth Empowerment Project, where youth develop leadership and advocacy skills through service projects in their community
» Participates in the Chinatown Alleyway Tours, a youth-run, youth-led tour program on the history and social and political issues of the community
Role Model: “I believe in recognizing those who aren’t in the history books — the behind-the-scenes heroes who fight for positive change in their communities.”