Scholarship & Awards Banquet Page 10 n THE ASIAN REPORTER Exemplary Community Volunteers May 19, 2014 AR Foundation Scholars IRCO Asian Family Center The IRCO Asian Family Center (AFC) was established in 1994 by the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) to provide multilingual and multicultural community-based services. The nonprofit center serves more than 5,200 individuals and families each year in our area’s diverse Asian communities — Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Lao, Mien, Nepali, Pacific Islander, Thai, and Vietnamese — as well as the mainstream population. In the past year, AFC has worked on many projects impacting the Asian community, including the Diversity and Civic Leadership program’s “Engage” civic engagement survey, which helped Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community leaders collect, analyze, and report data to city and government officials; the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Institute, a program that builds leadership skills and addresses racial disparities facing API communities; and the Cover Oregon Outreach and Enrollment program, which assists APIs in accessing health insurance. In addition, AFC has several ongoing outreach programs, including afterschool programming that supports school-age students’ academic achievement; programs that assist families in preparing children younger than five years old for school; anti-poverty programs that help families stay in their homes and keep their utilities on; and more. To learn more, visit . w Northwest China Council The Northwest China Council (NWCC) was established by the Asia Society of New York in 1980 as one of 12 Regional Councils to help educate the American public about Chinese history, culture, politics, and U.S.-China relations. The organization, which is currently made up of 250 members of both Chinese and non-Chinese ethnicities, is also a regional resource providing educational programs, information services, and foreign trade expertise in Oregon and southwest Washington. In the past year, NWCC held a two-part program addressing the U.S.-China relationship and China’s food safety risks; a talk by Mel Gurtov, professor emeritus of Portland State University, on the future of U.S.-China relations; monthly business presentations and regular business networking mixers; and monthly movie nights and book club meetings. The group also offers ongoing Mandarin language instruction classes, cultural and educational presentations and activities, and programs on current events in China. Additionally, the organization leads cultural and business tours to China and sponsors various China-related events with other organizations in the area. To learn more, visit . AR Photos/Jan Landis Nomination forms for the 2015 awards will be available January 1, 2015 and will cover volunteer efforts performed between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. For more information, visit or . o PACCO awards four $500 scholarships The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon (PACCO) also awarded scholarships at this year’s Asian Reporter Foundation Scholarship & Awards Banquet. PACCO, now in its 11th year of giving awards, issued four scholarships. This year’s students each received a $500 scholarship and complimentary tickets to the banquet. The 2014 recipients are Samantha Janel David, Kiara Mina, Cassidy Morillo, and Jenin Blair L. Reyes. High school seniors or current college students of Filipino descent who are legal residents of Oregon or southwest Washington are eligible to apply for PACCO scholarships. Awards must be utilized at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational/technical school in Oregon or Washington. To learn more, call (503) 285-1994 or visit . New Owners Newly remodeled All new equipment. Belmont Eco Laundry has large capacity washers and dryers, perfect for those comforters, sleeping bags, big family loads, work clothes, and more! You’ll get your laundry done in record time, leaving you time to spend with family and friends. Visit us at Belmontecolaundry.com for more details. 4725 SE Belmont St. Open daily 8 to 10 ASTHMA IS ON THE RISE. Help us find a cure. 1-800-LUNG-USA 2014 Asian Reporter Foundation Scholars (left to right): Yun Kuan, Phoebe Huynh, Vy Le, Jessica Trinh, Thuy-an Nguyen, Lily Chen, Ayush Kumar, Tan Dai, and Emily Nguyen. (AR Photos) Yun Kuan $1,000 sponsored by the Oregon Lottery Yun Kuan, a senior at Tualatin High School, is the daughter of Care Kuan and Hsiu-Hsiang Kuo. She volunteers as an academic tutor and also as a teacher’s assistant in dance at the Portland Chinese School. Her extracurricular activities include studying Mandarin and learning Taiwanese culture, playing piano and volleyball, serving as a student ambassador, and participating in Future Business Leaders of America and Key Club. In the fall, Yun plans to pursue a degree in marketing at Portland State University. w Phoebe Huynh $1,000 sponsored by the Oregon Lottery Madison High School senior Phoebe Huynh is the daughter of Toan Huynh and Hanh Do. She serves as an academic mentor at Lavang Language School and Freshman Academy and tutors as part of National Honor Society. In addition, Phoebe volunteers for Providence Portland Medical Center and other organizations. She is a member of the Red Cross Club, Key Club, and co-leads the Providence Rebels anti-smoking campaign. She plans to study chemistry and biology at Portland State University. w Vy Le $1,000 sponsored by Comcast Vy Le, the daughter of Nhy Le and Van Nguyen, is a senior at Madison High School. She served as student ambassador at the 2013 Asian American Youth Leader- ship Conference and has volunteered as a teacher assistant at Lavang Language School, an Upward Bound tutor, and a school office aid translating Vietnamese. Vy is founder and president of the Madison Interact Club and a member of the Madison Viet Group and Red Cross Club. She plans to major in biochemistry at the University of Portland. w Jessica Trinh $1,000 sponsored by FamilyCare, Inc De La Salle North Catholic High School senior Jessica Trinh is the daughter of Thomas Trinh. She works as a marketing intern at Grand & Benedicts and as a server at Panda Express. She volunteers as a youth leader at Camp Odyssey and as an outdoor school counsellor. Jessica is a member of Heritage Club, Drama Club, and Constitution Club, and helped organize the first Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration at De La Salle North. She plans to major in biology at Pacific University. w Thuy-an Nguyen $1,000 sponsored by Fred Meyer Thuy-an Nguyen, the daughter of Tung Nguyen and Thu Pham, is a senior at Madison High School. She works at City Target and volunteers for the Oregon Food Bank, The Grotto, and the Madison Naturescape Cleanup. She is a member and co-captain of the golf team and has also performed in the Lunar New Year celebration. In the fall, Thuy-an plans to study marketing and finance at the University of Oregon. w Lily Chen $1,000 sponsored by Kaiser Permanente Northwest Franklin High School senior Lily Chen is the daughter of Qing Yi Chen and Sally Lei. She has worked for the Neighborhood Learning Center and Gear Up, volunteered for the Multnomah County Library summer reading program, and participated in the Multnomah County Library Teen Council, Link Crew, and Red Cross Club. In addition, she plays on the tennis team, attends Chinese language school, served as president and secretary of the Chinese Club, and is a member of the Vietnamese Club and the Advanced Scholar Program. Lily plans to study pre-medicine at Oregon State University. w Ayush Kumar $1,000 sponsored by Multnomah County Ayush Kumar, a senior at Oregon City High School, is the son of Jai and Asha Kumar. He donates his time serving as a social science tutor at his school and Continued on page 11