Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
Scholarship & Awards Banquet
May 19, 2014
RECOGNIZING EXCEL-
LENCE. Ku’ulei de Best (left
photo, center) performs the Ta-
hitian dance “Ote’a” and Maile
Taute performs “Poi Ball Med-
ley,” a dance from New Zea-
land, at The Asian Reporter
Foundation’s 16th Annual
Scholarship & Awards Banquet.
Both dancers are part of
Kaleinani o ke Kukui. In the top
photo are this year’s Asian Re-
porter Foundation scholars and
pictured at left is Sivheng Pao
receiving her Most Honored
Elder award. (AR Photos/Jan
Landis and Jin Huang)
Awards and scholarships bestowed at The Asian
Reporter Foundation’s 16th annual banquet
By Kathleen Liermann
The Asian Reporter
he Asian Reporter Foundation’s 16th Annual
Scholarship & Awards Banquet, held at the TAO
Event Center for the second year, gathered 375
members of the community for an evening of awards and
performances. Held in advance of Asian Heritage Month,
the evening honored elders in the community, highlighted
the great work of area nonprofits, issued scholarships to
hardworking college-bound students, and showcased
dances by local performance groups.
Following a welcome by masters of ceremonies Ronault
L.S. “Polo” Catalani, Nim Xuto, and Zeke Smith, and
remarks by Asian Reporter publisher Jaime Lim, the
celebration began with the introduction of this year’s most
honored elders.
Jess F. Osilla, born in 1935 in Pangasinan province in
the Philippines, enlisted in the U.S. Navy after earning
his associate’s degree. Following 20 years of service, he
retired in 1974 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After
working another 20 years for the Farmers Insurance
Company, he retired again in 1997. Jess is an avid tennis
player who loves to dance, read history books, and
volunteer his time to many organizations.
Sary Khauv was born in 1943 in Beung Keng Kang,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He worked as a high school
teacher from 1966 until 1975, when the Khmer Rouge took
Phnom Penh and sent his family to perform forced labor.
Sary survived the abuse and terror of war, but some of his
family members did not. In 1980, he immigrated to
T
Oregon and became an English-as-a-Second-Language
(ESL) teacher. He retired in 2008, but continues to teach
Cambodian language and culture.
Sivheng Pao, born in 1940 in Kompong Cham,
Cambodia, is one of 10 children in her family. During the
Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, remarkably, she,
her husband, and children survived starvation and forced
labor. Sivheng immigrated to Oregon in 2002 to live with
her daughter and two of her grandchildren. She has been
an active participant in Oregon’s Cambodian-American
community since her arrival in the U.S.
Following the honoring of community elders, the
dancers of Kaleinani o ke Kukui took to the stage.
Featuring four numbers, the performers — Maile Taute,
Shalyn Wirfs, Ku’ulei de Best, Franchesa Graf, Anna
James, Kailani Pou, and Hanaila Starks — delighted the
crowd with “Poi Ball Medley,” a dance from New Zealand;
“I Ali’i No ’Oe” and “Sophisticated Hula,” both originating
from Hawai’i; and “Ote’a,” a Tahitian dance.
Next up was the issuing of college scholarships to the
next generation. Nearly two dozen students received
awards this year, starting with 17 awards in the amount
of $1,000 each from The Asian Reporter Foundation. Four
$500 scholarships sponsored by the Philippine American
Chamber of Commerce of Oregon followed.
This year’s students — all slated to graduate from high
school next month — attend schools in Beaverton, Oregon
City, Portland, Tigard, and Tualatin.
After the recognition of this year’s young people,
Kanchie Fujima of Fujinami Kai mesmerized the
audience with two dances. Her first, “Yamaga Koi Akari”
(“Obon Dance from Yamaga”), was a variation of a Bon
dance from the lantern festival on the island of Kyushu in
which the dancer laments the loss of her first love.
“Manten No Funauta” (“Fisherman’s Song under the
Sky”), described the hardships and feelings of a fisherman
who works in the cold northern seas: pride in his work —
performed in freezing, dangerous conditions — while also
longing for his sweetheart back in port.
Last, but a long way from least, two worthy
organizations that have been serving the community for
decades — the IRCO Asian Family Center and the
Northwest China Council — were honored with
Exemplary Community Volunteer awards.
The Asian Family Center has been providing
multilingual and multicultural community-based
services to our area’s Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian,
Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Lao, Mien, Nepali, Pacific
Islander, Thai, and Vietnamese communities since 1994.
The Northwest China Council, established in 1980, helps
educate people about Chinese history, culture, politics,
and U.S.-China relations.
After the formal program concluded, the audience
headed to the dance floor to continue enjoying each other’s
company to music provided by DJ Jason Martin of Gaucho
Records. Several dozen lucky attendees also went home
with Oregon Lottery Scratch-its won in a special give-
away. Whether attendees were lucky winners of a lottery
prize or not, everyone hit the jackpot with an evening of
great food, wonderful company, and well-deserved
recognition of exemplary elders, organizations, and
students.
The Asian Reporter Foundation extends many thanks to our banquet sponsors.
Without them, this annual event would not be possible.