Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
Scholarship & Awards Banquet
May 21, 2018
CULTURAL CELEBRATION. Performers
with the Filipino American Friendship Club of Ore-
gon (top left photo) entertain the crowd at The
Asian Reporter Foundation’s 20th Annual Scholar-
ship & Awards Banquet. Also performing at the
gala event was the Lee’s Association Dragon &
Lion Dance Team (right photo). In addition to
cultural entertainment, the evening featured a
nine-course dinner, the 2018 Most Honored Elder
awards, recognition of area Exemplary Community
Volunteers, the issuing of Asian Reporter Founda-
tion scholarships (bottom left photo), dinner, a
silent auction, and more. (AR Photos/Jan Landis)
20th awards gala celebrates elders, scholars, volunteers
By Kathleen Liermann
The Asian Reporter
he Asian Reporter Foundation
recently held its annual scholar-
ship and awards banquet at Wong’s
King Seafood Restaurant in southeast
Portland. The evening, celebrating the
foundation’s 20th event, featured a nine-
course dinner, cultural entertainment,
awards, and a silent auction.
Approximately 275 people in attendance
witnessed the recognition of the efforts
and achievements of Oregon’s Asian-
American community — by elders,
community groups, and youth. This year’s
banquet celebrated two valued community
elders, 12 college-bound students, and
three organizations.
While mingling with old friends and
meeting new ones, attendees began bid-
ding on numerous silent auction items —
from gift cards and weekend getaways to
artwork, bags, and backpacks — during
the social hour. Banquet-goers also gath-
ered near the photo booth to pose for the
camera.
Kicking off the evening’s program was
the Lee’s Association Dragon & Lion
Dance Team. The colorful creatures
started at the back of the room and danced
T
their way through the tables before
reaching the stage. Many attendees,
dressed in traditional clothing as well
their banquet finest, pulled out
smartphones to capture a shot of the vivid
red, gold, and white lions.
As the Triple Crown Platter, the night’s
first course, arrived on the tables, master
of ceremonies Zeke Smith and Jaime Lim,
publisher of The Asian Reporter, welcomed
everyone and thanked them for supporting
the annual gala for the past two decades.
During the evening, attendees dined on
the restaurant’s special soup, hand-pulled
chicken salad, salted pepper pork chops,
scallops and prawns, steamed fish, king
mushroom with vegetables, pan-fried
noodles, and double pastries.
The first awards were bestowed on this
year’s Most Honored Elders — Tai Duc Tu
and Hongsa Chanthavong,
Tai Duc Tu, who spent nearly seven
years in prisoner-of-war camps perform-
ing hard labor, immigrated to the U.S.
from Vietnam in 1991. He now spends his
days reading, writing, volunteering, and
visiting with his grandchildren. Hongsa
Chanthavong, who officially immigrated
to the U.S. from Laos in 1983, has
advocated for the Asian community during
his 30-year career with the Immigrant and
Refugee Community Organization and
also in retirement. He currently travels,
gardens, exercises, and advises younger
community leaders.
The commitment and resilience of this
year’s honored elders were recognized by
the hundreds in attendance, who gave
them an enthusiastic round of applause.
The next performance featured mem-
bers of Unit Souzou — Michelle Fujii, Toru
Watanabe, and Scott Miyako — who
energized the crowd. The group engaged
everyone in the room with their creative
and imaginative pieces.
Awards were then given to this year’s
scholars. The 2018 Asian Reporter
Foundation
scholarship
recipients
included Chablue Wah, Megan Nellor,
Hannah Tan, JJ Pen, Alexis Han, Feeyee
Zhen, Catherine Le, Linh Ly, and
Catherine Hu, who each received awards
ranging between $2,000 and $2,500.
The young people, who have been
involved in sports, music, theater, student
council, language classes, and more
throughout their high school years, plan to
begin studies majoring in finance,
marketing, nursing, computer science,
music, ministry, political science, and
international relations in the fall.
Following the Asian Reporter Founda-
tion awards were the Philippine American
Chamber of Commerce of Oregon
(PACCO) scholars — Joni Cobarrubias,
Ethan Dentler, and Faith Gaviola — who
were each awarded $700 scholarships.
The final awards of the evening —
recognition given for an Exemplary
Community Volunteer Effort by an
organization — were then handed out. The
three groups — the Cambodian American
Community of Oregon, the Muslim
Educational Trust, and the Philippines
Nurses Association of Oregon &
Washington — have contributed to the
local community for a combined 70 years.
From organizing celebrations, fund-
raisers, and food drives to holding commu-
nity-service projects and language classes,
each group has a unique story and a long
history of volunteerism.
After the final auction tables closed,
people claimed the items they had bid on
throughout the evening. The night ended
with long goodbyes and more photo booth
pictures. The Asian Reporter Foundation
extends many thanks to this year’s
attendees and invites everyone to join the
21st banquet next April.
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