8th Annual Asian Pacific Islander Forum
Wednesday, October 24, 2018

The Asian/Pacific Islander Faculty & Staff Association (APIA), the Cadena Cultural Center and the NOCCCD Office of Diversity and Compliance sponsored:

8th Annual Asian Pacific Islander Forum
Wednesday, October 24
11:45am-1:30pm
In the Fullerton College Center, Room 224-8

Celebrating Pilipinx-American History Month and the contributions of the Pilipinx American community in honor of Larry Itliong Day (Oct. 25).
With guest speakers from “Search to Involve Pilipino Americans” (SIPA).

84 students and 16 staff attended the forum!

The Asian Pacific Islander Forum will be held on

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

on Fullerton College in Bldg. 200, rm. 224-228

11:45 am to 1:30 pm

In celebration of Pilipinx-American History Month the forum will include speakers from SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans

Kaya Press presents Migrant Voices Between Korea and China

Kaya Press presents Migrant Voices Between Korea and China


 “Migrant Voices Between Korea and China: Politics, Literature, and Translation in Kim San’s Song of Airang and Cheon Unyeong’s Farewell, Circus” 

September 7, 2018 at 3-5 PM, Doheney Memorial Library (DML 240) at USC; light refreshments will be served. 

The ethnic Korean minority in China have emerged in recent years as important political and cultural mediators between China and the two Koreas, while also growing more assertive of their own autonomous identity from all three East Asian nation-states. Timed with the inaugurations of the Magpie Series in Modern and contemporary Korea Literature at Kaya Press, this symposium brings together writers, academics, and cultural producers to reflect on the politics of historical and contemporary diaspora of the Korean Chinese and the literary translation of migrant voices. The event will center on two opening publications of Magpie Series: the expanded edition of Kim San and Nym Wale’s Song of Arirang, a biography of a Korean revolutionary in 1930s China, and the first English translation of Cheon Unyeong’s Fairwell, Circus, a rare novel about Korean-Chinese intermarriage.

This symposium will feature presentations by Choen Unyeong and Jinim Park, respectively writer and translater of Farewell, Circus, and by the editor of Song of Arirang, Prof. Dongyoun Hwang (Soka University). They will be joined by USC and UCLA faculty and student respondents.

Welcome Reception and APIA Scholarships

On May 8th, 2018, APIA held a welcome reception for Dr. Joanna Schilling and Provost Valentina Purtell. In addition, APIA awarded our annual scholarship.

Michelle Tee, Valentina Purtell, Dr. Joanna Schilling and Billy Pashaie

President Greg Schulz of Fullerton College, Chancellor Cheryl Marshall and Fred Williams (Vice Chancellor, Finance & Facilities)

Camille was recognized for her academic excellence during her studies at Fullerton College. She was on the President’s Honor list, she won the library’s Banned Book essay contest, and she received a UCLA research grant to fund her work on the topic, “Marginalization Through Diction: Examining everyday microaggressions to LGBTQ students of color at Community College Campuses.”

While keeping up her grades, Camille also found time for volunteer work that earned her the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society Community Service Award.  Camille volunteered off-campus at Commonwealth Elementary School and at retirement homes, but she has also been very active on-campus. She received the Senator of the Year award for her service on Associated Students as the Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee and in various other capacities. She also served as the Fullerton College delegate for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. Camille participated as a representative or panelist at events at UCI, UCR, and Fullerton College to provide perspectives and solutions for educators and students dealing with LGBTQ students of color. Camille also received the Students of Distinction Service Achievement Award.

Our Cypress College APIA scholarship recipient, Bao Tran, unfortunately had a scheduling conflict and was unable to accept his award at the Anaheim campus event. Bao Tran came highly recommended by Jane Jepson, a counselor at Cypress College, who has known him since 2016. They met when he became a student worker in the Career Technical Education department. He immigrated to the US in 2013 and after overcoming language barriers and financial hardships, Bao completed high school then enrolled at Cypress College, where he has studied graphic design. He plans to attend Cal State Long Beach this fall, continuing his studies in graphic design. He was very busy during his 3 years at Cypress College. He became known for his technical and artistic expertise. He also gained a reputation as the person that his peers could always count on. Bao found his calling in human rights and you could find him volunteering at the International Student Club and Multicultural Club events. He won a number of awards for his activism and academic achievements.

Welcome Event

APIA will be welcoming Dr. Joanna Schilling and Valentina Purtell to the NOCCCD. During this event, we will be awarding a scholarship to a deserving student from both Fullerton College and Cypress College.

Social Mixer and Membership Drive

Several members of APIA met at a restaurant and mingled with other NOCCCD employees interested in APIA. APIA is expanding our membership through all the campuses in the district and we encourage you to attend our events.

WorldFest April 2018

APIA members set up a popular table at the annual WorldFest event organized by the Cadena Cultural Center. Students and staff could pinpoint the countries of origin of their families and ancestors on a world map. The diversity on campus was apparent when tracking the locations on the map. Students and staff marked origins from the following locations: Africa, California (Native American), Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jakarta, Japan, Mexico, North Korea, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Scotland, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Surabaya, Sweden, Syria, Tonga, and Vietnam. In addition, API students could write on post-its to comment on their experiences at Fullerton College. Thydan Huynh, Marwin Luminarias, Naomi Abesamis, Kevin Tran, and Jane Ishibashi helped out with the display table.

APIA Scholarships

Asian Pacific Islander Faculty Staff Association (APIA) seeks to recognize outstanding students who exemplify the spirit of APIA by achieving academic excellence and demonstrating personal commitment and dedicated service to their community. The APIA scholarships of $200 will be awarded to two currently enrolled students in any field. There will be one recipient per campus.  The student must submit (1) a personal essay (maximum 500 words) of goals and accomplishments including his or her community involvement; (2) a transcript of grades (a printout of the unofficial transcript from MyGateway is acceptable); (3) a letter of recommendation; (4) and the application form. Members of the APIA scholarship committee read all applications and select the winner.

 Specific eligibility criteria are:

• Be a currently enrolled student at Cypress or Fullerton College.
• Plan to be enrolled at least half-time at an accredited 4 year college or university in the Fall 2018 term
• Demonstrate community involvement or volunteer work
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.00

APIA welcomes all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, ability status, age, religious affiliation, etc. For application form: APIA Scholarship Form   For application information and addresses: Application information

Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

$50,000 in Scholarships Now Available

Deadline: 11:59pm – Wednesday, March 28, 2018

10 – $5,000 Scholarships for High School Seniors and 1st Year College Students

Planning to Attend a University/College in the U.S. in the Fall of 2018

 The Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund is focused on helping economically-challenged Taiwanese American youth fulfill their dreams of obtaining higher education.

For more information:
Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

2018 Royal Business Bank Scholarship Program

Royal Business Bank Scholarship

$20,000 in Scholarship Awards Available

20 – $1,000 Scholarships Available for High School Seniors
Planning to Attend College as a Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Student in the Fall of 2018

Royal Business Bank is committed to supporting economically-challenged youth, presiding in their business service territories to fulfill their dreams of obtaining higher education.

Deadline: 11:59pm –

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Eligibility:

• • High school seniors who reside in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County and Clark County-Nevada
  • Plan to attend a U.S. Accredited 4-Year College/University of California/Nevada Community College as a 1st year student in the Fall of 2018 (if selected, must submit college acceptance letter for verification)
  • Have a minimum cumulative unweighted high school GPA of 3.0
  • Have a household income at or below the County Low Income Level (must be able to show 2016 or 2017 tax return should applicant be selected for award)
  • The scholarship is open to ALL MAJORS and there is NO ETHNICITY REQUIREMENT
  • Employees of Royal Business Bank and their immediate family members are NOT eligible to apply

APIA Holiday Buffet Gathering

Dec. 20, 2017 at Kyoto Buffet and Grill in Brea

The NOCCCD Asian Pacific Islander Faculty & Staff Association organized a holiday social mixer and membership drive dinner. We were able to expand our membership to include faculty, staff, and administrators throughout the district. While we had a wonderful time meeting new people and eating a wide variety of dishes, we also discussed plans to establish an advisory board and to elect officers. Members will work on outreach to community organizations and businesses who could offer internships for students as well as donations for a cultural graduation ceremony. Pass the word to NOCCCD employees who you think would be interested in joining APIA to help organize a cultural graduation or have contacts in the community who could provide internship opportunities or scholarships for our students.