2020-2021 Cypress APIA Award Recipient

Anh Nguyen is one of the three APIA Cypress College 2020-2021 award recipients. After arriving in the United States, she was a dedicated volunteer at the Refugee Helping Center and is currently volunteering at the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance helping others like herself who are struggling with English and managing in a new country. Anh is able to use her experiences to provide services with empathy and care. As a volunteer, some of Anh's duties include translating and interpreting for others, and making referrals to important services. 

Anh has received the Courage Award from the North Orange Continuing Education campus and despite personal hardships, Anh has persevered and maintained a 4.0 grade point average while caring for her daughter. In the future, she hopes to work in the health care field and continue her work helping others. 

NOCCCD APIA and Fullerton College’s Department of Ethnic Studies Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence

If you are interested in receiving the document with working links, please contact Jane Ishibashi at jishibashi@fullcoll.edu

Stand Against Anti-Asian Hate

APIA held a Stand Against Anti-Asian Hate event on the corner of Lemon and Chapman in front of the campus

Fullerton College APIA Scholarship Recipient

We are happy to announce the Fullerton College APIA Scholarship recipient for 2019-2020, Chanelle Rose Leva. Chanelle has been a dedicated volunteer on and off campus. She volunteered as a tutor for kindergarten and high school students. During the typhoon season in 2018, Chanelle volunteered in the Philippine Red Cross helping with a food drive, record keeping, and the distribution of basic necessities. At Fullerton College, Chanelle was a volunteer for the Biotechnology Outreach Program and she worked as a peer notetaker for students through Disability Support Services. She has volunteered in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a hospital and been employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a Sub Acute rehabilitation facility. Seeing the effects of COVID-19 have only strengthened her desire to increase her contributions in the medical field. With a certificate as a Biotechnology Laboratory Assistant and a degree in anthropology, Chanelle will be transferring to UCLA in fall. Chanelle plans to eventually work in biotechnology or pursue a career as a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine.

Cypress College APIA Scholarship Recipient 2019-2020

Jan Danielle Cimeni is the Cypress College APIA scholarship recipient for 2019-2020. She was born in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippine Islands. Following her grandmother’s lead, her parents, Jan Danielle, and her brother immigrated to the United States when she was two years old. During her years at Cypress College, Jan Danielle earned a place on either the Dean’s or President’s Honor list with GPAs over 3.75 or 3.5. While maintaining her high GPA, she volunteered in a Christian organization by visiting nursing homes and helping to feed the homeless. On campus, Jan Danielle served as a mentor in the STEM2 program familiarizing new students with Cypress College and cementing friendships that enriched both herself and the students. On top of her numerous campus and community obligations, Jan Danielle also worked in fast food restaurants and as an after-school camp instructor. As a camp instructor, Jan Danielle engaged grade school students in science activities while keeping vigilant watch over them.

Next year, Jan Danielle will attend Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Clinical Science program. The pandemic has deepened her desire to obtain her degree in Clinical Science and to eventually work in laboratories to find cures to diseases and help the world of medicine progress.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

This month is Asian Pacific Heritage Month. For more information, visit the Library of Congress Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website.

Cypress College 2018-2019 APIA Scholarship Recipient

Vishal Sunny Mehta is the Cypress College 2018-2019 APIA Scholarship recipient. Despite extreme hardships including losing his parents at a young age then being abandoned in France by his foster parents, Sunny earned his nickname by maintaining an easy-going demeanor and a desire to help others. He is working on a degree in engineering or molecular neuroscience, but whatever he decides, Sunny's plan includes working with Latino young people and helping them reach higher education goals. Sunny volunteered  for the LAPD Eye and Ear program to prevent crimes in the community and also to help illegal immigrant crime victims. While keeping up his grades to make the Dean's Honor list, Sunny also volunteered at the Cypress College food bank and as a STEM scholar helping students enrolled in science classes.