Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) scholarship recipients

Alea Francine Camacho (Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, BA ‘22)

Alea grew up on the tiny island of Guam and was inspired by her community and family to better herself and serve her people. Alea grew up in a single-parent household and is the first person in her family to attend college. Recognizing the island’s healthcare services’ shortcomings, Alea is planning to pursue a master's degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) and provide access to OT on the island. Her dream is to spearhead an occupational therapy program at the University of Guam, and she hopes to inspire fellow islanders to enter this field.

Hyungeeu Choi (Information Technology, BS ‘23)

Hyungeeu is Korean American who immigrated to the US in 2004. He decided to study Information Technology to work in the cyber security field after five years of active military service. While in the military, he learned about the structure of the organization and the importance of data communication. The military emphasized data security because leakage of even small pieces of information can affect the result of the mission.

Melissa Atienza (Global Studies and Business Management, BA ’20)

Growing up as a military child, Melissa lived in Indonesia, Japan, Italy, and Bahrain for eleven years before returning to the United States to attend college. During her first year at UW Tacoma, Melissa joined the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU), an organization she now leads as president: “APISU has taught me the importance of a cultural identity … If we lose our ancestral footprint, we lose our uniqueness ... As president of APISU, I want to carry the tradition and essence of the organization, be an influencer that encourages the next generation of APIs to achieve the unthinkable, especially higher education.” Melissa also works as the Marketing Assistant for Career Development on campus.

Valomanaia Elizarraraz (Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies, BA ‘23)

"I'm living the fast life" is what Valomanaia tells herself after every success and failure. She is a 19-year-old independent college junior who has been crawling her way to success despite all the obstacles she encounters. The thought of helping her Polynesian people and family is what keeps her walking on the path to success. She is interested in advocating for the importance of mental health in her community, especially among young people.

Exita Lealofi (Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies minor in Global Engagement, BA ‘23)

Becoming a UW Tacoma student, Exita has learned that the more she witnesses and experiences a community's lack of inclusion and diversity, the more she wants to make a difference among her peers to create a sense of security and belonging. Exita became a Pack Advisor to work with incoming students on campus during the past year as well as the co-founder of the UW Tacoma Pacific Islander Student Alliance, which aims to foster a more critical and thorough understanding of PI issues and identity while advocating for PI community needs. She has volunteered at multiple high schools and non-profit organizations, and she hopes to pursue a master's degree in social work with a focus on providing protection and safety for API women and children who have experienced violence and abuse. 

Brandon Bourgette (Business Administration: Marketing, BA ‘23)

Brandon grew up in a single parent home and initially struggled academically in high school. With the help of tutors, he learned how to utilize his time and how to study more effectively.  The next quarter, he was on the honor roll: “What I learned is that it is okay to ask for help when you need it; not only in school but in life.” Brandon is now a marketing major and plans to attend dental school specializing in Orthodontics after graduation.  Once he opens his practice, he plans on providing pro bono services to members of his community.  Brandon believes that healthcare is a fundamental right for everyone.

Komisi Petelo (Computer Science & Systems, BS ‘23)

Komisi is a first generation college who hopes to use his computer science skills to support his community. In addition to being a student, Komisi serves as a Peer Success Mentor at the UW Tacoma Teaching and Learning Center. He is also proud to have co-facilitated a workshop to 80+ college students at a conference about health, networking, being a speaker at a scholarship donor dinner, as well as mentoring high school students on their path to college. After graduation, Komisi plans to work for a tech company and hopes to inspire other Pacific Islanders to pursue STEM careers.

Ihsanullah Abdulrahimzai (Premajor)

Achieving higher education had always been Ihsanullah’s dream especially since neither of his parents graduated high school. As an immigrant to the United States, it wasn’t clear if that dream was attainable, and family obligations initially prevented him from attending university. Ihsanullah has worked as a Finance Officer and Payable Accountant for over four years in Afghanistan. After coming to the U.S.,  he attended Highline College to pursue an Associate Degree of Business Emphasis in Accounting (DTA). He is working towards an Accounting degree at UW Tacoma.

Jonah Bardos (Computer Engineering & Systems, BS ’21)

Jonah was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S., where he focuses his studies on Computer Engineering. He is pursuing this field because he is passionate about technology development: “The technological revolution of the 21st century, and the innovation that continues to result from it, has changed everything we thought we knew about the world. The way we work, live, and communicate was altered immensely in the last ten years, and will continue to change as more and more advancement is made in technology.” He looks forward to helping to shape this future.

Caleb Chang (Computer Science & Systems, BS ’21)

Caleb is studying Computer Science with the goal of becoming a software engineer, and he hopes to develop technology that benefits older adults as well as people with disabilities. He plans to join the HusCII coding club on campus and pursue an internship with a tech company this summer. Knowing as much as he does about both hardware and software, he is often asked by friends and family to help explain new technology and volunteers in community centers to help older adults with technology use.

Joseph Dayonot (Information Technology, BS’ 20)

Joe is a half Samoan, half Filipino student studying Information Technology at UW Tacoma. He is currently the treasurer for the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU). Joe plans on continuing to work with APISU in helping others find their place on campus.

Abid Rahmani (Business Administration, BA ‘21)

Abid was born in Afghanistan, but his family decided to seek refuge in Pakistan as the security situation in his country of birth worsened. After completing primary, middle, and high school in Pakistan, Abid moved back to Afghanistan in 2008 to work on USAID funded economic and regional projects. Due to his employment with a U.S. government agency, his life was in jeopardy, and he eventually moved to the United States with his family.

After working as a security officer in the U.S., Abid is now a business student at UW Tacoma. He continues to work as an Economic Development Specialist with the Diocese of Olympia while pursuing his education. His goal is to pursue an MBA in Management and to eventually run his own business.

Francine Ruth (Pre-major)

As a recipient of the AANAPISI scholarship, Francine vows to work diligently to bridge families and communities while encouraging support for one another. “My journey in obtaining my degree has given me the liberty to speak about learning for a lifespan to my children and many others. To return to [college] at 39 years old was not a choice I took lightly.”

As her son became gravely ill, Francine watched her two teenagers support him selflessly. Her children’s compassion encouraged her to stop her career and follow a longtime dream of working toward a bachelor’s degree. The AANAPISI Scholarship will support her in achieving that dream.

Cindy Thao (Healthcare Leadership, BA ‘20)

Cindy is grateful for the support she received from people who believed in her and helped her believe in herself. Growing up poor, she had to work to support her parents and younger siblings. Says Cindy: “I did drugs, I was diagnosed with depression, and I lost everything, but somehow I was able to realize that there is more to life.” She decided to go back to school to become a licensed vocational nurse and completed her Associate’s degree in 2016.

She is now a student in the Healthcare Leadership program and works as a student research assistant for the Nourish Pierce County program. After completing her Bachelor’s, she hopes to pursue a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, in an effort to better understand how to improve care and provide culturally appropriate nutrition at long-term care facilities.

Eric Min (Information Technology, BS ‘19)

Eric focused his studies on cybersecurity and information assurance with a minor in business administration and hopes to work in project management or cybersecurity after graduation. While at UW Tacoma, he founded Campus Adult Ministry (CAM), a registered student organization, to give back, share his faith, and build community. He is grateful to the guidance he has received from his mentors and proud that he was able to overcome his shyness and lack of ambition to thrive in college.

Jenny Rubario (pre-major)

Jenny Rubario is a recent immigrant to the United States. She transferred to UW Tacoma from Pierce College, where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, American Honors, and ASPIRE, a support program for Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Jenny plans to pursue a Business major and hopes to work in the financial sector after graduation.

Truc Tran (Healthcare Leadership, BA ‘20)

Truc immigrated to the United States from Vietnam with her family as a child. When they first arrived in the United States, they had had to start all over: adapt to a new place, to a new language, and to everything else that was different. Her interest in the healthcare field was piqued while she looked after her sick grandfather near the end of his life: “I would feed him and help him with his necessities. The one thing that stood out for me was that he always smiled and appreciated all the things I did for him. The feeling I had every time he would smile felt so powerful.” Truc hopes to help others in need by working in the healthcare field after graduation.

Tuyen Ngoc Tran (Business Administration, BA ‘20)

Tuyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, which she describes as “one of the most influential personal events that has shaped my character through academic and cultural challenges”. It is this immigration experience and the subsequent integration into U.S. society that have helped her build important intercultural skills. Tuyen is active in the Vietnamese Student Association and the Power Lifting Club at UW Tacoma and works at the front desk of the Center for Student Involvement. She hopes to manage her own non-profit organization to provide support and opportunities for families and young adults.

Dilluchei (Lu-A) Kikuo (Politics, Philosophy, & Economics, BA ‘19)

I am from the Republic of Palau, a small and young island nation in the Micronesian region of the Pacific Islands. I came to the U.S. right after high school to go to college. However, due to some financial and personal setbacks, my educational journey has taken quite some time to complete. After transferring to UW-Tacoma from my former schools and changing my major to PPE: Politics and Philosophy, I finally feel that I am on the right track. This has made my learning experience more fun, satisfying, and engaging.

I am interested in law school after my undergraduate studies. My ultimate goal is to move back to Palau with my husband and our son to live there once I have completed law school. I believe that for me personally, studying politics and law holds the key to becoming a competent and conscientious contributing member of Palauan society.

Kennaro Samrith (Accounting, BA ‘18)

Since moving to Tacoma, WA for college I was introduced to various community members from different cultural disciplines. Each of them has either encouraged, challenged or mentored me to become the person I am today.

An important goal for me was to overcome my shyness and explore the world for what it has to offer. Each and every day I promise myself to seek discomfort to learn more about myself by simply just saying, “YES”. This ranges from riding an electric longboard for the first time to traveling with a group of strangers across the country to help with disaster relief efforts.

My overall goal is to educate individuals on the importance of community. I plan to utilize my role as a student leader to connect students with Tacoma communities to learn from and with each other.

Kinza Mohammad (Healthcare Leadership, BA ‘19)

I was born in Las Vegas, NV to parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan. Being a Muslim Woman, it is often a challenge to fit in. Sometimes, you are told things by your own people that break you, like, “You’re a Woman, you can’t be doing that.” Well, being as stubborn as I am, I did all of those things, that “I wasn’t supposed to do.” I played sports – including Judo and Track, joined many clubs, participated in science fairs, ran for class president, volunteered, and started working at age 16. At Green River College, I worked as a Biology Lab tech aid and a peer navigator in the Office of Diversity. But to be honest, I almost didn’t graduate high school. I was failing 3 classes, had 2 C’s and one B. If it wasn’t for running start, I don’t think I would have graduated. My running start teachers allowed me to find my true potential. My family pushed me to keep moving forward, and encouraged me to do the impossible. I am in the healthcare leadership program now and aspire to help those in countries that do not have adequate healthcare. Being the first in my family to go to college, everything is new to me. It is sometimes a hassle to find out what step comes next, but I am slowly working my way through.

James Da (Social Welfare, BA '19)

James Christian Da is a first generation college student who identifies as a queer person of color studying social work and global honors at the University of Washington Tacoma. He is the co-founder of the first student-led, student-funded, and student-driven program on campus that specifically caters, supports, and celebrates first generation students (First Gen Fellows), while also serving and representing undeclared students in his capacity as an Undeclared Senator for the ASUWT Student Government. He is committed to educational growth and the overall advancement for all students of different backgrounds as he himself is the first individual in his family to attend a high-ranking university. He aims to become a social worker or serve in any capacity that advocates for those who are underrepresented and marginalized.

Leonard Da (Premajor)

I am an Asian-American first generation college student studying Healthcare Leadership. I wasn’t sure if I could afford going to college. Both my parents attended college in the Philippines but they never completed a degree because of financial hardship. I’m very blessed and thankful for my parents shaping my character, and helping me realize what a privilege receiving an education is.

My career goal is to become a healthcare provider so that I may be able to help others in need. I plan on giving back to my community after completing my education by volunteering and interning at local hospitals and care management facilities. After that, I would like to work for an organization that provides healthcare resources to developing countries.

Malinda Osborn (Communication, BA' 18)

I am a first-generation Chamorro student and work at UW Tacoma Library and the Center for Equity & Inclusion where I develop events and workshops focused on Identity. I am very excited to study abroad in Italy with support from a Gilman International Scholarship in winter 2018. I will be participating in the “Creativity and Place: Seeing and Re-seeing Rome and Italy” program.

James Sweeney (History, BA ‘23)

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David Lu (Information Technology, BS '19)

Being the first in my family to go to college was challenging. I didn't know what resources I had available to me. My parents immigrated here from Vietnam and had no experience with the American education system. I often kept to myself and tried not to be a bother to anyone. This resulted in me being an introvert. When I came to UW Tacoma I didn't know anyone. I kept to myself for two quarters before I told myself that I was tired of being alone all the time. I mustered up the strength to go check out a few RSO's on campus. This is where everything started to change. I started meeting more people and socializing more. My personality and habits took a 180 degree turn. I went from being antisocial and not knowing what I wanted to major in to the complete opposite.

I am now majoring in Information Technology and my goal is to educate everyone about the effects of e-waste on the environment. At my past internship they were tossing a semi-new phone when I asked if I could have it. They said yes, so I took it home and refurbished it, and it is now the phone I use. Any electronic contains elements that can be reused or chemicals that need to be properly disposed of. If everyone were to know about this, we could be more efficient about what we do with our e-waste and make reduce the amount of e-waste that we produce

Vanessa Hung (Premajor)

As the daughter of a Chinese immigrant and a Vietnamese refugee, I am pursuing my dream of becoming a cyber-consultant with time, dedication, effort, and passion. The United States Department of Homeland Security states that 90 percent of security incidents are caused by poor software development. When my skills are well developed in the near future, I will provide my utmost abilities and effort to protect this nation from further cyberattacks.

I am a hardworking student regardless of any financial and academic difficulties I have faced. I have sacrificed a lot of time from leisure activities and focused on academics, school activities as well as volunteering. I was a concertmaster of orchestra from grade 5 to grade 12 and received state and solo awards in orchestra performances and competitions. I volunteered as a Study Zone tutor at the Kent Regional Library for 3 years and at Northwest Harvest to help provide food for those in need.