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ASIAN AVENUE - PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine
Connect with us! hello@asianavemag.com @asianavemag
Join us on Sunday, August 18 at our fundraising gala for Social Fabric: Asian American Community and Cultural Center. Learn more at cacendenver.org/gala.
And just like that, summer is on its way out and our children are getting ready for back to school festivities! We would like to give a huge thank you to our summer intern Kadence Relente for working with us through the LEAP Emerge Program. In this issue, check our articles about the ‘Colorado Lotus Project’ and ‘Student Life for Asian American College Students.’ We know Kadence will do amazing things as she enters her junior year at University of South Florida and prepares for medical school. We were fortunate to have her work with us this summer!
In our August edition, we highlight a young local musician, seven-year-old Natalie Ouyang, who has been playing the piano since she was four. We share her story and talents in this issue, and also have invited her to our fundraising gala on Sunday, August 18. Join us to hear Natalie perform as she dazzles on the piano!
The gala is a fundraising event for Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network’s project to develop an Asian American community center. Experience an evening of food, drinks and desserts, while learning more about the community center’s features including co-working space and offices, a library and cafe, and kids play area. If you are unable to attend, but would like to support the endeavor, learn more at: cacendenver.org/donate
Also mark your calendars for the opening of Resilient Narratives (see below), Saigon Azteca Night Market on August 10, and Spirit of Japan from August 23-25.
@gracegeeart
@chicoman_the_artist
“Resilient Narratives” showcases the powerful and evocative works of Grace Gee and Christian Ortiz, highlighting themes of resilience and healing. Gee’s multimedia art, including artist books and sculptures, explores the boundaries of human vulnerability and strength, inviting viewers to engage in an intimate dialogue about personal and collective healing. Ortiz’s “Portraits of Power” series magnifies the essence of resilience through vivid digital portraits of people of color adorned with symbolic florals, reclaiming their narratives of survival and triumph. This exhibition weaves together stories of overcoming adversity, celebrating the human spirit’s capacity to rise above challenges. Through their art, both artists create spaces where strength and vulnerability coexist, offering pathways to transformation and empowerment.
ASIAN AVENUE TEAM
Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO President
GUO VANDAN Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web
ZHANG
JESSALYN LANGEVIN
PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
on the cover
Seven-year-old pianist Natalie Ouyang earns a top spot in the Yamaha Piano Competition ACD I and places third in the XV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT.
Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine
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Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
4 PRESIDENT’S
8 SPOTLIGHT: Mrs. Colorado American Christina Joymon competes in national pageant in Las Vegas
10 HEALTH: Colorado Lotus Project illustrates the needs of AANHPI communities
12 FEATURE: Spirit of Japan offers authentic Japanese food and spirit experience at Denver’s Sakura Square on August 23-25, 2024
14 COVER: Natalie Ouyang displays immense talent on piano at the age of 7
16 INSIDE STORY: Catch Happiness at the Newly Opened Crane Games in Aurora
17 FOOD & BEV: Vita Cane celebrates one year anniversary of sugarcane drink
18 EDUCATION: The Life of a College Student and Asian American Student Organizations
22 COMMUNITY RESOURCE: You Have the Right Sexual Assault Resources
Since winning Mrs. Colorado American 2024, Christina Joymon has been reflecting about ways she can inspire others.
She said: “I’ve been sharing more on social media all the things that make me special in hopes that it helps others see the special things in their lives, to shine bright, and be the light for others.”
Her multicultural upbringing and interests gives her the unique position of understanding cultural awareness and empathy. Being an Indian American engineer working for the US Airforce, an author, businesswomen and leader, Joymon recognizes that representation is not the final goal but is one step closer to equality.
From a young age, Christina Joymon always had a love of the arts. She was classically trained in Indian dance specifically in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Mohiniyattam.
“My love for dance led me to found and operate two dance schools in New York and New Jersey. I’m experienced in choreographing, teaching, and performing dance across North America, Europe, and Asia,” she said. She was also an actress and starred as one of the lead roles in the first Telugu movie filmed in the US.
Joymon received a Bachelors degre in Computer Engineering from Drexel University and a Masters in Systems Engi-
Mrs. Colorado American competes in national Mrs. American pageant
Christina Joymon of Cherry Hills Village is set to compete in the Mrs. American pageant on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
neering from Stevens Institute of Technology. She was the first Asian woman to become President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and was accepted to prestigious engineering work study programs with Lockheed Martin, Unisys, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Upon graduation, she began her career as a Systems Engineer and then a Project Manager at BAE Systems, a large U.S. government defense contractor.
“I worked on the communication systems between the F-15 and F-16 fighter planes where I earned the Meritorious Performer Award and led my team to win
the Chairman’s Gold Award in Innovation, the highest award offered by the global company,” she said. “In collaboration with Harvard University, I have been published in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.”
Now, as the Founder and General Partner with XIA Capital, she helps others launch their tech ideas through angel investing and exploring forward-thinking approaches to Artificial Intelligence and sustainability.
Joymon added: “We need to be confident in our creativity, since we are never too young or too old to make a difference, change and chase new dreams. I hope to be that light for others this year.”
According to the Mrs. America website mrsamerica.com, the Mrs. America and Mrs. American Pageants feature the most accomplished married women of America. Each year, 51 delegates (all U.S. states plus the District of Columbia) compete for these coveted titles. The winner of Mrs. America and Mrs. American go on to compete at Mrs. World. Mrs. America was the FIRST Mrs. pageant to celebrate married women and their families.
I’m looking forward to representing the married women of Colorado on the national level at Mrs. American pageant held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada,” said Joymon.
When did you decide to participate in the Mrs. Colorado American pageant?
In November 2023, I was a featured Keynote Speaker at the LeadHERship conference at Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey. The conference is dedicated to reshaping STEM by empowering women and gender minorities and championing social justice and equity.
This is when I first learned about Mrs. pageants. After the Keynote, I was invited to a private dinner by Dean Jean Zu. She and Mr. Keith Miles encouraged me to look into the Mrs. America system. When I flew back home to Colorado, I realized this would help me have a bigger platform to reach more people.
Can you share more about your family and upbringing?
I’m a first generation Indian American. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in Bergen County, New Jersey. My parents were born in Kerala, India and immigrated to the United States in the 1970s. My only sibling, Christopher, is a lawyer and an active member of the United States military. They taught me the importance of family and are the foundation of my values.
I completed my first marathon and enjoy running and spending time with my family. I have been married to my husband, Dr. Jess Joymon, for 16 years. He
has been my greatest support. We have two boys together, Xavier (11 years old) and Isaac (9 years old). We enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, camping, playing board games and travelling.
What are your current involvements?
In 2016, we moved to Colorado with my family. For the past eight years, I have been the Chair of “Taste of CA” a large multicultural event at Colorado Academy. It has grown from 100 people to over 1,000 people under my leadership. In addition, I actively volunteer at my children’s school on the Parent Association Executive Committee.
I’m an award-winning novelist, for my debut novel, Royal Planet. I wrote a story that my kids would find fun and interesting, while touching on various topics without feeling lectured. By using symbolism to get points across, readers regardless of their age, can recognize the true meanings in the story. Some topics touched upon are colorism, racism, adoption, trauma, addiction, narcissism, relationships, self-worth, family dynamics and many more. It’s an uplifting story, with many twists and turns, that will keep the reader guessing on what’s next.
From my award-winning novel, I have been on international magazine covers and featured on Story Monsters Ink and Cherry Hills Village Stroll Magazine
I have been invited to book signings including Tattered Cover, the largest independent bookstore in Colorado.
Royal Planet is available on Amazon and the audiobook has been recently released on Amazon Audible, in which I narrated the entire book myself!
Christina Elizabeth Joymon crowned Mrs. Colorado American 2024
Christina Joymon, her husband Dr. Jess Joymon, and two children Xavier and Isaac meet Governor Jared Polis.
Release of the Project
The Colorado Lotus Project released in May 2024 highlights the idea that the AANHPI diaspora across the state is not a monolith. This is accomplished through the use of an ethnic breakdown of disaggregated data and narrative story telling to reveal issues amongst different areas, such as health, housing, education, and democracy.
The data from the project can effectively be shown to decision makers, such as elected officials or state agencies, to exhibit the specific needs of certain ethnicities within Colorado.
Asian Avenue interviewed Jin Alexander Tsuchiya, Co-Chair of Colorado AAPI Circle, who gave us further insight of the project, especially in terms of mental health amongst the community.
“This is the first report, but we hope it’s not the last. We hope to build on it in the years to come.”
- Jin Alexander Tsuchiya
Mental health continues to be a growing and prevalent area of research, especially when examining the mental health of AANHPI communities. According to the Lotus Project, “Rates of poor mental health are at an all-time high across Colorado. Korean adults and AANHPI high school students report high rates of poor mental heath.” This may be attributed to stig-
Colorado Lotus Project illustrates the needs of AANHPI communities
By Kadence Relente
ma and various cultural beliefs that surround mental health, as well as low mental health awareness or lack of help-seeking behaviors.
Tsuchiya also describes that focus must be placed on “peer support specialists who are able to work with those distinct communities, because then it becomes a more trusted and valued voice, especially if they come from the same cultural or linguistic background and make that deliberate connection that way.”
Accommodating for Cultural Practices in the Healthcare System
The Lotus Project dives into how language resources may serve to provide increased accessibility to healthcare services; however, Tsuchiya states that the workforce also has to be responsive to the needs of certain ethnicities.
He describes how “it has to be a responsive and culturally appropriate workforce who looks like and understands the people that they are caring for…that’s especially important in like rural settings.”
He elaborates that individuals who obtain certification, licensure, or education could potentially return back to their communities and apply their newfound knowledge because “there are just those sorts of cultural differences that no one else is going to understand, except for them.”
Representation Between Disciplines
Tsuchiya shares with Asian Avenue that AANHPI representation is hard to come by in certain disciplines, such as political and civic systems. He reveals that during the analysis phase of the Lotus Project, there was originally a section on civic participation. Tsuchiya further reveals that every county has a sheriff and that they found that “there are only three Asian American sheriffs across the entire country,” truly demonstrating the lack of representation of AANHPI identities.
Social Determinants of Health & Mental Health
Social determinants of health, such as economic stability and education, are the conditions of an environment that impact the health and quality of life of different populations. These social determinants of health may operate as drivers towards mental health
Jin Alexander Tsuchiya
outcomes, creating a need to address these drivers, barriers, and chronic conditions in order to improve one’s overall health.
According to Tsuchiya, the Lotus Project highlights the hardships in paying for rent or housing amongst certain populations. He continues to say “...that means that spending more time, money, resources, energy, coming up with the resources to do that is taking away from all other things that lead to better health.
That means less visits to primary care. It means not even prioritizing your mental health. It means you may not even be able to focus on the needs of other family members, especially if you live in a generational household that relies on caregivers.”
Despite the development of mental health initiatives in recent years, there is a lack of initiatives for communities of color. For example, the Lotus Project found that Korean Americans in Colorado suffer from poorer mental states; however, no intiatives currently exist to address this issue amongst Korean Coloradans.
Tsuchiya states that “all we’ve been able to do so far in the last few months is identify where the problem exists, but the solution is still sort of in the works.”
“I would personally love to see an Asian American in everything and I think that that’s hard to come by... it’s also particularly true in how we are represented in the political and civic system. We don’t have that kind of someone to look up to.”
- Jin Alexander Tsuchiya
What’s Next?
The Colorado Lotus Project took inspiration from a similar report for the Alaska Native and American Indian population in California. Tsuchiya hopes that the Lotus Project serves as
“a model or blueprint” for AANHPI populations in other states.
He hopes to give voice to Asians living in smaller rural states in order to increase representation and highlight their respective needs. Tsuchiya explains: “I do hope that there’s the chance to build this out in other places, even though of course, my focus is on Colorado.”
He also aims to create an ongoing Lotus evaluation in Colorado so that new domains can be studied and longitudinal data established for existing domains.
“We will continuously work on advancing the solutions and recommendations that have been identified.”
AANHPI youth focus group
Credit: Brian Clark/CHI
Spirit of Japan Offers Authentic Japanese Food & Spirit Experience at Denver’s Sakura Square on Aug. 23-25!
from OTAFUKU ICHIDO Takoyaki from Gindaco The House of Suntory
Colorado nonprofit Sakura Foundation is hosting Spirit of Japan, an inaugural food and spirits event showcasing Japan’s rich cultural heritage through authentic food and traditional spirits on Aug. 23rd, 24th, and 25th.
Held in downtown Denver’s Sakura Square in partnership with Japan Taste Marketing based in Los Angeles, this 3-day event will bring together a diverse group of vendors that highlight traditional and contemporary aspects of Japanese cuisine and spirits. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit authentic Japanese food stalls - offering everything from yakitori and takoyaki to sweets like kakigori shaved ice.
“Spirit of Japan not only celebrates Japan’s cultural richness but also fosters cultural exchange and understanding among attendees,” said Stacey Shigaya, Executive Director of Sakura Foundation. “It’s an opportunity to appreciate Japan’s traditions while enjoying a festive atmosphere of community and hospitality.”
Delicious Spirit of Japan food waiting for YOU:
• Yakisoba: Stir-fried noodles bursting with umami flavors, crisp vegetables, and tender meats, all tossed in a secret blend of sauces
• Baby Castella: Fluffy and golden-crusted mini sponge cakes with a hint of sweetness
• Ishi-Yakiimo: Roasted sweet potatoes topped with creamy ice cream
• Kaki-Gori: Delicate, fluffy shaved ice made from crystal clear ice blocks imported directly from Japan!
• Okonomiyaki: A mouth-watering, savory Japanese pancake packed with fresh vegetables, meat, or seafood, all drizzled with tangy sauce and creamy mayo
• Sweet Cream Pan: A fluffy, golden-brown Japanese pastry filled with smooth, rich custard
• Udon: A noodle delicacy from Akita, served in a savory, light broth
Okonomiyaki
• Osakana Zangi: A unique blend of fried chicken with fish to amaze your taste buds
• Nikuman: Steamed buns that are fluffy, pillowy treats filled with a mix of succulent pork, onions, and aromatic seasonings
• Takoyaki: Crispy, golden octopus balls with a savory filling, drizzled with tangy sauce and creamy mayo
• Karaage: Japanese deep-fried chicken goodness at its finest
• Yakitori: Skewered, grilled, and juicy chicken pieces
The festival will also showcase a variety of traditional premium Japanese Sake options, including:
• Ichido - Offering Sparkling Sake, a distinct bold blend that highlights intense flavors with delicate silk-like foam achieved from the natural fermentation
• Nanbu Bijin - Located in Ninohe city, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, makers of internationally recognized sake since 1902
• House of Suntory - Century-old Japanese artisan known for crafting luxury spirits inspired by Japanese nature
• HEAVENSAKE - Small-batch sake by French Wine Master Regis Camus in collaboration with Japan’s most respected sake breweries
TASTING SESSIONS
A portion of proceeds from Spirit of Japan will support Sakura Foundation, a Colorado 501c3 organization whose mission is to celebrate and share Japanese and Japanese American heritage and culture in order to promote a more resilient, compassionate, and equitable society. Sakura Foundation programming includes leadership and cultural/heritage programs, scholarships for high schoolers, community grants and sponsorships, and various cultural events including the annual Denver Cherry Blossom Festival. This year celebrates the foundation’s tenth anniversary of making an impact in the Rocky Mountain region!
General admission tickets to Spirit of Japan are $55 per person for food and $80 per person for food & unlimited sake tasting. Kids aged 10 and younger are admitted for free!
VIP Tickets priced at $160 per person are also available for the Friday and Saturday night sessions, offering access to a private indoor lounge, cocktail bar, catered food, and more!
See the website for bundled ticket options and more details about Spirit of Japan!
Held in downtown Denver’s Sakura Square, four unique tasting sessions will be offered as part the inaugural Spirit of Japan:
Karaage from Tenkatori
Yakisoba from Honda-ya
Cream Pan from Hattendo
Meet Natalie Ouyang: Natalie Ouyang displays immense talent on piano at the age of 7
A Colorado Piano Rising Star
7 year-old Natalie performs Mozart Concerto No. 19, K.459, 1st movement with National Repertory Orchestra on June 26, 2024.
Natalie Ouyang has been studying piano since the age of four under the guidance of Ms. Jasmine Steadman. Her accomplishments speak volumes. During the year of 2024, Natalie’s exceptional talent has once again earned her the top spot in Yamaha Piano Competition ACD I. She placed 3rd in the prestigious XV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT 2024 (age 10-year-old and under division) as one of the youngest contestants. And honored to be invited to “Prodigy & Protégé Piano Concert” this April by International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival, USA in Fort Collins.
In addition to her achievements during her age of 7, she has won numerous competitions since age of 4, including 1st place at CSMTA Rising Star Competition Lower Elementary Division, 1st place winner at Yamaha Piano Competition Advanced Competitive Division I, 2nd
place at Schmitt Music Competition Advanced Competitive Division I in 2023, 1st place winner at Yamaha Competition Competitive Division I and 2nd place at Schmitt Music Competition Competitive Division I in 2022.
Natalie has a deep passion for music and dreams to become a concert pianist. She had masterclasses with Mr. Larry Graham- former CU Boulder emeritus Professor, and Dr. Stephanie Cheng- professor of piano at University of Denver Lamont school of music.
She is the youngest member of Musicians United for Change, where she performs periodically for the public and believes each performance could inspire unity through music.
In addition to piano, Natalie enjoys playing golf, skiing, drawing and rock climbing. Natalie is a rising 3rd grader. Her favorite subjects in school are Math, Literacy and History.
7 Year-Old Pianist Performs with National Repertory Orchestra
Natalie Ouyang, the winner of Yamaha Piano Competition Advanced Competitive Division I in 2024, was invited to perform Mozart Concerto No. 19, K. 459, 1st movement as the solo featured pianist with National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge this June.
“It is Natalie’s first concerto, she played absolutely amazing! Did you notice she played the Mozart concerto piece with lengthy music notes memorized in her head? That is fabulous!” said conductor Jason Seber on the stage.
Natalie’s marvelous concerto performance at such young age has gain hundreds of audiences’ applauses and many musicians’ recognitions.
Credit: Dale Steadman
Meet Jasmine Steadman: An Award-Winning
Piano Instructor Produces Champions
Ms. Jasmine’s infectious passion for music and her competitive spirit inspires and motivates students to reach their full potential. Numbers of her students have received entries to Juilliard School of Music, and member of Young Scholarship in Prestigious Lang Lang International Foundation. Her teaching methods have been highly effective and have earned recognition both nationally and internationally.
Jasmine Steadman has been guiding her students toward skyrocketing trajectories for more than 15 years. Ms. Jasmine has been the common denominator for more competition winners than she can keep track of.
For more than 15 years, winners of the prestigious Yamaha Piano Competition (formerly Schmitt Piano) have gotten the opportunity to perform with NRO. The experience has become a pivotal for her students.
“Seeing my students can be mature musicians while making music live, that’s most rewarding part for me”, says Steadman, who has become one of the Denver’s most sought-after piano instructors. “Winning the competition is a great achievement. Seeing them work hard and showing how strong they can be is a gift. I am a lucky teacher.”
Learn more about Jasmine’s Piano Studio at www.JasminePiano.com.
“Despite her petite stature, Natalie demonstrates exceptional flexibility in the utilization of her hands, finger and body coordination while playing the piano. Natalie immerses herself in music, exhibiting a rare ability to monitor and critique her own performance simultaneously: a trait not commonly found at her age.
As Natalie continues on her music journey, her potential knows no bounds. With her unwavering dedication and undeniable talent, I have no doubt that Natalie Ouyang is destined for greatness in the world of music.”
- Jasmine Steadman
Photo
Catch Happiness at the Newly Opened Crane Games
Crane Games is bringing people of all ages to On Havana Street in Aurora for claw grabbing fun, after their grand opening in July 2024.
Co-owners Le-An Than and Katy Luong first came up with the idea when traveling with their families. After stumbling upon a claw machine arcade while searching for ‘things to do with kids’, they saw how their kids were hooked!
Than said: “From that moment on, every trip involved us finding toy claw machine arcades for them to enjoy.”
Realizing that Colorado lacked dedicated toy machine arcades with kawaii plushies, the partners began exploring how to bring one to our state.
Securing the machines proved to be quite challenging. Their search started over a year ago, seeking a vendor who could design the machines to meet their exact specifications. This involved countless sleepless nights filled with meetings to discuss technology, designs, data, colors, appearance and size.
On the other hand finding a location for Crane Games was surprisingly straightforward. Located On Havana Street in the same shopping center as
local favorite eateries such as Milk Roll Creamery, Leezakaya, and Old Town Hot Pot, families can leave Crane Games to enjoy Asian food and desserts nearby.
“We had a clear idea of where we wanted to open our first venue, and after just one site visit, we signed the lease within a week,” said Than.
When it comes to Crane Games, the co-owners feel immense joy bringing the concept to Colorado. Than said: ”Hearing the squeals of happiness from both adults and kids, or seeing our customers leave with their new plushies pressed against their cheeks, fills us with a deep sense of accomplishment. Happiness is truly contagious!”
She continued: “Our kids love bragging about how ‘we have a claw machine arcade!’ The way they look at us as if we just hung the moon, makes this experience even more special.”
Than and Luong hope everyone who visits Crane Games leaves with a smile! Their goal is to create lasting, positive memories for every guest!
“Please let us know about your experiences. We are committed to making sure your time with us is enjoyable,” Than said.
Vita Cane celebrates one year of sugar cane drinks in Denver
A year ago, in July 2023, Linh Ton and Le-An Than, opened Colorado’s first Vita Cane location at 1000 S. Federal Boulevard in the Little Saigon District of Denver.
Alongside their husbands, the two Vietnamese American families set out to introduce Denver to raw cane juice and açaí bowls by franchising Vita Cane, which also has locations in California and Texas.
Celebrating their one year anniversary, Vita Cane remains the only brick and mortar sugarcane shop in Colorado that specializes in primarily sugarcane drinks. Without being an add-on drink
to a bubble tea menu, here, sugarcane shines!
Vita Cane’s fan favorites are sugarcane with kumquat, which is a traditional blend that balances sweet and tart flavors, as well as their 50/50 drink, which include coconut water, sugarcane and fresh chopped coconut bits.
Other premium drinks include Super Berry Berry, Twisted Mango, and Baja Stink Bomb. Build-your-own açaí bowls also offer unlimited toppings.
Reflecting back on the year, Ton said: “I love how fresh, delicious and satisfying it is to enjoy all our delightful products without feeling guilty. And more
importantly, we’ve loved connecting with the community and all the new and old faces we get to see!”
As sugarcane is widely harvested in Vietnam, sugarcane drinks are popular in the country, which brings nostalgia to the older Vietnamese patrons at Vita Cane, who love the drinks.
As cane juice is naturally sweet, Vita Cane does not add any preservatives, sweeteners, or syrups in their juices.
Ton said: “We’re always testing new flavors and post about them on our Instagram, so please keep checking in there to find what new concoctions or collabs we come up with next.”
The Life of a College Student Asian Student Organizations in Colorado
Entering the Fall Semester
As fall semester rolls around this August, college students across the nation are preparing to enter or return back to their daily life on campus. Incoming freshmen may find themselves experiencing a mix of emotions–such as excitement and nerves–as they navigate their initial experiences and make new friends.
According to CollegeSimply, 10% of the student body at the University of Colorado Denver identity as Asian. AAPI/AANHPI students often find a sense of comfort and community by involving themselves with various Asian student-led organizations found on campus. Asian Avenue interviewed three college students in Denver to hear more about their experiences as Asian American student leaders.
Student Introductions
• Kim-Phung (Kimmy) Van is a junior majoring in Psychology at the University of Colorado Denver.
She is the incoming President of the Asian Student Association (ASA) for the 2024-2025 year.
• Achisa (Iza) Panichakul is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences at the University of Denver. She previously served as Vice President of the Asian Student Alliance (ASA).
• Benjamin (Ben) Duong is a recent Biology graduate from the University of Colorado Denver who served as Secretary for the Asian Student Association (ASA).
Student Responsibilities
The students each expressed their responsibilities ranging from event planning/coordination, working with their university’s student government, organizing general meeting agendas, and ultimately working alongside an Executive Board–otherwise known as an “E-Board”–to ensure a smooth flow of events. Kimmy mentioned “I was excited to go to CU Denver because it was such a diverse campus and I
was hoping to be more in touch with my cultural identity and kind of connect with people who have similar and shared experiences.”
Asian Student Association ASA holds a variety of events, such as general body meetings and banquets. Kimmy expressed that many of their monthly general body meetings are based off current trends, such as previous meeting themes including Squid Game and Barbenheimer. Ben explains their ASA’s two large scale banquet events which include Lunar New Year’s “lion dancing, traditional Chinese dancing, and Vietnamese fan dancing” and Blossom Ball’s talent show being very memorable for him.
CU Denver’s ASA has notably received many campus awards, such as “Best Spotlight Event of the Year,” “Best Officer of the Year,” and “Best Advising Faculty Member,” truly demonstrating the success and passion of these students.
Cultural & Community Engagement
Iza expresses that ASA is “not Asian exclusive so we’re very open with our meetings and events and such, and we promote that very well.”
Kimmy also describes many of their events being culturally based–such as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival–as well as her desire to discuss Asian mental health because “that’s becoming more talked about in our community and in our day and age.”
Asian student organizations also engage frequently with the community, such as Ben describing their partnerships with local boba shops for fundraisers and working with performers directly from the Asian community. Alumni, students from other schools, and friends are all welcome.
Fulfilling Experiences
For Kimmy, what’s most rewarding is when a student shares they had so much fun after a meeting or made a new friend. “It makes me feel like I’m making an impact in our community,” she said.
Similarly Iza reflects that “frequently students start coming to our events and say they feel connectivity among their peers.”
And for Ben, he says that “...seeing the events unfold in front of our eyes and the joy that it brings people is the most gratifying part for me.”
Advice for Freshmen to Get Involved
• Kimmy: “Join as many clubs on
campus as you can. Go to all the tabling events. If you find one person to go to these events with, you already have a friend. College is scary, like when I first came into college, I was scared I wouldn’t make any friends, but it’s really about putting yourself out there. The thing about joining as many clubs that you want, you can also leave at any time you want, especially if it doesn’t align with what you want or what your values are.”
• Iza: “I always tell my freshmen mentees to attend as many events as they can in student organizations. And I get it, college can be really lonely. I specifically went to this school knowing that I had no friends. I know it gets lonely at times, but if you keep going and if you do like the meetings and you’re meeting new people–you’ll love it. You just gotta have the courage to do so.”
• Ben: “I’d say join in, come with an open mind, and be ready to meet people. Openness is a huge aspect of learning different cultures. Having a closed mind is not ideal because it just shuts you off from opportunities to learn and grow as a person... Find which ones you feel the most connected to and then from there, show willingness to help and embrace the culture of the club.”
Universities in Colorado
Colorado State University
• Asian Lion Dance Team (@asianliondanceteam)
• Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers (@csu.sase)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
• MSU Denver Japanese Club (@msudenver_japaneseclub)
University of Colorado Boulder
• Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (@saseboulder)
• Asian American Literature Association (@aala_boulder)
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
• Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (@uccs__apisu)
University of Colorado Denver
• Asian Student Association (@asa.ucd)
• Society of Asian Students and Engineers (@sase.cudenver)
• Vietnamese Student Association (@cudenvervsa)
University of Northern Colorado
• Asian Student Association (@unco_asta)
• UNC Asian Pacific American Student Services (@uncoapass)
Western Colorado University
• Asian Pacific Islanders Club (@wcu.apic)
University of Denver
• DU Asian Student Alliance (@du.asa)
• Society of Asian Students and Engineers (@du.sase)
Set the summer trend.
Ditch your commute ground-level ozone.
Ozone, created from pollutants like car exhaust, is the Front Range’s biggest air quality issue and a leading cause of respiratory problems. Know when it matters most: text “BETTERAIRCO” to 21000 to sign up for ozone alerts.
