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The ASA Newsletter: Issue 24
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Summer is off to a busy start at Asian Student Achievement, so take a short breather with us and explore the impact ASA has made this June!
We would also like to thank everyone who participated in One Month for ASA last month! We are eternally grateful to our generous donors, and hope that everyone had a wonderful Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
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Content Writing and Videography Intern Julianne Sun recently talked with our Graphic Design Intern, Parker Ninesling, about what Filipino Heritage Month (FHM) means to her, as well as her experience at Piyesta Pinoy.
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Parker Ninesling
Graphic Design Intern
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Julianne Sun
Content Writing and Videography Intern
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This month, Asian Student Achievement (ASA) had the opportunity to attend Piyesta Pinoy, a celebration of Filipino heritage and Philippines Independence Day for the local Chicago community. Observed annually on June 12th, Philippines Independence Day marks the day the Philippines declared their independence from Spain. Not only does Piyesta Pinoy honor this valuable cultural occasion, but it also marks Parker’s first event with ASA! “This is a time where I can celebrate my heritage and share it with everybody who might not know what Filipino heritage is,” Parker says. “I can share the things my family does, the things we eat, and the games we play.”
Parker joined ASA to help her get an early start on her career path and create opportunities for her to embrace her Filipino heritage–opportunities like staffing Piyesta Pinoy, where she met fellow students her age who were similarly passionate about helping fellow Asian individuals rise up in educational and professional settings.
“I got to be surrounded by people with the same heritage as me,” she says. “I wouldn’t have known anything about this if I hadn’t joined ASA.”
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From the bottom of our hearts, we at Asian Student Achievement (ASA) wish to thank Sugar Bliss for partnering with us this past Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM). Thanks to the generosity of Sugar Bliss founder and CEO Teresa Ging, as well as everyone who purchased their treats, we were able to raise enough funds to further our mission of helping not only Asian youth, but our local community as well.
Although our APAHM partnership with Sugar Bliss is over, you can still shop their sweets by checking out the website below!
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Welcome to Our New Intern!
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We are excited to welcome our new intern in Graphic Design, Parker Ninesling! We are thrilled to have her on board, and greatly look forward to seeing what she will accomplish during our time with us!
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We asked her to share why she decided to intern with ASA:
Parker: I decided to intern with Asian Student Achievement for professional development and to build soft skills, as well as to work with different people and jump out of my comfort zone. The fact that ASA is a non-profit that leads people through their lives really drew me in.
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June is National Zoo & Aquarium Month, so we asked our intern team: What is your favorite zoo animal?
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My favorite animal at the zoo is the panda, because even though they are so big, they are so cute and relaxed as they eat!
Ella Moon, former Graphic Design Intern
High school student
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I think my favorite animals are either the pandas or the fish.
Sarah Mun, UX/Web Design Intern
University of Washington alum
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These days, I enjoy seeing capybaras.
Kaylin Lebo, Content Writing Intern
University of California, Irvine alum
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My favorite animals at the zoo are the marine animals! I love the ocean and water, so I enjoy watching them all swim and enjoy admiring the diversity of marine life!
Ryan Kartiko, Operations & Content Writing Intern
Lehigh University alum
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My favorite animal at the zoo is the lion. Lions symbolize strength, courage, and leadership. The lion is always fearless and is the king of the zoo. It also represents power, dominance and authority. Seeing them in real life often feels like encountering a legend.
Abhaya Ladalla, former Graphic Design Intern
North Texas University graduate student
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My favorite zoo animals are probably the otters. It’s really cute watching them play and swim together, especially the way they hold hands when floating in the water.
Julianne Sun, Content Marketing and Videography Intern
Northwestern University alum
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My favorite zoo animal is the zebra because of their exotic pattern.
Parker Ninesling, Graphic Design Intern
High School student
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On June 14th, Asian Student Achievement was delighted to attend and sponsor Piyesta Pinoy, the largest yearly celebration of Filipino culture in the Chicago area! Presented by the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC) and the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago, Piyesta Pinoy makes Filipino culture free and accessible to all.
Featuring a live performance from singer Jeremy Passion, fresh Filipino cuisine, and rich cultural performances, the event was a fantastic way to kick off the summer and connect with the local Filipino community. Asian Student Achievement would like to thank FAHSC, the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago, and Bolingbrook High School for putting such an incredible event together.
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Pictured: Asian Student Achievement President/CEO and NAAAP Chicago Board member, Shane Carlin (Left)
with NAAAP Chicago Board Member, Michael Valdez (Right).
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On June 14th, Asian Student Achievement was also thrilled to attend the Chinese Mutual Aid Association’s (CMAA) Red Party, Chicago’s longest-standing AAPI men’s fashion show. More than just a fashion show, the event uplifted AAPI voices while also advancing CMAA’s mission in empowering and supporting Chicago’s immigrants, refugees, and low-income families. Celebrating AAPI culture, creativity, and community, proceeds from the event went towards funding CMAA’s essential programs–including important services such as job placements, small business support, elder care, and additional resources for immigrants and refugees.
A huge thank you to the CMAA for hosting such an exciting and impactful event!
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Want to invite us to your campus or your organization? Check out our speaking engagement page below for more details!
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Asian Student Achievement is hiring for ALL of our intern positions. Join our amazing team and help Asians/Asian Americans through the pipeline to leadership in the workplace.
Click the button below to find the job descriptions of all our intern positions and send your CV or resume to ops@learnasa.org.
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Christine Centeno
Registered Nurse at UI Health
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“As a registered nurse and a proud Asian American business owner, I believe in the importance of both celebrating my heritage and actively supporting our community. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my friends and family, without whom I would not be where I am today. I hope that my donation contributes to empowering and nurturing the next generation of aspiring talent and future leaders.”
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Thank you to Christine for supporting Asian Student Achievement, and for the work you do to empower the AAPI community!
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Asian Student Achievement is proud to partner with Baisun Candle Co. again! From April 2025 to April 2026, you can use the code “ASA10” during checkout—not only will we receive a portion of proceeds from their sales, but you will also receive 10% off of your order!
Inspired by a rich cultural background, Baisun Candle Co. creates beautifully hand-poured candles that connect heritage to home. As summer approaches, cool off in the company of Ashikaga wisteria, or soak in the scent of exuberant yuzu—no matter the occasion, there’s sure to be a scent for you or your loved ones this season!
A heartfelt thank you to Brandon Leung and the team at Baisun Candle Co. for choosing to partner with Asian Student Achievement! We are so grateful for their support, and are so incredibly excited to share their unique products with our community! If you’re interested in shopping Baisun’s delectable scents, you can visit their website below.
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Pegasus is a mentorship program that aims to make Ivy League universities more accessible! Meet with over 150+ alumni from Ivy League and other major universities to gain advising on college and grad school applications, explore unique projects and career paths, and build relationships that are sure to set you up for success. If you or anyone you know is interested in broadening their network or getting help with college applications, then sign up for Pegasus below!
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Visit our job board to review the most recent postings!
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If you’d like to support Asian Student Achievement, click here to give today! Your gift will help us shape the next generation in Asian American Leadership.
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