The ASA Newsletter: Issue 29
Happy November and happy holidays! We hope you’re enjoying the holiday season and find some time to rest in between all the celebrations. Asian Student Achievement (ASA) has had a month packed full of speaking engagements and fundraising, so sit back and relax while we review what we’ve done!
Support Asian Student Achievement
From now until the end of December, all gifts to Asian Student Achievement will be matched up to $100,000. We would like to thank our generous anonymous donor for their support in helping Asians and Asian Americans turn their professional aspirations into a reality.
Your gifts support our mission of bringing Asians and Asian Americans into the pipeline to leadership. With your continued support, Asian Student Achievement has been able to offer extensive one-on-one career coaching sessions, meticulously crafted workshops and speeches on educational and vocational soft skills, and a diversity-driven job board—all of which helps to equip Asians and Asian Americans with the soft skills required to succeed in the industries of tomorrow.
Donor Spotlight
Jane Lee
Business and Immigration Lawyer at Peterson Law LLP
“Be thoughtful and honest. It’s the easiest way to account for ourselves and to answer to others.”
Thank you to Jane Lee for supporting Asian Student Achievement, and for all the amazing work you do to empower the AAPI community!
Staff Corner
Our Content Writing Intern, Sydney Cazier, sat down with Ryan Kartiko, our Special Operations Lead Intern, to talk about the valuable skills he learned through working for Asian Student Achievement. As the most senior intern on staff, Ryan has contributed enormously to all facets of ASA. We are eternally thankful for him, and we look forward to the good he will do in the future!
Ryan Kartiko
Special Operations Lead Intern
Sydney Cazier
Content Writing Intern
What are the most valuable skills you’ve learned from your time with ASA?
I’ve picked up a lot of different new skills with ASA. I didn’t have any experience in grant writing before ASA, but I’ve been able to work on a handful of grants already in the last few months. The biggest skill I’ve learned with ASA is communication, especially with everyone working remotely.
What are your plans for when your internship comes to an end? How do you plan to utilize the experience you’ve gained here?
I’m looking for work in the nonprofit area, whether that’s with another small nonprofit or a bigger foundation. I want to find work in causes that I’m passionate about, like environmental justice and sustainability. I’m open to a lot of different departments within the nonprofit sector; what’s important to me is the organization’s mission.
Do you have any advice for new or first time interns just starting out?
If your internship is with a smaller organization like ASA, there are a lot of things you can learn. Take advantage of the mentorship you can find within the organization, because not many other organizations have that access to leadership. If there is an area of work you’re interested in, bring it up, take what learning opportunities you can find.
Welcome Our New Interns!
We are excited to welcome our new Graphic Design and Content Writing Interns, Jessie Zhou and Zach Anota! We are thrilled to have them on board and look forward to seeing what they will accomplish during their time with us!
We asked Jessie and Zach to share why they decided to work with ASA:
Jessie: “I wanted to contribute my graphic design skills and strengthen my portfolio while gaining exposure to a variety of projects within the nonprofit sector.”
Zach: “I decided to intern with ASA primarily because of what they offer their interns—soft skill professional development, essential knowledge for surviving the job hunt and workplace that, unlike technical industry knowledge, you can’t really find taught at colleges (at least, not without having to pay and add to your expenses).”
Get Free 1:1 Coaching
Trying to land your first internship or job? Making a big career jump? Asian Student Achievement’s free 45-minute coaching sessions might be the boost you need! Get coaching on educational and vocational soft skills, from resume and cover letter writing to interview skills, to elevator pitches and personal branding, and much more from experts across a wide selection of industries.
Intern Hub
A lot of good happened this year, so we asked our interns,
What are you thankful for this year?
“I’m thankful for my friends and family and all the support they give me!”
Ryan Kartiko, Special Operations Lead Intern
Lehigh University alum
“I’m especially thankful for the time I’ve had this year to reflect on what I’ve done and where I want to go in the future. I’m in a place where I have more freedom for myself than I’ve ever had, and it’s helped me figure out what I really want out of my career path.”
Julianne Sun, Content Marketing and Videography Intern
Northwestern University alum
“I am thankful for my family and our health.”
Parker Ninesling, Graphic Design Intern
High School student
“I am thankful that I am done with college apps this year and that I’ll be able to attend college in the near future.”
Christian So, Operations Intern
High School student
“I’m thankful for my spouse and all of the love and support they give me each and every day, and for the trajectory our lives will be taking in the near future.”
Sydney Cazier, Content Writing Intern
Utah Valley University alum
“This year, I’m grateful for good health, meaningful growth, and the milestone of graduating. I also feel thankful for having a peaceful, pleasant year and for the memories I was able to create with my loved one.”
Vaishnavi Nair, Data Analytics and Business Development Intern
University of Maryland alum
“I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had this year, and I feel fortunate to have had the chance to grow and improve myself.”
Jessie Zhou, Graphic Design and Videography Intern
University of Michigan alum
“It’s a bit of a cliché, but I’m thankful for my family and friends; they’re a great escape from the high-stakes and immense academic pressure at college, as well as the loneliness that commonly accompanies the college experience.”
Zach Anota, Content Writing Intern
Student at Purdue University
“I would say I am thankful for my family. It sounds cliche, but they really are my biggest supporters. Without them, I would not know what to do.”
Ava Anota, Operations Intern
High School student
“I would say that I am grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve afforded, studying abroad earlier this year in Milan or for opportunities to better my UX skills. I’m grateful for opportunities for growth this year.”
Christy Sun, UX/Web Design Intern
Student at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Join our team!
Event Recap
On November 6th, Asian Student Achievement and the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) held our first joint fundraiser in Denver, Colorado. CACEN’s mission is to uplift the AANHPI communities in Colorado through youth empowerment, education, health and wellness, and sustainability. Together, ASA and CACEN strive to cultivate the next generation of diverse, inclusive leaders. We would like to thank 3456tea for the delicious food and drink provided throughout the night, and look forward to partnering with CACEN again!
A huge thank you to the Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) for having Asian Student Achievement present our networking workshop on November 12th! CMAA is a dedicated organization seeking to serve and promote the well-being of diverse immigrants and refugees in Chicago, Illinois through their outreach in education and community services. We are proud to have teamed up with CMAA in our efforts to bring Asians and Asian Americans through the pipeline to leadership, and we look forward to working with them in the future!
On November 13th, Asian Student Achievement held our public speaking workshop at Oakton College in Des Plaines, Illinois. We love any opportunity to coach young professionals on the skills necessary for succeeding in the workplace, and truly appreciate all the students who made this workshop a success! Thank you to Oakton College for hosting us, and we look forward to coming again!
Our founder, Shane Carlin, recently visited the Chinese University of Hong Kong to lead a workshop on networking, public speaking, and Start-Up 101.
We’re deeply grateful to the speakers and attendees who made this an engaging and meaningful conversation about growing your network—and your next big idea.
At ASA, we’re passionate about coaching young professionals with the skills they need to succeed in today’s workplace. Thank you to all the students who showed up ready to learn and grow!
A special thank-you to the Chinese University of Hong Kong for hosting us—we’re excited to return! 🎉
Upcoming Events
Check out the roadmap below to see where Asian Student Achievement will be speaking next!
Loyola University
(Delta Phi Lamda):
Microagressions
Date: December 2, 2025
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Nickel Nickel:
Fundraiser, Mixer, Party!
Date: April 4, 2026
Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Let’s Meet Up!
Want to invite us to your campus or your organization? Check out our speaking engagement page below for more details!
We Are Hiring!
Asian Student Achievement is hiring for ALL of our intern positions. Join our amazing team and help Asians and Asian Americans through the pipeline to leadership in the workplace!
Click the button below to find the job descriptions of all our intern positions. Please send CVs or resumes to ops@learnasa.org.
New Internship Opportunity
The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is hiring new interns for spring and summer of 2026! Join them as a travel intern to get real world experience in operations and communications, all while networking across the country.
Furever Young Co.
Asian Student Achievement is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Furever Young Co., a Kansas City-based small business that makes bandanas for your furry friends. Their bandanas are designed to fit pets of all shapes and sizes, whether they be a dog, cat, or even a bird! In partnership with ASA, they just launched a new ASA-themed collection featuring sushi, starry skies, and lunar new year designs!
10% of proceeds from the ASA bandana collection sales will go toward supporting ASA’s mission of bringing Asians and Asian Americans through the pipeline to leadership. With Furever Young Co.’s ever-growing design launches, there’s something for everyone!
Baisun Candle Co.
Inspired by a rich cultural background, Baisun Candle Co. creates beautifully hand-poured candles that connect heritage to home. Amelia Hoover, ASA Operations Manager and longtime fan of Baisun, shared that her favorite candle is their “Ube Pancakes” scent.
“I love anything ube flavor and this candle is calming and not too overpowering,” she says. “Most candles are made with a lot of different additives and petroleum-based waxes, but Baisun creates soy-based candles with unique Asian-inspired scents. Every detail from the packaging to the pouring is carefully curated with the individual customer in mind. I have gifted many candles to my friends and family and they all love it!”
From now until 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!
A heartfelt thank you to Baisun’s owner, Brandon Leung, for choosing to partner with Asian Student Achievement! We are very grateful for their support, and are so incredibly excited to share their remarkable products with our community! If you’re interested in scoring one of Baisun’s delectable scents for yourself, you can visit their website below.
Pegasus Education
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!
Job Postings
$100K MATCH CHALLENGE:
Every Gift Doubled
From now through the end of December, every gift to Asian Student Achievement will be matched—dollar for dollar—up to $100,000.
Because of a generous anonymous donor, your support today goes twice as far in helping Asian and Asian American students turn their professional dreams into reality.
Thank you to our incredible matching donor for believing in our community, our mission, and our future. 💙