The ASA Newsletter: Issue 32
Happy Lunar New Year! Asian Student Achievement welcomes everyone to the year of the horse, and we hope that you will join us in our pursuit of bigger and better goals. Join us for a moment and read about what we’ve accomplished this past month and what there is to look forward to!
Staff Corner: Leading Through Action
Amelia Hoover, Operations Manager at Asian Student Achievement (ASA), started her ASA journey as a sales intern during her undergraduate years. She has been working full time with ASA since January last year, and takes a moment to reflect on her one-year anniversary and her growth thus far.
Amelia Hoover
Operations Manager
My first experience with Asian Student Achievement began when I met our CEO, Mr. Shane Carlin, at a Miami University networking event. That introduction led me to join ASA as a sales intern, where I was first introduced to the heart of our mission and the impact we strive to make. Little did I know that later in my career, I would return to ASA in a full-time role as Operations Manager. What began as an internship has come full circle into an opportunity to serve and lead within an organization that deeply aligns with my values.
Over the past year, I have grown tremendously both professionally and personally. I feel incredibly privileged to be in a role where I wake up genuinely excited about the work we do. Collaborating with our dedicated intern team to expand services, strengthen initiatives, and create meaningful change has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. The mentorship and guidance I’ve received have challenged me to think bigger, lead better, and stay grounded in our mission.
I want to extend a personal thank you to our CEO, Mr. Shane Carlin, the ASA Board of Directors, and our amazing intern team for their support and encouragement along the way. Their leadership, collaboration, and shared passion embody what this organization is all about — uplifting and empowering the Asian American community.
Register Today for the Nickel Nickel Fundraiser!
Asian Student Achievement will be hosting our very first fundraiser event on Saturday, April 4th, featuring Korean cuisine from Tang Korean Restaurant, Thai food from Siam Splendor, and much more!
We would like to thank our sponsors for making this event possible:
Harold Blackburn LLC,
Fields Lexus Glenview
Gerber Collision
University of Illinois Credit Union
Ryan Knudsen – Edward Jones
Space is limited, so make sure to RSVP your tickets by visiting our website or clicking the flyer below!
Each ticket comes with a free chance to win something from our pool of door prizes, courtesy of our generous supporters:
Baird: Vantaze and Nettie pickleball gear, Yeti cups, dufflebags, and a selection of various wine and liquor
Furever Young Co.: Two pet bandanas
The Ronin Group (Mr. Bob Kumaki): Many Cultures, One Market – A Guide to Understanding Opportunities in the Asian Pacific Market (Book); and Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse: A Gastro-Memoir and Love Letter to Japanese American Food Culture (Book)
Twin Dragon Restaurant: 4 x $25 gift cards
Hokkaido Ramen: 2 x $100 gift cards
DRY Financial (Deepika Yeldandi-Thompson): One $350-value
made-to-order quilt
Andrea Wang: Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce (Picture Book)
Thank You to Our Food Sponsors:
If you would like to sponsor the Nickel Nickel fundraising party, click the button below to buy our sponsorship packages and secure complimentary tickets and promos on our social media, website, and newsletter!
ASA Donor Spotlight: Tom Matthews
Why do you give to Asian Student Achievement?
Tom Matthews
Industrial Solvents Corporation President
Tom Matthews: “I’m proud to support Asian Student Achievement because there’s no doubt that the next generation will benefit greatly from the skills development that Asian Student Achievement provides. Particularly when it comes to public speaking and the confidence that typically comes from being comfortable in professional environments– Asian Student Achievement is helping to cultivate a new generation that will have a positive impact, not only in the workplace but also within their individual communities and beyond.”
Together with Our Partners
We are deeply grateful to our partners for their ongoing collaboration and support. Together, we are creating meaningful impact.
Settle into Asian inspired scents to light up your home. Use code ASA10 to save 10% off your order.
ASA x Furever Young Co collaboration pet bandanas are the perfect accessory for your pet. Shop the ASA collection!
Start your mornings with specialty Filipino coffee. Use code ASA10 to save 10% off your order.
Engage with ASA
Sign up for 1:1 Coaching
ASA is excited to launch our coaching program! We have carefully selected coaches from various industries to speak with YOU.
Intern with Us!
Asian Student Achievement is now hiring for all intern positions! Join our team and help support Asians and Asian Americans on their path to leadership in the workplace.
Let’s Meet Up!
Want to invite us to your campus or organization? Visit our speaking engagement page to learn more.
Our Team: Ava Anota
Ava Anota is a high school student from Charlotte, North Carolina, and an Operations Intern for Asian Student Achievement. We sat down with her to hear about what it’s like balancing high school life with an internship, and the benefit of getting a jumpstart on her career.
Why did you decide to volunteer with Asian Student Achievement?
What motivated you to pursue an ASA internship?
I wanted to pursue an Asian Student Achievement internship because I value its mission of supporting students. As a student myself, I know how important guidance and opportunity are, and I wanted to be part of something meaningful while gaining real-world experience.
How do you balance the responsibilities of being an Operations Intern with your schoolwork and extra-curriculars?
As a student-athlete, I’ve had to manage my time carefully. I work on tasks from the internship whenever I can so I stay on top of my responsibilities and don’t fall behind in school. It’s helped me become more disciplined.
What are the pros and cons of doing an internship in high school for you?
A pro of doing an internship in high school is learning how to prioritize and manage my time, which will help in college. A con is that balancing everything can be exhausting. Sometimes I miss out on social events or even sacrifice sleep just to stay on top of my responsibilities.
How has this experience influenced what academic and career choices you want to make in the future?
My experience with Asian Student Achievement has influenced my career interests by showing me how much I value leadership and helping others succeed. It’s made me want a future career where I can make a positive impact.
Meet Our Coaches: Pei-Hsiu Tan
Pei-Hsiu Tan is a Web and Mobile User Experience Manager at Wolfram Research. She graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with her Master in Human Factors. With more than 20 years of experience, she has a wealth of knowledge about getting started in the UI/UX industry, navigating the workplace as an Asian person, and the essential hard skills needed to land that dream user experience position. As an ASA coach, Pei-Hsiu is available for free 1:1 coaching to anyone interested in the UI/UX world – sign up today!
Upcoming Events
Asian Student Achievement’s President and CEO, Shane Carlin, will be speaking at Miami University’s Social Innovation Weekend at the College of Education, Health and Society, AAA Fusion, and the Miami University AAPID Alumni Network on March 6-9. If you’re a Miami University student, scan the QR code below to sign up for the event, and see the flyer below for more information.
ASA will also be attending the Midwest APIDA Students Union (MAASU) Spring Conference at Western Michigan University and hosting a networking workshop with the Rizal Center, Chicago’s Filipino American community center. Keep an eye on our social media to stay updated on these upcoming events!
MAASU Spring Conference
Date: March 20-22, 2026
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Rizal Center:
Networking Workshop
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien Internship
Asian Student Achievement (ASA) is proud to introduce its very first named position, the Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien internship, to honor and memorialize this young woman who left this world too soon. This internship is awarded to a person who will spread awareness of the intersection between higher education, career growth, and mental health. On behalf of all of ASA, we would like to thank Mr. Gary Skoien, Elizabeth’s father, for this generous gift.
The recipient of this year’s named internship is Ryan Kartiko, Lead Special Operations intern. “I am extremely honored and grateful to be awarded this internship in memory of Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien,” he says. “As an Asian American, I am fully aware of the pressures that face young students and professionals of AAPI backgrounds. That’s why I believe it’s extremely important to shed light on the importance of mental health, de-stigmatize the act of seeking help, and encourage people to talk to loved ones about any issues. While Asian Student Achievement’s focus is on teaching valuable career soft skills, mental health plays a role in all aspects of our lives – including school, careers, and relationships. Taking care of your mental health is important to living a full and meaningful life.”
This May, ASA will celebrate both AAPI History Month and Mental Health Awareness Month as we honor Elizabeth’s legacy and the challenges she faced. Beyond May, ASA is excited to build greater mental health awareness into its services with the help of both Ryan and the entire team.
Annual Report and Case Statement
The Asian Student Achievement Annual Report and Case Statement are now live on our website! Check them out to see what ASA accomplished in 2025 and what we’re planning for the future!
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, but we’d especially like to hear from you if you’re interested in Administrative Assistant, Content/Grant Writing, or Graphic Design roles. place!
Click the button below to find the job descriptions of all our intern positions. Please send CVs or resumes to ops@learnasa.org.
Job Postings
Looking for a job, or hoping to hire someone? Check out our job board to stay updated on the latest job postings.
