The ASA Newsletter: Issue 33
Springtime is finally here! Asian Student Achievement (ASA) hopes you’ll have a chance to enjoy the spring weather. Things are warming up at ASA between the Nickel Nickel fundraiser and upcoming speaking engagements, so take a break and see what we’ve been up to!
Register Today for the Nickel Nickel Fundraiser!
Asian Student Achievement (ASA) 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! There will be karaoke throughout the night and a live paddle raise to help ASA attend more speaking engagements, coach more students, and build up our internship program. There will be a $10,000 match from an anonymous donor at the paddle raise, so every bit will go a long way!
We would like to thank our sponsors for making this event possible:
Asian McDonald’s Operator Association
David Im – State Farm Insurance Agent
Ryan Knudsen – Edward Jones
Harold Blackburn LLC
Gerber Collision
University of Illinois Credit Union
Fields Lexus Glenview
DRY Crafty Creations (Deepika Yeldandi-Thompson)
Each ticket comes with a free chance to win something from our pool of door prizes, courtesy of our generous supporters:
DRY Crafty Creations
(Deepika Yeldandi-Thompson)
Quilt
One $350-value made-to-order quilt
Baird
Bourbon Basket
Two YETI mugs, Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon (signed by the master distiller), Baird duffle bag
Baird
Pickleball Basket
Two Nettie pickleball paddles and balls, Baird duffle bag, La Marca Prosecco
Twin Dragon Restaurant
Gift Cards
Four $25 gift cards
Hokkaido Ramen
Gift Card
One $100 gift card
Tomo Street Food
(Chris Mohr)
Gift Card
Two $100 gift cards
The Ronin Group
(Mr. Bob Kumaki)
Book
Many Cultures, One Market: A Guide to Understanding Opportunities in the Asian Pacific Market
The Ronin Group
(Mr. Bob Kumaki)
Book
Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse: A Gastro-Memoir and Love Letter to Japanese American Food Culture
Andrea Wang
Picture Book
Worthy: The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce
Baisun Candle Co.
Candles
Baisun candles
Furever Young Co.
Two Pet Bandanas
Outdoor Mountains and Peppers
Adegacha! Premium Coffee
Coffee & Aeropress
Two bags of coffee and an Aeropress
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!
Staff Corner: Mimi Bouakham
Mimi Bouakham is a donor and former Operations and Marketing Intern for Asian Student Achievement (ASA) and an alumna of the University of Kentucky. She sat down with us to chat about how she went from interning with ASA to working as a legislative fellow for the House of Representatives.
Mimi Bouakham
Legislative Fellow at the House of Representatives
Tell us a bit about what you’re doing now.
I currently work at the House of Representatives as a Legislative Fellow. I am a policy advisor for my boss, Rep. Dave Min, who is also a Korean American in a huge leadership role similar to Shane. I give credit to ASA for opening my eyes to see that there are so many opportunities you have as an Asian American and not hesitating to take advantage of what is in front of you. Shane was the one who had mentioned my current career opportunity to me during a time where I was so unsure of where my future was headed. Additionally, I plan to go to law school this upcoming August to become an immigrant lawyer. I am very excited and am hoping to commit to a university soon!
What was ASA like when you interned with us, and what did you work on while you were there?
ASA at the time was mostly focused on gaining more social media engagement and posting on as many job boards as possible. My role in ASA was as an operations and marketing intern. I believe there were about two people per sector of the overall team and most of the work I did was interviewing people and creating graphics to post on social media accounts to promote job board opportunities. They were very simple tasks, but I learned a lot from them! I also had a chance to do mentoring sessions with Shane as he taught me to understand the importance of both personal and professional development. It’s insane to see how much the organization has grown since then!
What was the greatest takeaway from your ASA internship?
I feel like I was so young and naive, going through the motions of survival as a student, figuring out how to get a job, how to get experience, and how to shape my future. I think ASA really cleared that pathway for me and allowed me to envision my life and the steps I needed to take to get there for the first time. I honestly think my favorite part of the whole internship was getting to know much more about my former boss Shane and being able to have such a special mentor. Now whenever I do things in career and life, sometimes I have his advice in the back of my head and it has carried me through A LOT.
What advice do you have for students trying to land their first internship or interviewing for their first full-time job?
There is no such thing as too big of an ambition. Of course, work your way up the ladder, but don’t ever for a second think that you’re incapable. Throw those doubts OUT! Show those interviewers that THIS is what you WANT and that you are dedicated to the work you want to do. Emotion and showcasing your personality goes a long way.
If there’s anything else you’d like to mention, feel free to say it here!
I love ASA, and it’s so lovely to see it grow each year!
ASA Donor Spotlight: Tom Matthews
Why do you give to Asian Student Achievement?
Dr. Jean So: “Asian Student Achievement’s focus on building leaders, increasing diversity, and inspiring growth are facets that I truly believe in when it comes to encouraging Asian Americans into the professional pipeline. This has led to my continued financial contribution in hopes of helping the organization continue to make an impact. Professional excellence comes from understanding one’s cultural background and experiences, and ASA provides many different mechanisms to enhance one’s talents and abilities while honoring unique circumstances. I am so proud of how far ASA has come and what the organization stands for, but most importantly value the work they do to bridge professional gaps for our next generation of leaders.”
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.
Welcome to the Team!
We are excited to welcome May Warade, a student at The Ohio State University (‘28) majoring in Economics and Computer Science Engineering, as our new Operations Intern!
Why did you decide to volunteer with Asian Student Achievement?
May: “I decided to intern with ASA because I was looking for an opportunity that combined real-world impact with hands-on learning. ASA’s mission stood out to me because it focuses on making a meaningful difference while also emphasizing responsibility and education. I wanted to be part of an organization where I could contribute to something important while also growing professionally. The chance to work with a team that values both purpose and practical experience made ASA the right choice for me, and it felt like an environment where I could genuinely develop my skills and gain insight into the industry.”
Our Team: Sydney Cazier
Sydney Cazier, alumna of Utah Valley University with a degree in Technical Writing/Writing Studies,is a Content Writing Intern and primary blog writer for Asian Student Achievement (ASA). We sat down with her to talk about her love for writing and her passion for ASA.
What kinds of writing have you done before joining ASA, and what kinds of writing are you most passionate about?
You’ve got me talking about my writing, which is the easiest way to get me to talk your ear off. I’ve been a writer for almost twenty years now — though I find enthusiasm in almost every type of writing, my first love is and always will be creative writing. I use my writing as an outlet for my own voice, something I’ve done long since before becoming a part of ASA.
What made you want to write blogs for ASA?
Writing blogs for ASA is the center of the Venn Diagram of writing and nonprofit work for me: I want to write and share my work with others, and I want to contribute to something bigger than me. ASA’s mission is one that I can support in so many ways, but being able to utilize my greatest strength, my writing, in my support, just makes it all the more rewarding for me.
What’s the blog writing process like so far?
The blog writing process has been consistent across each project so far, but no less entertaining each time. The hardest part of the process is making sure I’m representing the subject of the blog well. The blog writing process itself is simple and straightforward: it’s akin to writing an academic essay, from conception to completion. Do your research, ask your questions, write, proofread, rewrite, proofread two or three more times, get a second, third, and fourth opinion, and submit for final review. The biggest difference is you aren’t submitting for a grade, but to do somebody’s story justice.
How has writing blogs furthered both your personal/professional goals and ASA’s mission?
I have thrived writing blogs for ASA. Not only am I gaining professional writing experience with my name attached to an organization’s published work, but it’s been an honor to provide my work for Asian Student Achievement. The blog writing has only cemented in me the desire to use my writing in any future professional setting I find myself in — I want my writing to both entertain and educate, and that’s something I’ve found myself able to do while writing for ASA.
Meet Our Coaches: Tyng Kam
Tyng Kam is an independent consultant for education initiatives and business career growth and a board member of the National Association of Asian American Professionals – Chicago (NAAAP). She graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with her Master in Business Administration. Tyng helps both young and seasoned professionals navigate career transitions, relocations, and professional growth. As an ASA coach, Tyng is available for free 1:1 coaching to anyone – sign up today!
Event Recap
Asian Student Achievement (ASA) had the pleasure of hosting a networking workshop at the annual MAASU Spring Conference at Western Michigan University. Our President and CEO, Shane Carlin, coached students on the importance of networking in-person and led a workshop where students were able to practice their skills with one another.
The Elizabeth Lorraine Skoien Internship
University of Illinois Chicago:
Network like you want dinner with Greeks of the Pan-Asian American Council (GPAAC)
Date: April 9, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL
University of Illinois Chicago:
Public speaking workshop with UIC Graduate Student Council
Date: April 19, 2026
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Rizza Center:
Network like you want dinner
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Thank you to Dr. Jean So and family for empowering ASA to expand our reach through speaking engagements and events.
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.
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.
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.
Job Postings
Looking for a job, or hoping to hire someone? Check out our job board to stay updated on the latest job postings.
