Nation’s Largest Scholarship Organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Raises Awareness About the Need to Support Local Students

From left to right: Zarina Blankenbaker, Vice President for Teaching & Learning, Richland College; Michael Fung, Chairman of the Board, APIASF; Kay Eggleston, President, Richland College; and Neil Horikoshi, President & Executive Director, APIASF.

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF), the nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, held a special community reception hosted by Richland College in Dallas on Feb. 4. Guests from around the greater Dallas area attended the event to learn more about APIASF’s work to support local students, as well as the programs and services Richland College is providing as a designated Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).

“With as many as 50-65 percent of Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander adults 25 or older not enrolling in any form of postsecondary education, AANAPISI institutions like Richland College are playing a critical role by increasing access to higher education for students and the programmatic support to help ensure success,” said Neil Horikoshi, APIASF president and executive director. “Our collaboration with Richland College and other AANAPISIs around the country allows us to maximize our impact for students and help strengthen local communities.”

Richland College received a five-year AANAPISI grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 that will total more than $1.4 million in funding. With 14-16 percent of Richland’s student population comprised of Asian American students and at least half demonstrating financial need, the AANAPISI funding impacts many of the college’s underserved students. Richland’s AANAPISI funding is focused on three initiatives: creating a collegewide understanding of the effects of poverty on students; adapting the principles of “Achieving the Dream” to Richland’s culture and capabilities resulting in improved student success in developmental education and gatekeeper courses; and operating a textbook lending library supporting 50 minority, low-income male students annually.

“The community reception was a great way for us to launch our partnership with Richland College and we are looking forward to continuing this collaboration to provide greater access to higher education for Dallas students and the resources that will develop future leaders who will excel in their careers, serve as role models in their communities and contribute to a more vibrant America,” Horikoshi said.

In addition to the leadership of APIASF and Richland College, many local business and community leaders attended the event. Guests included representatives from the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Dallas Korean American Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas Network of Indian Professionals and the Dallas Chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals.
For details about APIASF’s work to strengthen communities and its scholarship programs, visit APIASF’s website at www.apiasf.org.

About APIASF
Based in Washington, D.C., the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). APIASF works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education; thereby developing future leaders who will excel in their career, serve as role models in their communities, and will ultimately contribute to a vibrant America. Since 2003, APIASF has distributed more than $60 million in scholarships to deserving AAPI students. APIASF manages two scholarship programs: APIASF’s general scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.