PROGRAM

EmceesKatrina Wu & Bryan Xiong

Welcome RemarksPablo Reguerin, Assistant Vice Provost of Student Success

Alison Galloway, Campus Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor

Keynote SpeakerDr. Jorge Wong, Ph.D, UCSC Alumnus

Student Cultural PerformancesPeople Of the Islands, Polynesian Dance Group

Isang Himig, Filipino Student Association A Capella Group

Graduating Student SpeakersChristopher Arellano

Mary Mailiag HeuSaoimanu D. Sope

Christy Anh-Thu Trinh-Malarney AwardAndrew Dao

Presented by Former Recipients, Tee Nguyen and Thi Nguyen

RECOGNITION OF GRADUATESAnnouncers

Arlan Mendiola, SOAR Program ManagerGlenn Gumin, Financial Aid Assistant Director

Closing RemarksNancy I. Kim, AA/PIRC Director and

Resource Centers Managing Director

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The Asian American/Pacific Islander (AA/PI) Year End Ceremony acknowledges and celebrates the academic achievements and contributions of graduating students in the AA/PI community at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This year’s cohort of graduates is distinguished by their personal commitment to the campus community, for they have donated their time generously throughout the years. By constantly striving to achieve more, they serve not only as a reminder, but an inspiration for fellow students, staff, families, and many AA/PI generations to come.

This year’s theme, “Remembering our Roots, Extending our Branches” looks back on graduates’ academic career by recognizing their foundations at UCSC and forward to bright futures ahead of them. Over the past years, graduates have embedded themselves within UCSC, creating strong sources of support that fostered warm friendships, personal growth, and scholarly enlightenment. These roots, deeply intertwined with the AA/PI community, serve as vital support for their development in pursuing new opportunities. As graduates explore and tackle their future endeavors, they will always have the continual support from their forest home of UCSC.

“Remembering Our Roots, Extending Our Branches”

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Jorge Wong, Ph.D. is the Director of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs overseeing enterprise wide quality improvement in clinical processes, compliance and regulations across Asian Americans for Community Involvement’s array of services. He is a Licensed Psychologist serving in various local, state and national organizations advocating for cultural competence, diversity, stigma reduction, and social justice. Dr. Wong is an original Banana Slug, class of 1989, the official year UCSC adopted the mascot. As an undergraduate and Oakes affiliate, he majored in Psychology and was captain of the Men’s Foil Team. Currently, Dr. Wong is clinical faculty and Trustee at Palo Alto University, and he presents and consults on culturally adopted best practices in behavioral health impacting Asians and Latinos across the life span. Dr. Wong is the 2016 President of the California Psychological Association, member of the Committee of State Leaders of the American Psychological Association, recipient of the 2016 Asian American Psychological Association’s Okura Community Leadership Award, and the 2015 Mover and Shaker Hero Award by the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board.

Dr. Jorge Wong, PhDKeynote Speaker

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CLASS OF 2016Graduate Degree

Maricar CamayaSocial Documentation, MA

Undergraduate Degrees

Beverly AbadCollege Ten, Biology, BA

Maliha Z. AhmedCollege Nine, Linguistics, BA

Christopher ArellanoCollege Nine, Cognitive Science, BS

Donna Jo AuzaCollege Ten, Psychology, BA

Adlina Dalilati BasukiCrown, Molecular, Cell and Developmental

Biology, BSKenneth Michael Batin

College Eight, Anthropology, BAChristian Dominic Bondad

Oakes, Psychology, BARiane Rowena Briones

Porter, Literature, BABrian Bui

College Nine, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BSTrinh Bui

Kresge, Sociology, BANathaniel P. Calderon

Oakes, Environmental Studies, BAJoann Chac

College Nine, Human Biology, BSAlison Chan

College Eight, Business Management and Economics, BA

Mai Err ChangPorter, Sociology, BAMarilyn Chanthala

Porter, Film and Digital Media, BAHilary Chap

College Nine, Biology, BSChing Chen

Kresge, Business Management and Economics, BAKimberly I-Tin Chen

Cowell, Psychology, BASami Li Chen

Kresge, Earth Science with Ocean Science Concentration, BS

Steven ChenCollege Nine, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Biology, BSEva Cheng

College Nine, Business Management Economics, BAJessica Chiang

College Nine, Sociology, BAHarry Chin

Cowell, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BS

Agatha ChiuCollege Eight, Psychology, BA, Education Minor

Jessica ChungOakes, Anthropology, BA

David CoocCollege Nine, Sociology , BA, Education Minor

Pretty DamPorter, Psychology, BA

Andrew DaoCollege Nine, Molecular, Cell and Developmental

Biology, BSAlyzza DeCastro

College Ten, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BS

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Rachel Aron EgoianCollege Nine, Literature , BA, Education Minor

Candy FangCowell, Psychology, BA

Kevin Peter Berongan FortichOakes, Legal Studies, BA

Jodie GeeCollege Nine, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Biology, BSSamala Gunasekera

Merrill, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, BS

Shabnum HamidiCrown, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental

Biology, BSSamantha C. Hamilton

Kresge, Economics, BA, Literature MinorAndrew Her

College Nine, Business Management Economics, BADenise C. Her

Porter, Sociology, BARachel Pauline HernalCollege Ten, Biology, BA

Steven HernandezCollege Ten, Literature, Sociology, BA

Mary Mailiag HeuStevenson, History, BA

Annie HuangCollege Nine, Business Management Economics, BA

Huang Lu NingCollege Nine, History, BA

Nelson HuangCollege Nine, Business Management Economics, BA

Julie HuynhOakes, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BS

Richard HuynhCollege Ten, Business Management Economics , BA

Tuyen HuynhMerrill, Business Management Economics, BA

Monica IdeOakes, Psychology, BA, Biology Minor

Amy Z. JeungCollege Ten, Molecular, Cell & Developmental

Biology, BSJie Yu Julie Jiang

College Nine, Global Economics, BA, Language Studies Chinese Minor

Harjot KaurCollege Nine, History, BA

Monica Tran KimCollege Eight, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS

Shawn KimCollege Ten, Psychology, BA

Kiyomi Sophia KurodaCollege Nine, Psychology, BA, Biology Minor

Hnin KyawCollege Ten, Business Management Economics, BA

Eric LaiCollege Ten, Business Management Economics, BA

Brian Chun-Hou LamCollege Ten, Molecular, Cell & Developmental

Biology, BSJessica Lam

Kresge, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, BSJohnny Le

Crown, Anthropology, BAMichael Lee

College Nine, Cognitive Science, BAMonica Lee

Crown, Psychology, BA , Theater Arts MinorTiffani Leong

College Nine, Chemistry with a Biochemistry Concentration, BS

Andrew LienCollege Nine, Computer Science, BS

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Marc LieuCollege Ten, Politics, BA

Curtis LiewCollege Ten, Computer Science, BS

Amy LinKresge, Sociology, BACecilia Qingmei Lin

College Eight, Mathematics and Environmental Studies , BA

Courtney LiuCollege Eight, Molecular, Cell and Developmental

Biology, Sociology, BS and BAJasmine Liu

Crown, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BS

Joshua K. LouieCollege Ten, Psychology, BA, Education Minor

Cindy MaCrown, Intensive Psychology, Environmental

Studies/Economics, BAJudy Mai

College Nine, Environmental/Economics, BA, Technology and Information Management Minor

Kinnera MaturiCollege Nine, Cognitive Science, BS

Payin Katie MouaCollege Nine, Psychology, BA, Education Minor

Crystal Suet-Ying NgMerrill, Molecular, Cell and Developmental

Biology, BSHenry G. Ng

College Ten, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BSVivian Ng

College Eight, Economics, Environmental Studies, BAJason Nghe

College Nine, Psychology, BA

Angela NgoMerrill, Environmental Studies, BA

Kimberly NgouvOakes, Psychology, BA

Angelica NguyenCrown, Intensive Psychology, BA

Hannah Bao-Han NguyenCollege Nine, Human Biology, BS

Peter NguyenKresge, Business Economics, BA

Shannon NguyenCollege Nine, Business Management Economics, BA

Stephanie NguyenCollege Nine, Human Biology, BS

Vivian NguyenCollege Nine, Psychology, BA, Sociology Minor

Alika NiravongCollege Ten, Business Management Economics, BA,

Technology and Information Management MinorYuna Nishimura

College Ten, Neuroscience, BSFusako Obata

College Nine, Business Management Economics, BARachel Pae

College Nine, Environmental Studies/Economics, BAAlan Pang

Merrill, Bioengineering, BSJohn Peter Pascual

Cowell, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BS

Diana Phu Bao Anh PhamCollege Nine, Molecular, Cell and Developmental

Biology, BA, Biology MinorJeannie Pham

Kresge, History, BAPhuong Pham

College Nine, Biology, BATram T. Pham

College Nine, Intensive Psychology, BA, Education Minor

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Richard Daniel PittmanCrown, Computer Science: Computer Game

Design, BSPiriyapong Pupongmontre

Oakes, Chemistry, BSAileen Quach

College Eight, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology, BS

Sophia QuanCollege Ten, Psychology, BA

Nina Raj SardeshStevenson, Bioengineering, BS, Bioinformatics

MinorJaric Ajninek Sawatdee

College Ten, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, BS

Aoi A Shoda College Nine, Intensive Psychology, BA

Saoimanu D. SopeOakes, Community Studies, Film and Digital

Media (Production Concentration), BAJia Sun

College Ten, Business Management Economics, BA, Technology and Information Management Minor

Kimberly L. SzetoCollege Eight, Human Biology, BS

Angela TamCollege Nine, Psychology, Technology and

Information Management, BA and BSCherie Tan

College Nine, Business Management Economics, BARay Tan

College Nine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BSCalvin Tang

College Nine, Neuroscience, BSAngela P. Thao

College Ten, Sociology, BA, Education Minor

Jangela Jean ThonephanhCollege Eight, History of Art and Visual Culture, BA

Nancy TieuMerrill, Cognitive Science, BS

Katrina Padaoan TorrijosOakes, Sociology, BA

Jason Tran Cowell, Earth and Planetary Science, BS,

Physics MinorMichelle Tran

Cowell, Biology, BAQuan Tran

Crown, Human Biology, BS, Chemistry MinorThomas Tran

College Nine, Business Management Economics, BA, Technology and Information Management Minor

Kelly TrinhCowell, Molecular, Cell and Developmental

Biology, BSAudrey Truong

College Ten, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, BS

Julie Yu-Wen TsengPorter, Ecology and Evolution, BS

Anderson TuCollege Nine, Computer Science: Game Design, BS

Joyce ValdezCollege Nine, Anthropology, BA

Kua VangOakes, Anthropology, Commmunity Studies, BA

Nhoua VangOakes, Business Management Economics, BA

Devinne VaughnCollege Eight, Anthropology, BA

Arnel VictorioKresge, Legal Studies, BA

Jasmine Gail ViduyaCollege Eight, Business Management Economics, BA

Michelle VoCollege Nine, Intensive Psychology, BA

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Jennifer VueCollege Ten, Sociology, BA

Naomi W. WangCollege Ten, Literature, BA

Christina WongCrown, Business Management Economics, BA, Sociology Minor

Kristy C WongCollege Nine, Biology, BA

Grace WuCollege Nine, Neuroscience, BS

Ying Wun Yan Crown, Intensive Psychology, BA

Mai YangCollege Eight, Psychology, BA, Education Minor

Henry YeCollege Nine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BS

Laura Kim YeeCollege Nine, Sociology, BA, Education Minor

William YeungCollege Ten, Business Management Economics/Psychology, BA

Mengya YiCollege Eight, Business Management Economic, BA

Alexander Ka Jun YuCollege Ten, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, BS, Chemistry Minor

Amy YuCollege Nine, Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology, BS

Eric YuanCollege Eight, Psychology, BA

Xiaokang ZengMerrill, Business Management Economics, BA

Nathalie ZhenCollege Nine, Business Management Economics, Intensive Psychology, BA

Cecilia Zheng Kresge, Environmental Studies/Economics, BA

Vivian ZhouCollege Nine, Sociology, BA

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Give a Gift to UCSC’sAsian American/Pacific Islander Community

For seventeen years, the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC) has been cultivating community inspired leadership with UC Santa Cruz students. AA/PIRC programs and services are rooted in the values of developing students who are motivated by understanding their heritage and in turn, become deeply committed to giving back to their communitiees. With a contribution to AA/PIRC’s Endowment Fund, you can empower future students. To pledge or donate online, visit http://aapirc.ucsc.edu. If you are not able to donate financially at this time and would like to contribute in other ways, please let us know. We value volunteerism, mentoring students, and sharing your talents.

Christy Anh-Thu Trinh-Malarney AwardThis award recognizes the achievements of a graduating senior who has combined academic excellence with a commitment to improving the lives of people of Vietnamese heritage. This prize is in memory of Christy Anh-Thu Trinh-Malarney, an alumna of Merrill College (1990).

Victor Masoto Kimura Student AwardIn honor of Victor Kimura, who provided more than 40 years of dedicated service to UCSC and the AA/PI community, this award recognizes a graduating senior who through political and social activism, has demonstrated a commitment to human and civil rights for all Americans. Victor retired from UCSC and currently lives in Watsonville, CA, with his wife and children.

Join the Alumni Association and the Asian American / Pacific Islander

Alumni Network!For more information, please visit the

UCSC Alumni Association website: www.alumni.ucsc.edu

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Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center

Asian & Pacific Islander Student Alliance

Asian & Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA) members organized the graduation event for more than a decade in the 1980’s and 90’s before the event’s two year hiatus. APISA provides a venue and a voice for the Asian/Pacific Islander community to build coalitions, heighten awareness, learn history, and address experiences. APISA sponsors Community

Unified Student Network (CUSN pronounced ‘cousin’), a peer program creating a space for A/PI students to connect with each

other in building a strong and lasting community. APISA also sponsors the High School Motivation Conference to introduce students to the university.

The Asian American / Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC) first opened in April 1999 and began sponsoring the graduation event with student groups the followig year. AA/PIRC’s mission is to provide and enhance opportunities for developing leadership, building a stronger sense of community on campus, and linking students to community service opportunities. Ultimately, AA/PIRC offers educational dialogue on issues affecting Asian American / Pacific Islanders by addressing students’ multiple and diverse academic, social, cultural, and other co-curricular needs. Students are encouraged to attend AA/PIRC events such as community receptions, faculty-student luncheons, literary readings with published authors, film screenings, issue-based workshops, and Heritage Month Cultural Celebration Night and Keynote Speaker events. Students can also gain leadership experience through the AA/PIRC Internship and participation in the Student Leadership Institute.

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THANK YOU!

Planning CommitteeJustin Thao, Co-CoordinatorKatrina Wu, Co-Coordinator

Anna LewBrenda Vang

Florenze Almalel

AA/PIRC Staff & InternsNancy I. Kim, Director

Mai Foua Her, Program CoordinatorMary Heu, Lead Monica Ide, Lead Maricar CamayaMai Err Chang

Richard PittmanHelen Chen

Lealani ManutaAnnie Choy

Collette QuachJustin ThaoKatrina Wu

Shannon WongMichael Viray

Invitation DesignKatrina WuNancy Kim

VolunteersAndy Lee

Tama SemoDavid ChangJohn Wen Yu

Krishnee ShankarAnny Ho

Hung NguyenRahul Krishnan

Chanelle ShepherdLawrence AnAmanda JewJimmy Chan

Panghoua HerDeanne Liu

Special ThanksCameron de LeónMelody Litt-Louris

GradImagesDave Morrison

Jason NouPablo Reguerin

Resource Centers Staff and StudentsStudent Fee Advisory Committee

Sponsored byAsian American/Pacific Islander

Resource Center

Co-sponsored byCommunity and Resource

Empowerment (CARE) and College Senates:

Stevenson, Crown, Porter, Eight, Nine

“Cultivating Community Inspired Leadership”