By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
 Multicultural representative of APIC Bettie Luke (left) and AJC Director Wendy Rosen (Photos by James Tabafunda/NWAW) |
To many U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry, the use of the term “Jap” is considered a racial slur with a hate-filled history going all the way back to World War II. Read the full story
By Ninette Cheng
Northwest Asian Weekly
Frances Youn
Frances Youn is a second-generation Korean American, a daughter, a student, and now, a student regent.
Youn, a second-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) candidate at the University of Washington (UW), was appointed student representative to the school’s Board of Regents by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Youn’s road to becoming a student regent was a long one. The process was three to four months long.
Youn was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. Growing up, she did not know many Asians. She cites her journey to discovering her culture as a big part of her self-exploration. Read the full story
The National Association of Asian American Professionals (Seattle chapter) is providing $1,500 scholarships to two Asian Pacific American High School seniors entering college in the fall. Read the full story
Through Operation Christmas Child (OCC), families can make a difference for a child in need by keeping the boxes from new school shoes and filling them with small gifts. Read the full story
By Vivian Nguyen
Northwest Asian Weekly
Florence Chang
If there’s one concept Florence Chang understands well, it’s the need to help others.
“I have always had a passion for taking care of people and positively changing lives,” said Chang. Chang is the senior vice president and CIO of MultiCare, a nonprofit, integrated health organization based in Tacoma. “Healthcare was an area where I thought I could make the most direct impact.”
Born in Taichung, Taiwan, Chang came to the United States when she was 15 years old and settled in Culver City, Calif. She enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she developed an interest in medical technology when she worked as a laboratory assistant. Her duties included research and running tests that help UCLA physicians make correct diagnoses for their patients.
“It was a very rewarding experience that helped pave my way and interest in medical technology,” said Chang of her college job. “Just getting that kind of exposure in a healthcare setting, I saw myself there and learned how I could really make a difference [for people].” Read the full story
By Chinami Tajika
Northwest Asian Weekly
Phyllis Wise
“I was always interested in biology. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t.”
Phyllis Wise, now the first woman and Asian American president of the University of Washington (UW), still holds a passionate ardor for her research, which seeks to answer fundamental questions about the integration of endocrine and brain functions.
She grew up as a daughter of a distinguished neuroscientist and a nurse. Her parents immigrated to the United States from China in 1938. Her father has a medical degree from Beijing Union Medical College and a doctorate in philosophy from Northwestern University. Her mother has a nursing degree from Yenching University and a teaching nursing education degree from Colombia’s Teachers College.
“When I was very young, I used to go to my father’s lab on the weekends, watching experiments,” said Wise of her childhood. “Science was infused into me all the time.” Read the full story
By Jocelyn Chui
Northwest Asian Weekly
Woodland Park Zoo staff members examine a female red panda to see if she is ready for breeding. (Photo by Jocelyn Chui/NWAW)
Staff members at the Woodland Park Zoo believe that a 3-year-old female red panda is ready to produce offspring in the next breeding season; the animal underwent a full physical examination in early August.
Dr. Darin Collins, director of animal health at the zoo, said the 3-year-old is part of the Species Survival Plans, a cooperative breeding program developed by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the genetic diversity and demographic stability of endangered species.
“As a 3-year-old animal, she has an excellent body condition, and all of her body systems are within normal range of it,” Collins said. Read the full story
From left to right: Sheila Burrus, Kiku Hayashi, and Mika Kurose Rothman
Sheila Burrus is the new president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest.
Burrus was born and raised in Batangas, Philippines, and attended De La Salle Lipa University and the University of St. Thomas. Read the full story
Shijie Joy Zheng
A U.S. team that competed in the 9th annual China Girls Mathematics Olympiad (CGMO) placed second, behind a team from China, in the overall standings among 48 teams of girls from about 10 countries throughout the world.
Of the eight high school girls on the U.S. team, seven students won top honors.
One of the girls was Shijie Joy Zheng from Bellevue. Zheng is currently a senior at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. ♦
 From left: Gary Kiyonaga, Susan Oki, Warren Yasutake, and Brad Kimura |
More than 200 golfers and community supporters gathered to celebrate the 10th Annual Golf Tournament on Aug. 2 at Muckleshoot Casino. This year’s event raised more than $30,000 in support of Kin On Health Care Center’s Bathing Rooms Remodeling Project — to create a more home-like and comfortable environment for the Kin On residents. Read the full story
 From left: Nancy Chiue, Albert Shen, Colleen Hanabusa, and U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee |
Colleen Hanabusa, a Democratic member of the Hawaii State Senate, is running for U.S. Congress. There was a fundraiser in Seattle at the Madison 100 Hotel in her honor. Approximately 50 people attended, and $12,000–$15,000 was raised. Read the full story
By Tiffany Ran
Northwest Asian Weekly
 Members of KIMWA, an association of Korean women married to non-Koreans, came together for their 6th annual conference in Seattle. (Photo provided by Chung-Tae Kim) |
As a first generation Korean American married to a non-Korean man, Lea Armstrong had to overcome challenges uncommon in other marriages, including cultural and language barriers with her husband. Read the full story
