Press Release

Press Release

June 14, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Vy Tran (650) 424-5731
Luan Huynh (408) 224-8099

Fathers Shine in the Glow of their Son’s and Daughter’s Accomplishments at the Vietnamese American Professionals Alliance

4^th Annual Scholarship Fund Awards

San Jose, CA – Lan Ho, 49, will witness his daughter, Lam Ho, 19, walk on stage at the Fairmont Hotel on Sunday, Father’s Day, to accept a scholarship from the Vietnamese American Professionals Alliance. However, Ho stated that he has very little to do with his daughter’s prestigious award. His daughter disagreed.

“I try my best to make my parents happy because my success is their success,” said the younger Ho. “My parents left everything behind in Vietnam and had to start all over, from the number zero, for me.”

Two years after the Ho family’s arrival in the United States, the number zero is now replaced by the ambition of a daughter who wants to be a doctor; is a member of the Key Club, Math club, and Vietnamese club; and tutors students in chemistry, math, and French at Prospect High School.

If Lam Ho sounds like dynamite, it is because she is. So are the other seven recipients of the scholarship awards who are equally successful and modest about their achievements. They are headed to schools like Harvard, U.C. San Diego, and U.C. Berkeley to study subjects such as psychology, computer science, and music. Many of them said they want to do their part in making the world a better place, including Nguyen Pham, 17, a student who founded the Gay-Straight Alliance at Westmont High School in Campbell.

Pham attributed his success to his mother, Mai Tuyet Dam, for working night and day to support the family, especially because his father has not played a strong role in his life in the last five years. “It is all his doing. I cannot take any credit because I do not know what he is doing half the time,” said Ms. Dam of her son.

“Whereas other people push their kids (to succeed), I pull mine back. I ask them to slow down, have a life. And you know what they say?” asked Ms. Dam. “They ask me if I do? Well, I don’t. I am a workaholic.”

Ms. Dam is not the only workaholic of the parents. So is Tia Tran, 53, the father of Brian Tran, 17, a student at Milpitas High School. However, Mr. Tran worked all the time because he had to support two sons and a wife who was suffering from kidney failure. The younger Tran watched as his dad held the family together. Brian also grew to be more independent as he learned that his parent could not always pamper him because they did not have the time nor the money - he would have to be his own man and do things for himself.

The scholarship from VAPA will help Brian pay for college. “It is extra special to receive an award from the community because it makes me feel like I still have cultural ties to Vietnam,” said Brian who was born in the United States.

Brian’s father could not agree more. “Although he was born here, he should not forget his roots. He is Vietnamese,” said Mr. Tran. The other parents echoed Mr. Tran’s sentiments by saying that it is important for their sons and daughters to have exposure to their cultural heritage.

“Although Dona is born here, she needs to know that her community is there for her,” said Doan Le, 48, father of Dona Le, 16, a student of Livermore High School. The parents expressed their appreciation to VAPA for embracing their sons and daughters, although many of them have never heard of VAPA until their kids told them about the award.

No doubt, on the day of the banquet, the fathers and mothers of the scholarship winners will want to embrace their sons and daughters. For, although the parents are very modest about their influence on their children’s and the receipt of the awards, they are very proud of their children’s character, ambition, and courage. The question is where does honorable character end and great grade, a sense of service, and the will to please those who best looked after the award winners begin.

The elder Ho may have an answer. Mr. Ho attributed his daughter’s success to “determination. “Whatever she wants, she has to have it,” he said in Vietnamese. “It is also because she is in a place with so much intelligence, innovation, and creativity from all over the world.”

VAPA will be holding its 4^th Annual Scholarship Fund Awards Ceremony to acknowledge academically gifted students who also exhibit strong leadership skills that contribute to the strengths of the Vietnamese community.

In the past, VAPA has awarded over 30 scholarships ranging from $200-$2000 per recipient.

The 4^th Annual Scholarship Fund Awards Ceremony will be held at the Fairmont Hotel, located at 170 S. Market Street, San José on June 17^th, 2001 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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