student scholarship recipients on stage at the 2024 Asian Pacific Alumni Association gala

Scholarship and Awards Gala

4/13/24 Los Angeles, CA USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association Scholarship and Awards Gala Photo by: Vince Bucci/ Steve Cohn Photography steve@stevecohnphotography.com www.stevecohnphotography.com (310) 277-2054 © 2024

Huge thanks to everyone who took part in our joyous celebration on SaturdayApril 12, when we paid tribute to distinguished USC alumni for their leadership and service to our university.

We were also proud to recognize our outstanding student scholars—the leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow. All gala proceeds will benefit our APAA scholarship endowment, as well as our worldwide alumni programs.

But we’re not finished, let’s make an even greater impact for the next generation of Trojans! Join the text-to-donate challenge now by texting APAA to 41444 to help us achieve our goal of $50,000.

2025 Honorees

2025 Legacy Award

Albert Lum LLB ’65

Co-Founder and First President, Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association

USC Gould School of Law

2025 Leadership Award

Amy Liu MBA ’04

Founder and CEO, Tower 28 Beauty

Marshall School of Business

2025 Service Award

Ernie Ocampo BS ’00

Counsel, Reed Smith

Sol Price School of Social Policy

2025 Young Alumni Award

Brian Tetsuro Ivie BA ’13

Filmmaker, Film Producer and Documentarian

School of Cinematic Arts

2025 Sponsors

We would like to thank our sponsors for supporting our annual APAA Scholarship and Awards Gala. As our main fundraiser of the year, your support allows us to continue to provide scholarships to our undergraduate and graduate students at USC as well as developing programming to engage alumni lifelong and worldwide.


Platinum Sponsor

Jamison


Gold Sponsor

Rod and Elsie Nakamoto


Cardinal Sponsor

Albert Lum
USC Alumni Association


Trojan Sponsors

Buchalter
East West Bank
Jerry Fukui
Todd Furuike
Darlene and Ross Larson
Napoleon Sadsad and Cherylin Lew
Amy Liu
Northern Trust
Reed Smith LLP
Schism Design Architecture & Interiors
Robert and Morgan Suzuki
Patrick and Stefani Takahashi
Ken Tsumura
Timothy and Terri Wong
Tony Zhang and Shirley She
US Bank
USC Marshall School of Business


Student Table Sponsors

Amy Chau and Aigerim Shorman
Kuuipo Cashman and Karen Crawford
Donald Dean and Mary Tee
Troy Fukumoto and Leland Nakaoka


USC Trojan Marching Band Sponsors

Robert and Kathleen Campos


Traveler Sponsors

Buchalter and Patrick Takahashi


Lion Dance Performance by the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association

Patricia Tom Mar and Harry Mar

Gala contributions are tax-deductible with the exception of $200 if your sponsorship/ticket comes with dinner. Individual admission (no meals or wine included) is 100% tax-deductible.

Support Scholarships

We would like to thank our sponsors and attendees for supporting our annual APAA Scholarship and Awards Gala. As our main fundraiser of the year, your support allows us to continue to provide scholarships to our undergraduate and graduate students at USC as well as developing programming to engage alumni lifelong and worldwide.

To help us award scholarships to students and host worldwide programs for alumni, please consider making a gift of any size to APAA. Whatever you give will make a positive difference.

Thanks again and Fight On!

Past Honorees

APAA President’s Award

  • Steven B. Sample
  • Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. ’83

APAA Leadership Award

  • Husodo Angkosubroto ’77
  • Frank Buckley ’87
  • Junita Ciputra MBA ’88
  • Tim Dang ’80
  • Fung Der ’78, MBA ’79
  • Wenda Fong ’75
  • Michael Garrett ’67
  • Sheree Roxas-Chua Gotuaco ’90
  • Harun Hajadi MBA ’88
  • Irene Hirano-Inouye ’70, MPA ’73
  • Yosuke Honjo MBA ’98
  • John Iino JD ’87
  • Curtis C. Jung ’83
  • Grant Imahara ’93
  • Sabrina Kay MBA ’05
  • Sidney Kanazawa JD ’78
  • Young Kim ’94
  • Andy Lee ’93
  • Jaime L. Lee ’06, JD ’09
  • Scott Lee ’81
  • Kenneth Liang ’83
  • Mitchell Maki ’82, MSW ’84, PHD ’93
  • Baldwin W. Marchack DDC ’71
  • Bryan B. Min ’86
  • Glenn Osaki MA ’87
  • Taryn Rose MD ’92
  • Haruki Rocky Seto ’99, MPA ’01
  • Jon SooHoo ’84
  • Debbie Shon ’74
  • Nita Song ’97
  • Garrick (Rick) Wang ’88
  • William Wang ’86
  • Karen Wong ’83, JD ’86
  • Oliver Wong ’76, MBA ’77
  • Gay Yuen PhD ’95

APAA Legacy Award

  • Sammy Lee MD ’47
  • Yoshio C. Nakamura ’52, MFA ’53

APAA Distinguished Alumni Award

  • Justice Joyce Kennard ’71, MPA/JD ’74
  • Kenneth K. Miura ’54

APAA Service Award

  • Julie Benniardi ’91
  • Rebecca Branham MBA ’13
  • Tony Choi ’81
  • Bob Chong ’77, MBA ’79
  • Darren Chu ’84, DDS ’85 & Sandy Chu ’85
  • Frances Hashimoto ’66
  • Wandy and Larry Jung PharmDs ’77
  • Ysa Le PharmD ’94
  • Christine C. Lee JD ’79
  • Jennifer Lum ’82
  • Chuck Miwa ’88, MBA ’00
  • Melody Nishida ’78
  • Tae-Hyun Oh ME ’83, EdD ’91
  • Pranav Shah ’05
  • Bong-rak Sohn MBA ’86
  • The Hon. Michelle Park Steel EMBA ’10
  • Ben Wong ’73, PhD ’78
  • Debbie Wong ’75
  • Francis Yamazaki MD ’81

APAA Young Alumni Award

  • Justin Chon ’03
  • Jon M. Chu ’03
  • Sean Miura ’10
  • Ken Ochiai ’06
  • Justin Tandingan MPP ’14

APAA Corporate Leadership Award

  • Union Bank of California
  • Verizon

APASG* Award

  • Jae Min Chang
  • Edgardo de la Vega DDS ’71
  • Yoshi Honkawa ’55
  • David Hyun
  • Mary C. Takagaki
  • Carl Tamaki
  • Kenjohn Wang
  • The Honorable Delbert E. Wong
  • Wilbur Woo
  • Joselyn Geaga Yap
  • Do Ngoc Yen

APASG* Founders Recognition Award

  • Irene Hirano-Inouye ’70, MPA ’73
  • Kenneth Kasamatsu ’68
  • Alan Kumamoto
  • Dennis Kunisaki
  • Mary Kurushima
  • Frank Kwan ’71
  • Michael Matsuda ’82
  • Sarah Miyahira
  • Karen Wong ’83, JD ’86

APASG* Media Award

  • The Chinese Daily News
  • FM Seoul
  • The Korea Central Daily
  • The Korea Times
  • Korean Television Enterprises
  • KTAN
  • Nguoi Viet
  • The Philippine News
  • Radio Korea
  • The Rafu Shimpo

* Asian Pacific American Support Group (former name of the APAA)

Past Award Photos

Past Videos

2025 APAA Scholarship & Awards Video

2025 APAA Scholars Video

2024 APAA Scholarship & Awards Video

2024 APAA Scholars Video

2023 APAA Scholarship & Awards Video

2023 APAA Scholars Video