Tag: ATG Against The Grain Productions

Written by: Jackelyn Vorce

Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Khanh of Nha Khanh and emcess LeeAnne Locken and Sam Liu

October 13th marked the fourth annual Against the Grain’s Fashion for a Passion event. It was created with the purpose of bringing together emerging Asian American artists, fashion designers and musicians to raise awareness for Asian American culture and arts. The celebration was held at the renowned Dallas Contemporary where its current Inez & Vinoodh photography exhibit served as the perfect backdrop for the lively event. From start to finish, the evening was designed to keep guests interested and entertained. Informal models, donning upcoming designs from the fashion show, mingled throughout the space, offering more information about the designs and designers they were wearing. Prior to the fashion show, guests enjoyed savory bites and cocktails by DC’s Catering, along with a Yogurtland station filled with an assortment of its most popular flavors and toppings. There was a generous variety of silent auction items to meet anyone’s interests, along with a truly unique opportunity to choose from and bid on an ATG t-shirt given to each presenting designer one month prior to the event to recreate into a masterpiece of his or her own styling.

Exhibiting artists included Fur Face Boy, Ann He, Anh- Thuy Nguyen, Tam Nguyen, Thoa Nguyen, and Melissa Woodbridge. Musical entertainers Peter P & Robbie G, iCare and The Plinth gathered guests toward the stage before the runway show. As everyone took their seats, the last band, The Exchange, had event-goers clapping and singing along, anxiously awaiting the start of the show. Introducing and narrating the catwalk was Dallas’ own LeeAnne Locken and Sam Liu. Presenting designers included Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh, Jerry Matthews, Danh Ta and NYC-based designers Joanne Hong of JOLYNN, and textile designer Sophia Wu of Leprosy. After seeing each designer’s creative lines, a live auction was held over one of each designer’s donated pieces, and things quickly turned competitive with bids getting as high as $1,000 for a single dress. All proceeds from Fashion for a Passion go toward benefitting Against the Grain Production’s supported orphanage outreach programs and ATG’s scholarship funds. After such a well-organized and fulfilling night, it’s hard to believe this event is only four years-old.

Photos courtesy of La Mode Dallas, Dallas Does

October 3, 2012

Musicians Ready to Rock the Runway of 2012 Fashion for a Passion

DALLAS, TX – Dallas non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions’ much-awaited Fashion for a Passion charity event not only combines emerging fashion and art, but also brings together live musical entertainers to set the stage up for an unforgettable entertainment experience. The 4^th annual event, which will be hosted at the Dallas Contemporary on Saturday, October 13^th from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM, will feature four musical entertainment acts to kick off the evening’s celebration of Asian American talent.

Three of this year’s performers were selected from ATG’s community partner, Kollaboration Dallas, and include Peter P & Robbie G, iCare and The Plinth. The fourth and final performer will be The Exchange, the band of ATG’s 2012 Artistic Scholarship winner Britt Espinosa. Each musical act includes young entertainers who have followed their path to go against the grain.

Peter P & Robbie G

Peter P & Robbie G both started out their musical career as solo artists and now have been performing together for two years and counting. An elaborate description of their music is that it’s “high energy Dance/Pop with an array of slow melodic love songs,” and they perform with charismatic personalities. Said the duo, “What [does] our music means to us – Music is us, and we are music. We create music because we love doing it. We do it to inspire, to relate and to make people feel good. Our performance means a lot, because we always want to put on a good show, and we always strive to do better than our last. With our high energy songs, we hope the crowd will have a good time with us. Maybe even get up and start dancing – but if not, we will settle for smiles on faces and nodding of heads.”

The Plinth

Music is known to be shown on a variety of levels, and every member of The Plinth brings something unique to the table. The Plinth’s musical talents create something unique that truly characterizes their musical styles. Audiences will love their innovative and fun use of sound and beats. The band’s known multi-talented beatboxer Usama Siddiquee says, “Funk. Jazz. Hip Hop. Soul. It’s what we’re all made of.”

The Exchange

ATG is again lucky enough to have both of the 2012 Artistic Scholarship winners present at FFAP. Washington state native, Britt Espinosa, and his band, The Exchange, will be FFAP’s final musical act. Espinosa, along with other scholarship winner and exhibiting artist, Thoa Nguyen, will be recognized before The Exchange performs for the audience. Espinosa started the band in 2010, and over the years, the group has performed at almost one hundred events, playing shows, youth camps and conferences through the West Coast. Espinosa realized through these experiences how much he enjoyed leading young musicians on a musical team and was challenged by the business aspects of leading a band/team. The Exchange’s energetic, live show with guitar swings, jumping and unbridled energy creates an atmosphere where everyone wants to join in. Bridging the gap between the stage and audience, The Exchange quickly created a community that readily absorbs their optimistic music. Said Espinosa, “The Exchange is very excited to be a part of FFAP this year. It is a great honor to play at an event that holds so much meaning and does so much good! We love music! We love to play it, perform it, sing it. Wherever we play, our hope is that our love is seen and that the audience experiences some of that love as well.”

Tickets to Fashion for a Passion range from $50 to $100 and are on sale exclusively at the FFAP Event Page. For more press/media information on the event, please contact pr@againstthegrainproductions.com.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. In addition to giving out an annual scholarship to exemplary Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts, they also produced the feature documentary, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, which has screened at over a dozen film festivals nationwide and received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

October 2, 2012

Orphanage Update: Harvest Moon Festival

ATG recently received an update email from one of our supported orphanages in Vietnam (names have been abbreviated to protect their privacy). We wanted to share this with you and show you just how your dollars are going to help support and make the lives of these orphanage children better!

Dear ATG Family,

We received from the ATG family a sum in the amount of $VND 10 million ($480 USD). We understand that you want to use this sum to buy needed items and winter clothes for the children of UD, and also to support UD to help the children of UD and those of disadvantaged families near UD to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (Children’s Festival). To follow your wish, PT has used the money for the following items:

1) 50 pairs of sandals (for the children to go to school): 50X $27,000 = $1,350,000 (US$64)

2) 300 packages of milk, supplies and treats for the children during “Tet Trung Thu” (Harvest Moon Festival) X $15,000 = $4,500,000 (300 X 72 cents each = US$216)

The remaining amount will be used to buy warm clothes for 40 children of UD for the coming monsoon season. PT will send pictures of the children in warm clothes later for you.

We appreciate the ATG family very much! During the past many years, ATG has always been walking side-by-side with UD in the mission to care for the

lives of the orphans. You have also followed each step of the ways for the less fortunate children of UD and helped them step into life with confidence. This time, you also extended your arms and helped PT to reach out to the other even less fortunate children outside UD and brought them a little joy and hope during the Harvest Moon Festival for the children at such a tender age….

Your concern and thoughtfulness during this occasion have just added the needed fuel to the “camp fire” to make the Mid-Autumn Festival for UD more warm and celebrated!

September 26, 2012

2012 Fashion for a Passion Exhibits Work of Emerging Asian American Artists

DALLAS, TX – Dallas-based non-profit ATG Against The Grain Production’s upcoming annual charity event Fashion for a Passion has become known not only for the exciting runway show, but also as an event where guests can enjoy and even bid to own emerging Asian American art. This year’s Exhibiting Artists are an eclectic group that include graphic artist Ha Mai aka “Fur Face Boy,” 17 year-old fashion photographer Ann He, recent SMU MFA Meadows graduate Anh-Thuy Nguyen, Tam Nguyen (brother of designer Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh), ATG Artistic Scholarship Winner Thoa Nguyen and Artistic Scholarship Finalist Melissa Woodbridge. Each artist will exhibit a piece as well as donate a piece of their original work in the silent auction. This exhibition, along with musical performances and a runway show, takes place at the Dallas Contemporary at the Dallas Design District from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM on Saturday, October 13th.

While the name of the event connotes the focus on fashion, the addition of art has become just as much a part of the night’s experience to celebrate Asian American talent. This year, President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee tasked and worked with Marketing/PR Director Nikki Duong Koenig (who works professionally as the Creative Director of Envision Interactive and is the founder of Cykochik Custom Handbags) with finding a diverse slate of artists who had a unique point of view, strong and thought-provoking work and who represented the spirit of the organization’s mantra of ‘going against the grain.’ Said Koenig, “I’m truly inspired by this amazing group of young visual artists for their talent, passion and generosity to pay it forward.”

Fur Face Boy

Ha Mai (also known as “Fur Face Boy“) was a kid who loved cartoons, comics, toys, video games, quirkiness, art and style, which led to constantly doodling and drawing whenever and wherever. Like many other artists from Asian families, Mai strived to prove to his parents that he could make his career as an artist and to make them proud. Said Mai, “I’m very excited to be a part of an event that recognizes and celebrates Asian-American artists. I’m hoping that my art / design will remind everyone that I’m still very proud of my Vietnamese roots, values and heritage. Growing up in America with American peers and culture can tend to make you forget about your background, but it can also fuse together to create a bigger meaning to art, life and personality. I hope everyone sees that my art represents that I am not just a single-sided Asian or a single-side American, but Asian American.”

Anh-Thuy Nguyen

From photography to video to performance and sound art, Anh-Thuy Nguyen is a multi-media artist who envelops her work to convey an assortment of feelings and desires. She is a recent MFA graduate of the SMU Meadows School of the Arts. Said Nguyen, “Petite Houses Series is an investigation of miniature houses that I have been working on since 2010. These houses represent one’s dream home, a place full of joy, laughing and love, yet it is just a dream.”

Tam Nguyen

Tam Nguyen comes from a talented family. He is the younger brother of FFAP veteran designer Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh. Said Nguyen, “I’m totally grateful for this opportunity to be a part of ATG. Most of all I’m looking forward to checking out all the creative talents. Being around designers and artists at these events can be very energizing and inspiring, especially to fellow creatives like myself. At the moment, I am in love traditional media. I simply paint and draw portraits obsessively.” He will exhibit a stunning portrait piece of his mother, who undoubtedly must be proud her talented son and daughter.

Melissa Woodbridge

This year, several of ATG’s Artistic Scholarship applicants were visual artists, and two were selected to exhibit pieces as a part of the organization’s mission to support the work of young talent. Finalist Melissa Woodbridge is a sophomore at the University of Georgia, and Scholarship Winner Thoa Nguyen is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. Both are pleased with the chance to share their work and attend and their first Fashion for a Passion in person. Woodbridge said, “I am incredibly excited to be apart of this amazing event that involves so many passionate, talented people, and I hope that I will be able to contribute with my own love for art and community.”

Thoa Nguyen

Added Nguyen, “It is an honor to be a part of the sea of talented artists featured at the Fashion for a Passion event. Making art has always been such a personal experience for me, so I am grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to share my point of view with other inspirational artists.”

Already starting out at a young age, Ann He of Dallas, TX, calls herself a “full-time nerd” and “a proud Trekkie,” while pursuing being a part-time fashion photographer. She is a senior at Highland Park High School, and remarkably juggles her schedule through cross country, academic decathlon and being a photo student. She has already been featured in several publications, such as Photographer’s Companion (China), Vogue Girl Korea (July 2011) and Elle Girl Korea (January 2011).

August 8, 2012

Someone Like Me | Vietnamese Heritage Camp 2012 | Colorado

Jared Rehberg and Kali Hauck

Dallas, TX – After a year of planning and the final three months of execution, ATG’s own Director of Community Outreach, Jared Rehberg, marked his first successful year as Co-Director of Vietnamese Heritage Camp, hosted in Estes Park, Colorado. ATG Secretary Hue Dao Miner joined him as a High School counselor, becoming an instant role model. ATG had a special table set up for the Saturday night show that featured performances by the children and workshop presenters.

Jared had the honor to make a dream come true by sharing the stage with two younger adoptees. He performed “Someone Like Me “with Kali Hauck from Boulder, Colorado. He also sang “Connected to You” with cellist Noelle Hemphill from Fort Collins, Colorado. The weekend went by quickly, and both Jared and Hue miss the families already. Jared is excited to start planning next year’s camp with his new Co-Director, Kristi Kremer.

Jared Rehberg and Noelle Hemphill

Rehberg said, “It was an honor representing ATG with Hue Dao Miner by my side. We gave out checks for $100, personalized certificates and copies of our Operation Babylift DVDs to our Heritage Camp Scholarship winners.”

Miner, who is herself a Vietnamese adoptee, made the decision to participate this year and drove all the way from Dallas to attend. Said Miner, “Being camp counselor at Vietnamese Heritage Camp gave me a 360 degree perspective on adoption. Paired with my experience as a board member at ATG helping raise funds for orphanages and being uniquely adopted, I was equipped with more knowledge on adoption. It’s all so real and tangible to me. I had the opportunity to hear from the children, and the issues they face. Now I have a vested interest in the lives of these children and will definitely return to this camp as often as I can.”

Hue Dao Miner and the High School Group

This year’s winner were Olivia Thompson, Noelle Hemphill, Maria Kremer, Thomas Anh Huy Morton, Liz Boyle, Allison Foust, Sarah Foust, Hannah Foust and Emily Morgan-Tracy. Congratulations to all the winners!

ATG Camp Scholarship Winners

August 7, 2012

Asian American Groundbreakers Inspire Leadership in ATG Panel Discussion

Rebekah Kim (right) receives 2012 Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship from Sunna Lee (left)

DALLAS, TX – Dallas-based nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions hosted their inaugural Groundbreakers Speak: A Conversation with Asian American Movers & Shakers on Saturday, July 28^th. Event guests received a docent guided tour of elegant The Crow Collection of Asian Art before packing the main gallery to enjoy champagne, coffee, dessert and experience a lively panel discussion comprised of a diverse cross section of Asian American industry leaders. Each panelist represented a different occupational field, from medicine to fashion, business to film, sports to politics and was carefully selected to share their unique perspective and journey that led to their ultimate success. After awarding the 2012 Sunna Lee Leadership scholarship to recipient Rebekah Kim, the stimulating discussion topics ranged from witty and profound advice and anecdotes, insightful personal confessions, cultural observations on being raised by Asian immigrant parents, thought-provoking questions for self-actualization and identity, a strong call to action for more mentorship in the community and a round-robin of humorous answers to Inside the Actors Studio questions.

2012 Groundbreakers Panel (left to right): Patrick Wang, Sunna Lee, Dr. Sam Lam, Khanh Nguyen, Ramey Ko, Nur Ali, Rebekah Kim, Tammy Nguyen Lee

Leadership scholarship founder Sunna Lee said, “Many countries, many age groups and many professions were represented [at Groundbreakers], yet the challenges we face are so similar. It was refreshing and encouraging to hear a point of view of empowerment rather than that of a victim.” The Groundbreakers Speak panel included NASCAR/Formula One Racer Nur Ali, U.S. Olympian Rebekah Kim, judge and activist Ramey Ko, plastic surgeon/entrepreneur Dr. Sam Lam, marketing executive Sunna Lee, fashion designer Khanh Nguyen, filmmaker Patrick Wang and film/tv producer and philanthropist Tammy Nguyen Lee moderating the discussion. Nguyen Lee, who is ATG’s President and Founder, conceived of the event to continue the organization’s unique method of community outreach in an engaging and entertaining format, while also dealing with an issue she views as lacking in the Asian American community. Said Nguyen Lee, “Up to this point, ATG has made great strides in promoting emerging Asian American artists and fundraising for our causes. However, this year, we wanted to add more education to our repertoire and bring leadership to our focus so that we can inspire others to step up. It’s a subject that we need to address, understand, nurture and educate ourselves on so that we can evolve into a stronger community and truly give back to the best of our potential.”

Dr. Sam Lam, a triple-board certified plastic surgeon and author of numerous books, acknowledged that one of the biggest ways to impact the lacking leadership in the Asian American community was through mentorship. Dr. Lam is well acquainted with the significance of ATG events, putting his money where his mouth is by supporting the organization as a year-round sponsor for the past several years. “Tammy Nguyen Lee once again has proven how talented she is at putting together and leading a first-rate panel to inspire present and future generations of Asian American leaders.” Nur Ali continued, “We as Groundbreakers need to be more available as mentors to youth and adults alike in our community and work to give them the strength to follow their hearts. It can be a bit worrisome, but the payoff can also be huge.”

With years already under his young career belt, activist and attorney Ramey Ko shared one of the day’s most poignant thoughts that “if you ever find yourself saying ‘someone ought to do that,’ perhaps that someone ought to be you.” Ko acknowledged ATG as an example that proves “Asian Americans are not only breaking new ground, but we’re doing it in style” and adding that “the tremendous diversity of the panel demonstrates that there are no doors that are closed to Asian Americans, if we have the passion, the commitment and the faith to make our dreams happen.”

With the success of the first Groundbreakers Speak, ATG plans to take Ko’s thoughts to heart and continue hosting this panel as one of its staple community outreach events. Said Nguyen Lee, “This was a great beginning, but there is so much more we can do to help engage and nurture future Asian American leaders. We’ll bring more voices to the table. This was just the tip of the ice berg.”

Event photos are provided courtesy of Saru Photography and can be viewed at the ATG Flickr site. To read about ATG’s upcoming events, please visit https://againstthegrainproductions.com/events.

July 2, 2012

ATG Gives to Baan Fuengfah Orphanage in Bangkok, Thailand

ATG is proud to announce the extension of their efforts to support orphanages in Asia to Bangkok, Thailand. Last month, our ground representative, Ewe Wee, gathered a group of friends and visited Baan Fuengfah Orphanage to deliver lunch and lots of love. We served lunch, dessert and milk to 272 boys and 160 girls. We look forward to continue our support to more orphanages in Bangkok in the near future. We had a volunteer photographer capture the afternoon.

Check out our photo gallery on Facebook, click here.

Many thanks to Ewe Wee and her amazing team for making this all happen.

To support our orphanage aid efforts and make a donation, visit our Donate Page.

July 2, 2012

Congratulations to 2012 ATG Heritage/Culture Camp Scholarship Contest Winners

ATG is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 ATG Heritage/Culture Camp Scholarship Contest. Many thanks to all of our campers who submitted this year. Check out how our winners go against the grain and what going against the grain means to them. Congratulations to our winners!

Olivia Thompson

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

I go against the grain by wearing different colored socks and mixing and matching them. I am doing things in my own way by dressing differently. I also have different interests than others people. And I don’t change my interests just because other people are interested in other things. Also at school, I don’t do things and hang out with certain people because others categorize them as “cool,” I hang out with people who I think are nice and trustworthy. I believe that going against the grain is important, and it is important to learn that it isn’t bad. I believe this because later in life, it will allow you to feel more comfortable speaking out and even fighting to get your opinion heard.

What does against the grain mean to you?

“Going against the grain” means many things. I believe that going against the grain means you do things in your own way. For example, if Bob, Sally, Joe, Steve and Fred all decide that wearing green is super cool, but you hate green, you decide to wear red. This would be going against the grain. Going against the grain can be difficult, thanks to peer pressure and sometimes bullies. Thankfully, most of the time, going against the grain isn’t too hard because there are always people who follow and help you along the way. Believe it or not, the way the cool new trend got started was by somebody going against the grain! Way cool, right?

Noelle Hemphill

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

I go against the grain by being who I am. I am an energetic, outgoing, incredibly talkative musician who just happens to be an Asian Adoptee.

“All children have the to right be children: to be safe, to attend school, to play, to be treated with respect, to be heard, to be understood and to be loved.”

What does against the grain mean to you?

Against the grain means being who you are without people telling you you’re supposed to be, pursuing things you love like music, art, writing, sports, whatever it may be that you love, listening to the kind of music that you like, even if it’s not what all the people at school like, because so what if I like classical music or jazz more than most 14 year-olds might like.

Maria Kremer

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

Maria is a Vietnamese adoptee adopted at 14 months-old. She was born in Hanoi, VN and now lives with her adoptive parents and sister in Colorado. She is five years-old and getting ready for kindergarten.

Since we started the adoption process, we had heard that international adoptees have a foot in both their home country and their birth country. However, I would argue that if that’s true, Maria seems to have a finger dipped in a lot of other cultures and countries. That’s one way that she goes against the grain.

What does going against the grain mean to you?

Maria truly is a global citizen and what makes her really go against the grain is her ability to make friends in all of these countries and cultures while being proud of being Vietnamese. At age five, she has the beautiful ability to notice the differences in peoples’ appearance, dress and language. Yet, it’s not a bad difference but a fascinating, adventure-giving difference. She is looking forward to going to the ESL so that she “can help the other kids learn some English and learn what they eat.” I believe this attitude of hers can really change the world if given the opportunity to do so!

Thomas Anh Huy Morton

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

Some kids are bullies, and they hurt other kids, but I don’t hurt other kids. When kids bully me, I get mad. I don’t like it. I walk away and tell my Dad.

What does going against the grain mean to you?

Going against the grain means that I do what is right instead of doing what the other kids are doing. I don’t turn into a bully. I get help when I’m being bullied.

Liz Boyle

How do you ‘go against the grain?’

I go against the grain by saying words like carmel, aunt, data , etc., the other way than my parents do.

What does going against the grain mean to you?

I think of against the grain as something you do that is not very normal, but, I like doing this because it makes me feel unique.

Allison Foust

How do you go against the grain?

We are open to those around us and embrace our differences. We limit our consumption of unnecessary items, get outside and enjoy nature as a family, ride our bikes instead of taking the car when we can and encourage kindness. Our youngest daughter, Allison, is very out-going and quick to make friends wherever she goes. Like her sisters, she likes to recycle and re-use anything that seems as though it might have another purpose. Allison has a very strong opinion about what is fair and what is not fair, and she is not afraid to speak up when things just don’t seem quite right. At six, her opinions have room to develop, but her sense of fairness and outspoken nature will serve her well.

What does it mean to go against the grain?

Going against the grain means living in a way that maintains our personal integrity, regardless of whether or not it is the “popular” thing to do. We make choices every day that require us to think about what the right thing to do is versus what we think we may want. Our choices affect the environment and the people around us and there is a great responsibility on our shoulders to make a decision that has a positive impact.

Sarah Foust

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

We are open to those around us and embrace our differences. We limit our consumption of unnecessary items, get outside and enjoy nature as a family, ride our bikes instead of taking the car when we can and encourage kindness. Our oldest daughter Sarah was just awarded the Good Citizenship Award in her 5th grade graduation for the kindness that she showed to other kids in her class, especially those kids who have trouble making friends with other members of the class and kids who were picked on by other members of the class. She went out of her way to give comfort to those kids, choosing them to help with special activities and sitting with them when no one else would. Her example inspired other kids in the class to start doing the same.

What does mean to go against the grain?

Hannah Foust

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

We are open to those around us and embrace our differences. We limit our consumption of unnecessary items, get outside and enjoy nature as a family, ride our bikes instead of taking the car when we can, and encourage kindness. Hannah is the Queen of recycling and re-using things that might otherwise be considered trash. She diligently reminds us when we are about to throw something away that might be recyclable and many times she insists that she can re-use bits of paper and wrappers, old clothes, etc. for different projects, and she then does. Hannah prefers to bike when she can, and she proudly sports any clothing that she has requested be re-made from old dresses even if her wardrobe differs greatly from her comrades.

What does it mean to go against the grain?

Emily Morgan-Tracy

How do you go ‘against the grain?’

I stir things up by being funny and hyper. I make up funny songs and parodies. I make up games for my friends and me. If I didn’t go against the grain, I wouldn’t be myself.

What does it mean to go against the grain?

Stirring things up and making them exciting and fun.

July 2, 2012

ATG Announces 2012 Artistic and Sunna Lee Scholarship Winners

Dallas, TX –

After a nationwide call for applicants, Dallas-based non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions is proud to announce its 2012 Scholarship Winners. After receiving nearly 150 applications, the scholarship committee culled down the pool to a short list of top finalists, who were then interviewed to select the final winners.

Director of Community Outreach Lily Yang, who was in charge of spearheading the search, said, “It has truly been an honor and privilege, on behalf of myself and the rest of the scholarship team, to have the opportunity to review so many wonderful and inspirational submissions from a such diverse group of artists all across the country. Though their medium of art is different, we were blown away by everyone’s passion for the arts as well as involvement as leaders in their school and community. It was a very tough decision. We believe our winners not only show potential in their field, but also truly embrace our organization spirit of ‘going against the grain.'”

2012 Artistic Scholarship Winner Britt Espinosa

Candidates were scored based on GPA, an artistic portfolio, essay, demonstration of leadership/community involvement and letters of recommendation. The finalists were interviewed to see who would be the best representative of ATG and the organization’s values. There were two 2012 ATG Artistic Scholarship Winners, each of whom will receive $1,000 towards tuition and education expenses. Both candidates were articulate, energetic and showed exceptional academic prowess, dedication to community involvement, artistic talent, as well as leadership ability. The first winner is Britt Espinosa, an 18 year-old from Kingston, Washington who will attend Northeastern University to study Music Management and performance. Espinosa said, “I feel incredibly honored to be chosen out of all the very impressive entries, and participants! It humbles me to see so many young people like myself making beautiful art, and giving back to the community.”

The second Artistic Scholarship winner is Thoa Nguyen, who graduated from Juan Seguin High School in Arlington and

2012 Artistic Scholarship Winner Thoa Nguyen

will go on to study Radio/Television/Film at the University of Texas at Austin. Said Nguyen on winning her award, “It means the most to me spiritually. It is a sign or reassurance that what I am doing will be worth it in the end because someone out there believes in me.” Nguyen will be one of the seven exhibiting artists at this year’s Fashion for a Passion event that takes place on Saturday, October 13th at the Dallas Contemporary Museum.

For the first year, ATG offered the Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship, a result of a generous donation from marketing executive Sunna Lee. The goal of the scholarship was to find a student who was moving to change the Asian American stereotype as a passive, showed strong leadership and ability to affect change in the community. The winner is awarded with a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition and education expenses, $1,000 of which will be donated to a 501(c)(3) non-profit of their choosing to allow them to give back.

President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee was honored to have the opportunity to expand the organization’s outreach efforts through this new leadership scholarship. Nguyen Lee said, “We created the Artistic Scholarship as an extension of what our organization is already doing to promote and support Asian Americans in the arts, and we hope that the Leadership Scholarship continues to cultivate those in our community who are finding unique ways to express themselves and create stories for us to share.” Nguyen Lee continued, “ATG is very fortunate to partner with pioneers in the Asian American community like Sunna Lee and be the organization chosen to broaden our scope to select and promote a leader among the Asian American student population. It’s a huge honor and responsibility. Our hope is that that this will send an impactful message and continue to inspire others to affect change and leadership in others.”

Regarding the Leadership Scholarship winners, Yang continued, “We had high expectations for applicants of our Leadership scholarship and wanted to hear from Asian American leaders across the country. The diversity and caliber of applicants far exceed even our highest expectations. The submissions truly touched us and affirms the goal of our scholarship to support outstanding Asian American leaders to make a difference in the world around them. The winner has demonstrated not only leadership skills, but also the talent, knowledge, passion, commitment and charisma to make a difference.”

The winner of the Sunna Lee Leadership scholarship is Rebekah Kim of Fullerton, California. She will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship — $1,000 of which will be donated to a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity of her choosing. Kim the first Korean American to make the U.S. Olympic Synchronized Swimming Team and competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Teaching at the University of Southern California. Kim said, “It is extremely encouraging to know that an organization such as ATG, that is truly making a difference in the Asian American community, is supporting me in my endeavors to be who I want to be and do what I want to do. It definitely makes a special mark in my heart and impact my life in a way that I would like to do for others.” Kim will join Sunna Lee on the Groundbreakers Speak panel event on July 28th, hosted at the Crow Collection of Asian Art.

2012 Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship Winner Rebekah Kim

Read about Rebekah Kim in July’s Going Against The Grain Spotlight.

Read about the 2012 Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship Finalists.

For more information on both scholarships, visit the Scholarship Page.

July 2, 2012

Going Against The Grain: Rebekah Kim (ATG Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship Winner)

This month’s GATG Spotlight is truly an inspiration. It is no wonder that Rebekah “Becky” Kim won the 2012 Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship. The entire ATG team and scholarship committee is so impressed by this young talent and can’t wait to see all that she will accomplish. She is a U.S. Olympian (Beijing Olympics Games), a 2 Time Athlete of the year and has won the OSU Scarlet and Gray Leadership Award and a 7 Time USSS All-American Award. She has served on the Leadership Team at Sarang Community Church and volunteered for the Bay Area Rescue Mission.

Rebekah Kim’s journey to the Olympic Games started at the age of nine. She has been involved with the sport of synchronized swimming for 19 years. In 2004, she led Ohio State’s Synchronized Swimming Team to win a National Collegiate Championship, winning gold in all three events (duet, trio, team). With one year left at OSU, Rebekah took a break from school to train with the Olympic team in 2006. The eight-time national team member helped the U.S. win gold at the 2006 World Trophy Cup in Moscow, Russia, which marked the first victory over the Russians who have been reigning champions for the past ten years. In the following year, Rebekah participated in the 2007 Pan Americans Games, where the U.S. finished gold, securing their spot in the 2008 Olympic games. Kim made her Olympic debut in Beijing, 2008 where the U.S. placed fifth. Following the Olympic games, she returned back to OSU to complete her schooling where she led the team, as team captain, to win another National Championship in 2009. That same year, she was named Athlete of the Year. She is the first Korean American to have ever made the U.S. Olympic Synchronized Swimming team.

Currently, Kim gives back to the sport by raising and coaching the next generation of synchronized swimmers. She is also involved in the governing body of USA Synchro. She was selected as the United States Olympic Committee Athlete Advisory Council Representative, where she was one of five officials who selected members of Team USA for the 2012 London Olympic Games. To help her community, she partners with the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG). She is a speaker for Ready, Set, Gold! (RSG!), a program that tackles the epidemic problems of diabetes and obesity through the promotion of health and fitness in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In addition, she serves on the leadership team at Sarang Community Church in Anaheim. She has visited churches and orphanages in Israel, Indonesia, Mexico, and Korea with the Lost Sheep Mission Ministry to give faith, hope, and education to those in need. Lastly, she is very excited to be giving her $1000 to the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond, California where she has been serving the homeless for 15 years. She is currently attending the University of Southern California pursuing a M.A. in Teaching.

Full name:

Rebekah “Becky” H. Kim

Hometown:

Walnut Creek, CA

Current City:

Fullerton, CA

Ethnicity:

Korean

What does it mean to you to “go against the grain?”

A person “going against the grain” is not only a trailblazer, but is also someone who dares to thrive on unfamiliar grounds. Their drive is passion, empowerment and a whole lot of “everything is possible” attitude.

How do you go against the grain?

I think I go against the grain by believing in the truth that I’ve been entrusted with certain talents and abilities to dream and to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. I am teaching, equipping and empowering our younger generation to conquer their own dreams and fears – not letting them justify their shortcomings or circumstances – and doing it all so that they can do the same for others. The other week I was invited to a school dance (one of the schools I’ve been speaking at) and I had a fifth grader come up to me and thank me because I helped her overcome her fear of dancing in front of people. It forced me to bust out some of my special moves that I thought were long gone, but it did the trick!

On “What makes a good leader?” (excerpted from scholarship essay)

Every leader must be raised and taught and must therefore, be teachable…A leader with a teachable heart, regardless f the shortcoming she may have, will in the end bear life lessons which can transform and make great impact on people’s lives…A good leader must know exactly where she is coming from…must know where she is going…is aligned with her passion and goals. She knows where she is effective and where she is not…Furthermore, a good leader knows when and how to say ‘no.’ A leader should have a giving and servant-like heart, [but] is not merely a slave to be pushed around…and knows the boundaries of her own and those of others….A good leader never ceases to motivate and encourage others, especially when people are lost without hope. [A leader is ] a seeker of the truth [who] not only accepts herself, but accepts the society she lives in. She holds true to what is right and just in her own heart through her actions, as well as her actions in life. Therefore, it can never be the title, rank or position that makes a good leader, but rather the character of the person that does.

What made you decide to pursue a career in teaching and previously, sports?

Growing up, I decided to be involved with sports because I was an extremely active child. My mom recognized my athletic abilities and allowed me to experience all kinds of sports and activities including gymnastics, golf, dance, ballet, swimming, diving and figure skating (I am truly blessed to have such an awesome mom, who I believe also, went against the grain by her willingness to support me in my passion to excel in something other than academics and music). I finally decided I wanted to pursue synchronized swimming because it encompassed everything I loved- swimming, gymnastics, dance and music! After the Games in 2008, I went into coaching and I really loved the teaching aspect of it. There’s something so rewarding about seeing the lightbulb go off in your students’ minds and body. When I went to Indonesia for a mission trip in the summer of 2009, I found myself in a rural area among tons of children. I had heard that there was a great lack of teachers in the area and I felt an overwhelming burden come upon me. I remember thinking to myself, “What about all of these children? Who’s going to teach, lead and empower them?” I believe teaching is a tool that you can use wherever you go. It’s a critical asset to have if you want to inspire and have great impact on people’s lives.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in this field?

To be considered to have “potential” in the sport of USA synchronized swimming, one is required to have “straight” long legs, be tall, and have a toned, athletic built body- most of which were out of my control- I was shorter, had bowed legs, and I’m Asian. Although I practiced just as hard as my teammates (10 hours a day in and out of the water), I always had a higher percentage body fat with less muscle definition. It was always a challenge being compared to an ideal synchro athletic body that was more fit for my white, long legged teammates. At the age of 14, my coach told me to tie my legs together while sleeping to get rid of my “bowed leggedness.” In the end, I was still the same person, but I made the Olympic team. Sometimes, you have to figure out what makes you unique and stand out from everyone else, rather than figuring out how to be like everyone else.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

Many people would think the fact that I competed in the Olympic Games is my biggest accomplishment. I think differently. Two months before the Games, I had a freak accident in the pool while doing acrobatic lifts. I ended up tearing my ulnar collateral ligament in my left elbow and having nerve impingement in my entire right arm. I had to cast both arms. I had 19 doctors diagnose me and was told that it would take 9 months to recover. Those two months were the hardest months of my life. There were days I wanted to give up – the possibility of not being able to compete in the Olympics and 16 years of my life in this sport going down the drain because of an injury would have been the hardest thing to swallow. Instead, I pressed on and even though I was in a lot of pain, I fearlessly competed. Till this day, I don’t know how I was able to do it. The only thing I know for sure is that without my faith in Jesus and myself, it would have been impossible to overcome.

What’s up next?

I’m excited to start student teaching in the fall. I’m going to be coaching less hours, but at least I’m still able to coach!

Quote to live by:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

Sign (Eastern Animal Sign & Western Zodiac): I’m an Ox! We’re not afraid of hard work!

Passionate about: Jesus, youth kids, food, any activity that involves the beach, music, shoes/accessories and doing tricks with my adorable one year-old niece!

Favorite food: Nothing can beat a juicy slab of ribeye and red wine together.

Can’t live without: My planner (some of my friends laugh at me because it’s the size of a college textbook and I carry it around with me everywhere I go) and sadly, my iPhone…I dropped it in the pool while coaching the other day, and I literally felt handicapped.

What it means to you to be named the 2012 Sunna Lee Scholarship Winner:

I am extremely encouraged to know that an organization such as ATG, that is truly making a difference in the Asian American community, is supporting me in my endeavors to be who I want to be and do what I want to do. It definitely makes a special mark in my heart and impacts my life in a way that I would like to do for others.

Read more about Rebeakah in the Sunna Lee Leadership Scholarship Finalist Announcement.