Letter from Executive Director
Dear Friends of AASPIRES,
As we welcome AASPIRES’ first ever GivingTuesday, I am reminded of the many stories that have shaped and continue to inform the work that AASPIRES does addressing educational inequities in underrepresented Asian American communities. Stories of power. Stories of survival. Stories of hope. Stories of joy. Stories of persistence. Today, I write to you incredibly proud of our AASPIRES Scholars who have gained admission to premiere universities across the United States and our current Senior Scholars who are in the midst of college applications.
AASPIRES was founded by seven Southeast Asian American Stanford alumni who grew up as the children of refugees and navigated school systems with limited guidance, mentorship, and representation that reflected our own lived realities. Our classrooms did not know our histories. Our counselors did not understand our communities. Yet we still dreamed to tell our stories.
Today, AASPIRES exists to ensure that the next generation of underrepresented Asian American students do not have to dream or tell their stories alone. We provide free culturally competent and reverent learning opportunities, individualized guidance, and personalized scholastic feedback for Scholars and their families to ensure that they do not undermatch when applying to college/university. Our Scholars are treated as storytellers, knowledge-makers, and future leaders who are capable of transforming higher education.
This GivingTuesday, I humbly ask for your support so AASPIRES can continue expanding its support of students who are often missing from university campuses across the United States.
A gift of any size directly supports:
1:1 college advising and mentorship for Scholars
Workshops for parents and families navigating higher education for the first time
An Emergency Fund that assists Scholars facing unexpected financial hardships
Organizational subscriptions that will continue the maintenance of AASPIRES’ website and development of digital resources for Scholars
Our Scholars come from households that do not have access to private admissions counseling or college consulting. Your contribution will help us close that gap for our Scholars.
With gratitude and in community,
Vince Upang Moua
Executive Director, AASPIRES
