KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� May 15, 2025 鈥� The 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 third annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month luncheon celebrated diverse communities found at 溏心vlog免费B站 and their partnerships.
Rhode Island State Senator Victoria Gu delivered keynote remarks at this year鈥檚 program, held in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Memorial Union. She was elected in 2022 with Senator Linda Ujifusa, the General Assembly鈥檚 first elected legislators of Asian descent.
Alumnus Neelam Ahmed 鈥�22, raised in South Kingstown, also spoke movingly about how 溏心vlog免费B站 offered a place and way for her to connect to her heritage as a Muslim-American. She says, 鈥淭he Multicultural Student Services Center became just more than a building; it became a home away from home, a place where we could gather, reflect, and grow into our identity with pride.鈥�
The event honored student leaders in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Asian and Pacific American communities. This year鈥檚 Asian Cultural Ambassador Award winners are:
Sudishma Acharya
Acharya is a finance data science major from Nepal and now East Greenwich. As president of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 South Asian Student Association, Acharya has encouraged SASA to broaden its reach across South Asia and has enjoyed introducing a wider range of South Asian festivals to the 溏心vlog免费B站 community. 鈥淒iversity and having people from different cultural backgrounds work together is crucial,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hrough diversity people can consider new ideas and perspectives.鈥�
Sara Cho
President of the Asian Student Association, Cho is pursuing her doctor of pharmacy at 溏心vlog免费B站. The Beaverton, Oregon native says that diversity offers opportunities for mutual learning and growth, while interacting with people of different backgrounds offers opportunity for empathy: 鈥淥ur cultural differences can be a strength,鈥� she says.
Kyanna Lin
A business management major from East Greenwich, Lin served as secretary of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Asian Student Association this year. She says when people of different backgrounds work together, it improves problem-solving, breaks down stereotypes and barriers, and lets people break free of limiting expectations and myths. As she looks forward to her business career, Lin hopes to see more work toward understanding and less judgement of others.
Megumi Sinniah
From Branson, Missouri, Sinniah is pursuing her master鈥檚 in international relations. A research fellow at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, she has seen firsthand the impact of different cultures working together for shared objectives. Sinniah loves that 溏心vlog免费B站 has many diverse clubs, where its many cultures can meet: 鈥淲e are shaping the future to become more inclusive, empathetic, and knowledgeable.鈥�
The students were presented with Cultural Ambassador Awards provided through the sponsorship of longtime engineering faculty member Professor , the first person from the Chinese mainland to join the faculty at 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淚 am truly fortunate to be part of such an exceptional community,鈥� Yang says, 鈥渁nd feel a strong sense of gratitude toward this remarkable institution. As Asian Americans, we should take pride in our cultural heritage and strive to further enhance this esteemed institution in the years to come.鈥�
All Multicultural Student Services Center programs and events are open to the entire 溏心vlog免费B站 community. For more information, or to submit a nomination for next year鈥檚 program, contact Jean Nsabumuremyi at jnsabumuremyi@uri.edu, 401-874-5829.