i would like to invite susan poland representing them from the academy of art university. and the executive vice president representing the academy of arts and university. and in partnership with our theme, we have a unique design contest called the public service announcement, the academy of art is very

dedicated with this new program this year. >> the academy of art university is really pleased to be part of the heritage month. we are a large university, as most of you know. we are the largest university in the united states, a private university for art and design. we have 26% of the student population asian american and pacific rim. with of the contributions that this -- kpix was honored with a lifetime achievement award, and this year, her students have been working on the design contest. tonight, we will find out who

won. i can't wait to see who it is. thank you all very much. [applause] >> and the last remarks are from at&t. >> good evening, everyone. i would like to extend my congratulations for putting on this amazing celebration that brings the city together from all walks of life and it is

something that at&t takes a lot of pride in sponsoring. as a company that does business in over 200 countries, it is a tree and the pleasure of to be part of this, so we wish you a great month. we are especially happy that the focus this year is on education. . and they lost an education program to keep young people in school and with the focus on science and technology, so we are excited. we hope to be back very soon to support and many other organizations in san francisco. it is our tree to be here.

gosh i have three other sponsors of like to bring up to receive the small of a gift of appreciation. will the representatives --

[applause] i want to thank the artists that are the owner of paper tree, a unique design store in japan town. all of our horses every year

please make us something unique. i hope your visit the store. thank you. >> to all of our supporters and sponsors, thank you. not if you came and, i hope you were able to meet up with some of our readers in the lobby with the special pen for heritage month. colombo was in the shape of an a. we hope you'll make a donation and purchase a pen and were it with pride throughout the month of may. there are also a number of sponsors that generously supported this year's celebration. the ads on buses around town as

well as posters and coasting on face but -- facebook. we want to a knowledge the additional sponsors beginning with the heritage partner level. it includes southwest airlines and a big welcome to the newest sponsor, walgreen's. was that he will grains contingent died just heard? -- the walgreen's contingent i just heard? did you have cocktails' before coming here? the japan town merchants association, the garage association and in the sugar bowl the bakery, thank you for coming as well. and a big thanks to our media partners.

we want to let you know that we have received reports from many individuals from the small businesses and community organizations as well. you can find their names listed on the screen and on our web site. to promote this year's team celebrating heritage, a new program was launched in partnership with one of our natures partners -- major partners. the design contest provides an opportunity for aau students a promotepa karen -- to help promote apa heritage month. to announce the first annual public-service announcement award, jack chen, general manager of sfgtv. and the executive director of

day. please give them a warm welcome. >> being the first year that we're doing the apa contest, we had a total of 15 entries working with the academy of art university. the entries were very creative in promoting the apa heritage history and apa month. sonny will talk about the criteria that we use. >> it was selected based on the following criteria. the impact of promoting the

heritage month, and finally, the originality of the concept. we received a total of 15 entries this year. i want to announce the winner. sean -- is he around? [applause] >> can we invite him onstage with us? we will first take a look at his injury.

>> way is asian pacific heritage month. in recognition of cultural impact. it is a time of united pride for the first -- the diverse people of the asian continent. >> japanese, vietnamese. >> no matter what your background. >> i am english. >> it is a celebration for everyone. >> will have him come out and talk about his injury. >> this is the biggest award ever want anyone to think that judges and the heritage month for this award.

thank you. >> congratulations, here is a certificate of on her home. >> smile. thank you so much, congratulations to the winner's hand and jack and sunny. you know that we have many fabulous celebrations and ethnic cultural performances. this year is no exception.

the fourth and fifth graders have been learning about polynesian methods, legend, and history since the first day of school. the children creative dance scenes and learn different polynesian dances. tonight, they are making their debut performance just for you. they are dancing a preview of polynesian dances that as a snippet of the full-length production they will perform this week at their school. please welcome -- [applause] ♪

♪ >> [singing foreign language] ♪

>> [foreign language singing] ♪

♪ >> [foreign languagee singing] ♪

[applause] >> hang ten, all right " -- all right! i don't know about you, but i've a mai tai right about now. it is kind of hot in here, pina you get col us someadas? - -us

som- us some pina coladas? we have the specific people that we want to of knowledge for organizations that made a distinct impact in their contribution to the apa community. the awards are being presented in three categories. we have the community leadership at a lifetime achievement award. for organization, we have the community impact for word. the top three finalists were submitted to a panel of three distinguished judges to make the final selection. the judges are dr. frank chong , a former san francisco board of education member. go-ahead and applauded. -- go ahead and applaud. dr. morishita. and patsy kito, director of the

samoan community development center. [applause] we want to thank and did knowledge southwest airlines for their sponsorship and providing all of the awards with -- award winners with two round-trip tickets to anywhere southwest airlines flies with an unlimited supply of peanuts. i want to ask -- to presnent the community leadership award, and join me in welcoming dr. emily murase. >> thank you so much. how is everybody doing? a great, a joyous occasion. i have served on the board of education and i am pleased to

announce the finalists and the awardee, all engaged in events in education. the criteria is described in the program, i want go through it here. it is important for us to recognize community leaders with a commitment to the educational needs of our community to ensure that the next generation of pacific and asian americans are here to address the concerns. the finalists in the community leadership category are -- program director of asian american community for education. soca mao, the juvenile justice prevention commissioner. and steve no.

their achievements are detailed in your program. all three are very deserving of this award, and the judges have had a hard time selecting just one winner. the recipient of the 2012 apa heritage award it is emelin. if you could please join us on stage? she is the project director of the asian-american communities for education program, administered by the japanese community youth council. she is an immigrant from the philippines. she is a first-generation college graduate of uc- berkeley, and went on to receive a master's degree in counseling at san francisco state. she has really taken the asian- american community program and expanded it to four locations.

the professional affiliations include member of the western association of administration personnel, where she is a board member, the selection committee for the uc berkeley incentive awards program, and advisory board member for the san francisco chapter of the young nonprofit professionals network. [applause] it is an extended break a family that has provided several awarding a opportunities that have contributed to prove professional development. i wanted to personally thank her for working with our public school students. [applause] >> thank you, everyone, definitely to the key minutes before -- definitely to the committee for honoring me this evening. i am an immigrant from the

philippines. i came here when i was 7. i have been honored to live here in the bay area, pushing higher education. first of all, sorry if i did not say thank you to everyone. but i would not be here if it was not for the support of my current supervisors, who have supported everything that i have wanted to do in terms of grants for our program, and i was very excited we were all able to accomplishment and it is doing well. also, this award would not have been possible this evening -- it is not "i," it is "we." i want to thank all of my staff at ace and all of my colleagues. as an only child, you grow up thinking that everything is mine, but that is not the case. this is a sharing field. finally, i have been here 20

years. this is my 20th year, and i'm very honored to celebrate that as well. working and the school district, working with low-income youth, to help them pursue their college education has been not just a job but passion and career for me, and i hope that we continue to work with our youth, not only in san francisco, daly city, and that we work with our other students you are from disadvantaged families. thank you. [applause] >> alright, congratulations. and not to present the committee impact award to an organization, -- and now to present the community impact award, please welcome jeff.

>> good evening. i am honored and excited to be here this evening to present the community impact award, an award that i do in the public defender's office. we work with about 1000 young people per year who get involved in the system. something we see again and again is they are there because they did not have the family support, the community support, they did not have the educational support. the three organizations being considered for this award tonight have dedicated decades of program years to the success of young people and have help young people not become involved in the criminal justice system, and this is like the oscars. there are all winners. the finalists in the impact category are - 4c the power, the community youth center of san francisco, formerly known as the

chinatown youth center, and the japanese community youth council, jcyc. it is now my pleasure to announce the recipient of the 2012 heritage award and the community impact category. it is foresee the power. it is a non-profit organization from sacramento, my home town, created to help youth with their culture and creativity and build confidence. specifically, they have workshops for a youth in the area of dance, hip-hop music, singing composition, music, photography, comedy, and skits. the idea came from a need in the sacramento asian-american community. diahann's de job was an educator before becoming the executive

director of 4c the power. she has been a decatur 28 years. she has been a principal, and numerous positions at the district level. she saw a disconnect between the vietnamese and cambodian students graduating high school. to work to fill that need. congratulations, diahann, and congratulations to 4c the power. >> wow. to be recognized for something that we are so passionate about, and that is educating every single youth that comes to our door, in particular my passion for asian-american students who do not fit the somewhat stereotypical thought about asian students. we have been commit with our

mentors. i am a little more nervous because i did not expect this. you have to pardon me. it with our mentor is helping youth, connecting them to their culture, creativity and their community, all the while building confidence. i think the young children here proved it perfectly. that our fifth graders who will not probably remember what was on the california standards test they just talk, but 20 years from now they will remember the dance they learned, the culture they study the, the creativity they were able to share with all of you, and most important confidence to come out here and do that. from the bar ofbottom of our hearts, thank you for this acknowledgement, and a one-two think the asian-american community for honoring us. community for honoring us. and finally i want to thank my