AAST Scholarship Program

Timothy J Ng Scholarship in Asian American Studies

Timothy J Ng (born 1950) retired in 2008 as Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. Previously, he served as Acting Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, in addition to Interim Director of Asian American Studies (2004 - 2006) at a critical juncture for the program. Under his leadership, a permanent director position for Asian American Studies was established in 2006. The scholarship was endowed in 2008 by gifts from Dr. Ng, colleagues, and friends to honor his numerous contributions and efforts to advance Asian American Studies at Maryland.

Purpose: This scholarship encourages undergraduates who demonstrate strength in academics and leadership, especially where such achievement leads to improvement in the lives of Asian Americans. Open to any undergraduate student.

Amount: One scholarship will be awarded at $1000.

Recipients

2024-2025 Lahiruni Dias Amarawardena
2023-2024 Nelson Chen
2022-2023 Lauren Eng, Callie Wen
2021-2022 Marjorie Antonio, M Pease
2020-2021 Dominic Escobal, Nabila Prasetiawan
2019-2020 Melanie McFarland, Ali Bhatti
2018-2019  Heather Kim, Diksha Patel
2017-2018  Linda Kuo
2016-2017  Julia Gao, Kevin Li
2015-2016  Kalyn Cai, Kathy Zhang
2014-2015  Yee Ka Chug, Joel Vazquez
2013-2014  Kristin Fishler, Sheyla Guevara
2012-2013  Andrew Aggabao, Jonathan Reyes
2011-2012  Mariko Hewer

Linh-Thong Huu Nguyen Memorial Scholarship

Linh-Thong Huu Nguyen (Apr 21, 1974 - Feb 25, 2007) immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam with his family at the age of one and grew up in Columbia, Maryland. “Tone” experienced early on the need for building bridges between communities through shared culture, beliefs, and values. In 1995, as a member of the Asian American Student Union, Tone and four fellow students led grass-roots, student-organized efforts that resulted in the university offering its first course in Asian American Studies. The scholarship honors Tone’s life and his key role in the collective efforts and vision of the five students that bravely advocated for an Asian American Studies Program at Maryland.

Purpose: This memorial scholarship was established in 2008 by Tone’s brother and fellow Terp Tuan Nguyen to support undergraduates who are enrolled in the Asian American Studies Minor Program and demonstrate consistent academic achievement in their studies. Open to AAST minors (must declare minor by end of Spring 2024).

Amount: One scholarship will be awarded at $1000.

Recipients

2024-2025 Avipsa Hamal
2023-2024 Lahiruni Dias Amarawardena
2022-2023 Nelson Chen
2021-2022 Callie Wen, Alythia Vo
2020-2021 M Pease, Annabelle Treadon
2019-2020 Patrick Peralta
2018-2019  Danielle Ocampo
2017-2018  Matthew Kim
2016-2017  Connor Huynh, Kiet Zhou
2015-2016  Kevin Moy, Niko Schultz
2014-2015  Rebecca Lee, Sharvani Naik, Andrew Mayton
2013-2014  Linh Nguyen, David Tian
2012-2013  Rachel Lee, Yixin Yu
2011-2012  Linda Guan, Mi Chung

Major General Antonio Taguba Profiles in Courage and Leadership Scholarship

Antonio Mario Taguba (born 1950) is a retired Major General having served 34 years on active duty. He is the second Filipino American to attain the rank of general officer in the U.S. Army. General Taguba is best known for authoring the Taguba Report, an internal U.S. Army report on detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, which was leaked and published in 2004. His courage and steadfast commitment to integrity in the face of adversity are admired by all who know him. Today, General Taguba gives generously of his time nationally and abroad to educate and mentor future generations of leaders. The scholarship was established in 2008 by the collective effort of community members and students to honor General Taguba and his dedication to young people. Special recognition to the Lott family, including the late Robert H Lott, Juanita Tamayo Lott, sons and UMD alumni, David and Joe Lott, Mencie Hairston, and the Filipino Cultural Association at University of Maryland, College Park. General Taguba, Mencie and Ernie Hairston, and Juanita Tamayo Lott established an endowment for the scholarship in 2019. The endowment is fully funded by their generous gifts.

Purpose: This scholarship recognizes undergraduates who demonstrate scholarship and outstanding leadership, as well as undergraduates enrolled in Army or Air Force ROTC seeking a degree at the University of Maryland College Park. Recipients should also be considering a future career in federal public service, both civilian and military, and must meet ONE of the following requirements: (1a) Student is a declared AAST minor OR (1b) Student is enrolled in the Navy, Army, or Air Force ROTC program and (2) Student has minimum GPA of 3.0 or above.

Amount: Two scholarships will be awarded at $2500 each.

Recipients

2024-2025 Tara Davoodi, Angela Tan
2023-2024 Amanda Vu
2022-2023 Nyrene Monforte, Jessica Nguyen
2021-2022 Justin Fox, Nabila Prasetiawan
2020-2021 Jung Oh, Patrick Peralta
2019-2020 Andrew Deng, Joshua Lee
2018-2019  Asma Shah, Daoyou Zhou
2017-2018  Connor Huynh
2016-2017  Sade Ayinde, Alice Lu
2015-2016  Andy Nguyen
2014-2015  Mokhyun Kim, Ryan Scott 
2013-2014  Todd O'Brian, Jeric Mibale, Ellen Yu
2012-2013  Derrick Do, Joy Penaso
2011-2012  Gina Garcia, David Toledo

Philip Vera Cruz Outstanding Community Service Scholarship

Philip Vera Cruz (December 25, 1904 - June 12, 1994) was a Filipino American labor leader, farmworker, and advocate in the Asian American civil rights movement. He was a co-founder of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, which later merged with the National Farm Workers Association to become the United Farm Workers.  As the union's long-time Vice President, he worked to improve the working conditions for migrant workers. With Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and Pete Velasco, Vera Cruz led the 1965 Delano Strike against the grape growers of California.

Purpose:
This scholarship was established in 2008 to support an undergraduate enrolled in Asian American Studies who personifies the vital relationship between a college education and the human condition through service to the under-served and under-represented.

This scholarship is no longer offered.

Past Recipients

2017-2018  Amanpreet Kaur
2016-2017  Kalyn Cai, Nishwath Samiya, Faith Lee
2015-2016  Brenda Ho
2014-2015  Michelle Nguyen
2013-2014  Rachael Lee
2012-2013  Tyler Babich