Asian American and Pacific Islander Month 2019
On May 6, 2019 the Council commemorated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is recognized nationally throughout the month of May. This special event will include a pre-meeting breakfast reception, a prepared video segment focused on youth voices on racial equity in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, a proclamation presentation by Councilmembers and comments from participants.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month acknowledges the roles that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played in our history and celebrates their achievements and contributions. The U.S. Congress chose the month of May to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
Amanda Chu
Amanda Chu is a senior at Poolesville High School in the Humanities Magnet Program. At Poolesville, Amanda is the president of the club Poolesville Leads, National History Honor Society, and her school's DECA Business Club chapter. She's also been involved in her school's student government since freshmen year as well as a member of the Mock Trial team throughout high school. In college, Amanda hopes to explore and study economics, entrepreneurship, Asian American studies, and public policy.
Grace Jo
Grace Jo grew up under North Korea’s communist dictatorship. After witnessing several family members starve to death, she escaped to China with her mother and sister. In 2008, Grace came to the United States where she and her sister, Jinhye, founded a nonprofit that supports North Korean refugees. Grace is in Dallas to participate in the Bush Institute’s Forum on Freedom in North Korea.
Arvin Kim
Arvin Kim attends the eighth grade at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. His parents immigrated from Korea before he was born, making him first-generation American born.
His experience in leadership, outside of school-level student government ranges from across the state. Arvin is finishing his term as the Vice President of Montgomery County Junior Council, representing 40 middle schools to the board of education and the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association. He has served as an advocate of the Montgomery County Student Equity Advocates, as well as presented workshops to the Maryland Association of Student Councils.
Proud to be a student and proud to be an Asian-American, Arvin looks forward to years of making change ahead.
Ananya Tadikonda
Ms. Tadikonda, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School, is the 41st student member of the Board of Education. She currently serves as chair of the Board's Strategic Planning Committee and as a member of the Policy Management Committee. For the past six years, she has held several student government leadership positions, including serving with the Montgomery County Regional (MCR) Student Government Association, and working with the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC).
Leadership and Accomplishments
- Montgomery County Regional (MCR) – Student Government Association Officer - Vice President and Treasurer, Parliamentarian
- Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC), Secretary, Forums Coordinator
- Montgomery County Junior Councils (MCJC), President
- Taskforce Member, Minority Scholars Program (MSP)
- Founder and Former Co-President, MoCo EmpowHER