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For Immediate Release
April 9, 2012
Contacts:
Joyce Yin, NAKASEC, jyin@nakasec.org | 202-299-9540
Jani Kim, KRC, jani@krcla.org | 323-937-3718
Youngsun Song, KRCC, youngsun@chicagokrcc.org | 773-293-4050
NAKASEC, KRCC & KRC’s 5th Annual DREAM Scholarship Fund Launches Nationwide
Program to Provide Financial Support to Young Asian American and Pacific Islander Students Who Exemplify Leadership and Service for Community
Washington, D.C. – The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and its affiliates the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC) in Chicago and the Korean Resource Center (KRC) in Los Angeles are excited to announce the launch of the 5th Annual DREAM Scholarship Fund (DSF) program for Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Funded largely through grassroots efforts by youth groups from our affiliates, Fighting Youth Shouting Out for Humanity (FYSH) in Chicago and the Alliance of Korean American Students in Action (AKASIA) in Los Angeles, the scholarship program will enable young people to continue with their education on the collegiate level. Based on financial need, leadership and service to local communities, a total of eight $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students in California, Illinois and nationwide.
The scholarship program was founded in 2007 by Korean American youth who tirelessly campaigned for the passage of the federal DREAM Act for over a decade, to meet the immediate needs of their peers who were facing undue financial hardships in continuing their education. It has since become an annual effort to raise awareness of the federal DREAM Act and to fundraise on a grassroots level for access to education.
“DSF is not only important, but necessary because it allows young people to have an opportunity to become leaders and help provide access to higher education for other young people who may not the means to do so,” said Bryan Wright who is involved with youth organizing at KRCC’s youth council, FYSH.
In Chicago, FYSH has played a critical role in facilitating the growth of not only Asian American youth, but also youth of color. They have undertaken a series of campaigns and the focus of their efforts this year will be raising awareness on the federal DREAM Act.
In Los Angeles, KRC’s undocumented youth organizing group, AKASIA, has also been actively working on access to education issues for a number of years. Specifically, youth have led AB540 (California’s in-state tuition law) workshops and consultations to Korean American students and their parents.
“This scholarship program provides students with the opportunity to get closer to achieving their academic dreams and inspires us to keep reaching for our dreams,” said Jamie Kim, student leader with AKASIA. She continued saying, “It is support like this that empowers me to keep studying and to give back to my community.”
Application deadline: May 18, 2012
To download the application form, donate to the scholarship fund or for more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/nakasecdsf2012
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The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC is based D.C. and Los Angeles. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center).
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