Vietnamese American Youth Excellence Luncheon – 2009
written by Phuong Mai
Báo Ngày Nay
To recognize the students’ hard work is to recognize that of their parents
The thirteenth time
For those who have triskaidekaphobia, thirteen is not exactly a lucky number. However, the 13th Vietnamese American Youth Excellence luncheon 2009 (the luncheon) was quite a success (except a little hiccup regarding the sound system). Beyond the organizers’ expectations, 21 Vietnamese American students Valedictorians and Salutatorians have been ‘discovered’ around Houston and the vicinities this year. The Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA) honored them on Sunday August 2nd, 2009, in the presence of nearly 600 distinguished guests at the annual luncheon, held at Kim Son Bellaire restaurant, Houston Texas. US Congressman Al Green emphasized several times in his short speech that this is the thirteenth luncheon. He emphasized with the audience about how the VCSA has grown to more than 500 people over the years across the US and Canada and how impressed he was with the volunteer work that the VCSA did.
The luncheon, as we call it in Vietnamese “Ngày Truyền Thống” (NTT), reflects the tradition of academic excellence and commitment to education of the Vietnamese community. It also reflects, since 2001, a new tradition in the VCSA by which the past honorees come back to organize the event to honor the current honorees. The luncheon was in fact an event of the students, for the students and by the students.
Class of 2009 honorees
The luncheon recognized 21 Vietnamese American students, Class of 2009 of whom twelve were Valedictorians and nine were Salutatorians from their respective high schools. Four students were born in Vietnam and the rest were born in America, of whom 15 were bona fide Texans, born and raised in the Lone Star State. It was noticeable that in all of those thirteen years female students outnumbered male students. This record may remain unchallenged for the many years to come!
The Valedictorians were Cacciatore Guy Christopher, Clear Lake high school, Clear Lake ISD; Lục Thi Thu Thảo Lily, Hastings high school, Alief ISD; Mai Linda, George Washington Carver high school, Alief ISD; Nguyễn Tina, Sharptown high school, Houston ISD; Nguyễn Việt Sony, Kerr high school, Alief ISD; Nguyễn Mỹ Hằng Jennifer, Mayde Creek high school, Katy ISD; Nguyễn Trân Sandy, Cypress-Ridge high school, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD; Nguyễn David Đặng Huy, Tomball high school, Tomball ISD; Tolat Nicholas, Westfield high school, Spring ISD; Trà Nhất Vân, Debakey high school, Houston ISD; Trần Brenda, J. Frank Dobie high school, Pasadena ISD; Vũ Khánh Kelly, Clear Brook high school, Clear Creek ISD.
The Salutatorians were Âu Trân-Ngọc Cindy, Clear Brook high school, Clear Creek ISD; Lê Ngọc-Linh Cindy, South Houston high school, Pasadena ISD; Lý Sylvanus, Channelview high school, Channelview ISD; Nguyễn Tang Joseph, St. Pius X high school; Nguyễn Thảo Jennifer, Alief Hasting high school, Alief ISD; Nguyễn Dawn Sydney, Pasadena Memorial high school, Pasadena ISD; Phạm Thị Phụng Linda, Cesar E. Chavez high school, Houston ISD; Trịnh Khôi, Kerr high school, Alief ISD; Lữ Ái Tami, Clear Brook high school, Clear Creek ISD.
