By Gustavo Dias Juliani, Staff Writer
While many first-year students spend their initial months finding their way to class, freshman Ba Minh Nhat Nguyen did much more.
Nguyen, a 19-year-old double major in accounting and data analytics, successfully reactivated the Asian Student Association this year, two years after the organization became inactive on campus.
For Nguyen, who moved to the United States from Vietnam six years ago, the project was about more than just campus involvement; it was about visibility and cultural pride.
"Instead of trying to fit in like most immigrant students, I’m proud of my heritage and not afraid to show how we do things our way," Nguyen said.
Nguyen chose Newman University because of its Catholic identity, the business program, and its proximity to his home, he said. Although he is technically a freshman, he’s already earned enough credits to qualify as a sophomore.
He used that same drive to provide a platform for Asian students at Newman to share their culture.
Nguyen says the ASA aims to bring Asian culture to everyone on campus, using cultural differences as a way to connect students rather than divide them.
"There wasn't exactly an 'a-ha' moment," Nguyen said regarding the club's return. "When I learned about it, I decided to just go for it. I gathered a team of people, and we revived ASA."
The path to reactivation required lots of coordination. Nguyen worked with director of student activities Joshua Prilliman to overcome the procedural challenges associated with resurrecting a “dead” group. With help from the club’s faculty advisor, Huachuan Wen, Nguyen created a leadership structure for the club.
The association currently operates with a five-member cabinet, but the group has decided that the cabinet will expand to include six people next year because of all the responsibilities of running the club.
The cabinet members have made their mark on campus by sharing not only traditions but also food. Some recent meetings have included eggrolls from All Saints Catholic Church and fried rice that was made by Nguyen’s mother.
Nguyen credits his faith and a clear vision for the club's early success, noting that the process was smooth.
"I think it was a good idea, and God willing, it happened," he said.
The ASA has already mapped out its "must-have" events for the academic calendar. The lineup includes a Lunar New Year celebration, a Moon Festival — an idea credited to cabinet member Stella Posch, freshman, — and a pingpong tournament suggested by junior Yohsuke Ono.
While Nguyen is still in the early stages of his college career, he is already thinking about the legacy he will eventually leave behind. He said he wants to find a successor who can carry the torch with the same intensity.
"By the time I leave, I want ASA to have a president who has the same ambition and passion as I do, with new and better ideas," Nguyen said.
PHOTO: Dannicka McGrath, Photo Editor
