Alumni

Profile
Jackie Ta Having joined AASuccess in 2008, Jackie participated in many prominent projects, such as volunteering at AASuccess Health Fair and managing the Wellness Project. In 2010, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry at George Mason University. Jackie is currently a first-year medical student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Recently, she sent AASuccess an e-mail expressing her appreciation for the trust, and the funding and opportunities, AASuccess provided her to initiate projects that impacted the local community. Jackie is willing to help other students learn from both successes and failures of their projects, and from the people they work with, like she was able to do with AASuccess support. Linda earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics in 2008 and Masters Degree in Business Administration in 2011, both from George Mason University. She currently works at Keel Point Advisors, LLC, as an investment analyst. Linda considers AASuccess as her second family. Having been able to use and benefit from the knowledge and skills set she has learned, she wishes to stay in touch with AASuccess and is willing to give back. Recently, Linda made a memorable speech at the AASuccess 2012 Sustaining Members Fundraising Dinner, expressing her appreciation to all the mentors of the organization and encouraging other students to follow her path.

Every now and then, when I look back at the times prior to medical school, AASuccess to me was the place where I received support and guidance that contributed to my growth.

Linda Zheng

I have been learning so much from everyone at AASuccess. We are a big happy family. Who would stop contacting families?

Having joined AASuccess in summer 2007, Ben was involved in some of AASuccess earliest projects, including Project Michelle (a Bone Marrow Drive), AASuccess in-house training, and Arc360. He also served as a consultant for AASuccess and its clients on Web AASuccess has helped me build up Development projects. Ben received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and my skills in Web applications State University in 2009. Currently, he works as a consultant at development and provided me opportunities to meet with Global TechPro, LLC, supporting Deloitte and a Federal client in the successful professionals from many Washington, DC area. His main tasks consist of System different fields. These opportunities Administration, Production Support, and Application Development. have affected me greatly and He attributes much of his success in developing skills in multiple guided me in achieving my goals at areas, including leadership and networking, to his time at AASuccess. becoming a successful person. Ben wishes to continue helping other students to acquire skills that they may apply in academics and in the real world, like he and other alumni were able to.

Ben Li

 As a student, Hung actively participated in the annual VMS Health Fair, organized by the Vietnamese Medical Society of Northeast America in partnership with AASuccess. He earned his Bachelor of I would like to maintain contact with members in AASuccess and see Science Degree in Chemistry with concentration in Biochemistry at how the organization has affected the University of Virginia in 2011. After graduation, he has been them personally. I attribute most of involved with AASuccess agenda, such as presenting at the Cong my success to the experience and Dong College Fair in summer 2011. Most recently, he attended the knowledge I have gained while AASuccess 2012 Sustaining Members Fundraising Dinner to show his participating in various projects at support and to hear about the latest news and progress of AASuccess. AASuccess. Byron joined AASuccess in 2007 when he heard about it through his first-year roommate at the University of Virginia, Hung Pham. He was involved with some of AASuccess' earliest projects. According to AASuccess professionals Byron, receiving guidance from AASuccess mentors has played an mentoring gave me the confidence enormous role in his professional development. His experience with and soft skills necessary to really step up at my school's community. I AASuccess inspired him to step up within his school's community, was chairing one of the largest and where he has held various leadership positions until he graduated in most well-known advising 2011 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. Since organizations in my school and was November 2011, he has worked as a Business Intelligence Analyst for invited to leadership retreats, a technology company in Florida. Byron hopes to motivate and conferences, and panels for my guide AASuccess students to achieve their goals, just like he did roles, all thanks to AASuccess. through the organizations support system. Byron Cheon Nam Nguyen One of the eldest members of AASuccess, Nam engaged in several projects that had a lasting impact, such as creating the entire AASuccess website for use from 2009-2010. He graduated from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering in 2008. As an alumnus and a former AASuccess Scholarship Recipient, Nam is actively involved with AASuccess by serving as a Scholarship Coordinator and an invited guest speaker at AASuccess Life Skills Academy sessions. In a recent e-mail to AASuccess, Nam attributed his successes to the skills he has acquired while learning and growing at the organization. Hung Pham

AASuccess has shed light on me, showing me the sides of both giving back and receiving back, and their significant impact to those around me. The organization has shaped me into an embodiment of leadership qualities which has elevated to higher levels of success.

Richard Paek

I wish to be part of a network of professionals who share with me similar values and goals in recreating the cycle in giving back to our students.

Richard earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011. Currently working as a Data and Process Engineer at a biotechnology start-up company, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., he has been able to apply the soft skills and time management techniques he has learned from AASuccess to work smart and minimize stress. He is willing to pass on the knowledge he obtained while working with the organization and that which he gains at his current job to AASuccess students. Richard has helped the students in writing formal letters and business documents, such as the Winter Life Skills Academy announcement message.

Leon received his Master of Science Degree in Software Engineering at George Mason University in 2011. He currently works as a software engineer for an online advertising company. His tasks include building a new Content Management System using Java, The knowledge I have learned from relating both server-side and client-side technologies, as well as AASuccess is not only technical skills transferring data to the database on new servers. Visiting and work experiences, but also life AASuccess office regularly, Leon is involved in the organizations skills, which make my life in the current projects. Wishing to maintain the meaningful cycle of giving professional world much easier. back, he frequently manages and updates AASuccess website and helps other students with technical difficulties. Yuki Watanabe
The time I spent with Dave and Tuan was very insightful and inspiring. Dave's entrepreneurial ideas and thinking, in general, has always amazed me because that's something I completely lack. I may not be able to come to the office and help because of the geographical distance, but I am always open to e-mail.

Leon Li

Yuki earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland in 2010. He moved to Japan for his job in the semiconductor field at DISCO Corporation, the manufacturer of precision equipment and tools. Even though Yuki did not meet the other mentors, he is thankful for the skills set he has learned and the time he had spent with two mentors: Tuan Tram and Dave Nguyen. According to Yuki, the combination of soft skills and hard skills he learned, including Web design, time management, and communication, has helped him a great deal with his current job.