Since 1985, the Asian American Student Association has aimed to create a sense of belonging for Asian American students on OU’s campus while raising awareness and educating others about the diversity of Asian cultures.

As its 40th anniversary nears, the organization remains dedicated to celebrating and promoting Asian American culture at OU through activities that highlight heritage, language and traditions. 

Laura Nguyen, vice president internal of the Asian American Student Association, said she grew up in an area with a large Vietnamese population and AASA has given her a lot of insight into other Asian cultures. 

Syeda Sayera, president of AASA, said that from the very beginning the organization has been driven by a mission to provide valuable resources, create meaningful change and foster inclusivity that would resonate throughout campus. 

“Its goals were just to create a sense of belonging for Asians and Asian Americans at OU and we just wanted to spread our culture, make sure we raised awareness for our culture, and just made sure that people knew that Asia is a lot more diverse than people think,” Sayera said.

The organization plans many events throughout the year, including the Lunar New Year celebration, a major holiday celebrated in many Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.

According to Makenzie Toma, AASA vice president external, the celebration serves as an introduction to the Asian community for students from other cultures.

“It kind of leaves a little mark in their head on who we are as AASA and the kind of the community that we have with one another, including myself,” Toma said.

Asian American students make up 5.9% of the 27,875 enrolled at OU, according to the spring 2024 enrollment analysis report.

The OU Asian Royalty Pageant is an annual scholarship competition hosted by AASA and Asian American Programs and Services. Contestants participate in multiple onstage categories and an interview with judges. The event highlights and celebrates their talents and commitment to the community.

Erik Phan, OU Asian Royalty Pageant chair, said being a part of the association is special, and witnessing its growth over the years is inspiring.

“Hearing that this organization has been around for 40 years now is pretty inspiring. People back in the ‘80s started this organization and grew it to where it is now,” Phan said. “It’s just very inspiring to me to be part of something as special as this, providing Asian culture and unity on campus and stuff like that, hosting all these amazing events.”

Phan said the most rewarding aspect of being involved in the organization is the sense of community and opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

“Seeing all the faces of the members or of different people attending our events, and seeing them smile and be happy and hanging out with each other, just fostering this sort of community with each of you to something super special and wholesome. That’s been one of the most rewarding things for me,” Phan said.

Jamee Kalisik/OU Daily

Quy Nguyen, director of Student Life and assistant dean of students, wrote in anemail to OU Daily expressing gratitude for the organization’s efforts in fostering community, celebrating shared identities and promoting cultural appreciation at OU. 

“We are so fortunate to have this organization doing the work they do and helping to create spaces on campus where students can come to be in community with others who may share identities and culture but also create opportunities to invite others into the space to grow in their own worldviews and appreciation of the diverse communities we have on OU’s campus,” Quy Nguyen wrote.

Quy Nguyen wrote AASA plays a vital role in making OU more welcoming and manageable for students by creating a supportive environment where they can thrive. He also emphasized the strong backing the association receives from Student Life and expressed a genuine commitment to the organization’s continued growth.

“As the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Student Life, we want to continue to support the growth of AASA and the work they do to make this campus a place where students belong and thrive,” Quy Nguyen wrote.

As AASA celebrates its 40th anniversary, it also looks ahead to the future, continuing its mission to be a safe, unifying space for all Asian cultures and providing members with cultural insights and experiences.

“We also want to be a safe place and be like the melting pot for all Asian cultures and for them to thrive together instead of being separated and breaking apart, if that makes sense,” Laura Nguyen said. “But for me, I feel like AASA has given me so much insight about other people’s cultures and it’s given me so many experiences that I would have never gotten if I didn’t join.”

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Natalie Armour and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.