APAHW 2007 - About APAHW

Asian Pacific American Heritage Week (APAHW) is a week-long celebration of the rich and diverse heritage of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). It combines cultural and educational awareness with outreach to the community while fostering an atmosphere of dialogue between the many different APA cultural groups and the greater Penn community. This year is APAHW's 15th anniversary. The 2007 theme, "The [A] Word: Can You Define It?", aims to break through traditional definitions of what it means to be Asian-American.

Over the course of nine years, Asian Pacific Heritage Week (APAHW) has grown from the dream of a few students into the premier Asian American event at the University of Pennsylvania. First started in December of 1993, the week inclued a multicultural display, workshops and talent shows. Not only did this aim to achieve unity amongst the myriad of denominations at Penn but it also served to establish an Asian American presence on campus. The collaboration of the numberous Asian groups during APAHW resulted in the formation of the Asian Pacific Student Coalition, Penn's umbrella organization of Sixteen Asian student groups.

2007 - [A] Word

2006 - [Constellation]
Keynote Speaker: Kal Penn, known for his starring roles in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, National Lampoon's Van Wilder and the recently released The Namesake (2007).

2005 - [Kaleidoscope]
Keynote Speaker: B.D. Wong, Asian American Actor starring in several TV series including Law and Order.

2003
Keynote Speaker: Lela Lee, Asian American Actress starring in TV hit series such as friends and charmed.

2002
Keynote Speaker: Secretary Norman Mineta, Secretary of the Department of Transportation (US).

2001
Keynote Speaker: Rodney Jay C. Salinas, Founder and President of the Rainmaker Political

2000
Keynote Speaker: Angela Oh, Political Activist and Voice for Asian Americans

1999
Keynote Speaker: Rick Yune, Versace model and actor / Wharton graduate
Pan Asian American Community House Established.

1998
Keynote Speaker: Here and Now, Asian American theatrical troupe addressing issues on race

1997
Keynote Speaker(s): Slant, Addressed issued on Asian stereotypes.
Soniah Shah, author of Dragon Ladies: Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire.

1996
Keynote Speaker(s): Cheryl Lau, former Chief General Counsel to Congress and Secretary to Nevada.
Le Ly Hayslip, Vietnam War Survivor, Humanitarian, Author of Child of War, Woman of Peace.

1995
Keynote Speaker(s): Christine Choy, Academy Award-nominated director of many documentaries including the film in the Name of the Emperor.
George Takei, Actor who played Mr. Sulu in Star Trek.

1994
Keynote Speaker(s): Jeff Yang, founding editor of A. Magazine.
Dustin Nguyen, Actor for the series 21 Jump Street
Rochelle Ashana, Actress who appeared in Ninja Fighter and Kickboxer.

1993
Keynote Speaker: Phil Tajitsu Nash, Lobbyist for the Hapanese American redress movement.
Asia Pacific American Heritage Week (APAHW) founded.

Proudly Sponsored by:

APAHW Web Committee 2007
University of Pennsylvania