The Chinese Institute of Engineers-USA (CIE-USA) and National Engineers Week Foundation jointly honored Asian Americans for excellence in science & technology at the Asian American Engineer of the Year Awards Ceremony held on March 31 in Washington, D.C. Twelve recipients were recognized for outstanding achievements and monumental breakthroughs in science and technology and five Distinguished Achievement Awards were presented. Distinguished Science and Technology Awards went to Dr. Taylor Wang, the first Asian American NASA astronaut-payload scientist and Dr. James Wei, former Dean of Engineering at Princeton University. Lifetime Achievement Award: Norman Mineta, former US Secretary of Transportation and former Secretary of Commerce; Outstanding International Service Award: Minoru Araki, retired President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Co. Dr. Hwa-Nien Yu, IBM, USA was cited for his contributions to the development of information and electronics technologies overseas. Photo courtesy of Winnie Thong

The Montgomery County Young Republicans' Executive Board poses with Gus Alzona's Trademark Band at its April 14 Charity Ball. From left: Rex Reed (Treasurer), Bryan Shuy (Vice President for Social), Denise Reed (VP for Membership), Kevin McManus (Executive VP), Rachael Gingrich (President), Gus Alzona (lead guitarist), Roy Reyes (bass guitarist), Dan Kilcup (drummer) and Eric (keyboard player). Photo: Kevin E. McManus.

Shannon Yang, owner of a local real estate company, recently hosted a gathering of 60 guests at her residence in Potomac, Maryland. VIP guests include Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Director of Economic Development Pradeep Ganguly, State Delegate Susan Lee, and Bill Asganazy. The event’s theme was celebrating the Lunar Year Year and appointments of Asian American officials in Montgomery County.

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) held a dinner reception at Loida Nicolas Lewis apartment in New York recently. Members of Board of Trusties of NaFFAA and Asian American leader were present, including Nina Datu Aguas, managing director, Citicorp, Head of Corporate center Compliance; Friedes Valbuena, AXA Corpoartion; Ed Navarra, NaFFAA Chair, Region 3; former Maryland State Delegate David Valderama; Donna, Burke, AT&T Vice President for External Affairs; Felipe Floresca, Senior Consultant, Annie Casey Foundation and the Charles D. Smith Foundation; William Chang, Associated Press; Zen Coronado, Durafresh; Ludy Corales, CLO Funding corporation; John Kirksey, AXA Equitable Insurance Co.; Sylvia Lin, Johnson and Johnson; June Gee, Verizon; Doy and Cely Heredia, Angie Cruz, NaFFAA R1, and Bing Branigin, NaFFAA Community and Media Liaison. Not in photo are NaFFAA Board of Trustees Gloria Caoile, Maria Mabilangan Haley, Irene Bueno, and Dr. Fouad Beydoun, Ph.D, Healthcare Service Management.

Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development held the 6th Annual City of Baltimore Procurement and Outreach Fair on April 12. The fair included workshops on contracting opportunities, certification, prequalification, and workforce development services. Shannon Lin, Business Banking Officer from Citibank, is seen talking with an Asian American business woman.

On March 1, the World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore organized a “Taste of Business in India” at Montgomery County’s Maryland Technology Development Center in Rockville. The keynote speaker was Economic Mininster Anoop Mishra of the Embassy of India. Participants also had an opportunity to meet the new Director of Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Pradeep Ganguly, Ph. D. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Junior competitors, ages under10-under 25 from the North East and Midwest Regions participated in the Maryland Badminton Junior Open on April 14 in Baltimore. For the first time in its seven years of competition, badminton juniors from Fairfax County won in three events and captured four gold medals. From backcourt, Karin Hung17, smashes her way to the championship. Courtesy of Winnie Thong.

Nepal American journalists across the nation convened their first general meeting on April 21-22 in Arlington, Virginia. Asian Fortune freelance writer Krishna Sharma presented his paper, “Challenges of Nepali Journalism in the USA”. Organizers presented gifts and souvenirs to reporters from Nepal.

The Vietnamese Community of Washington DC, MD & VA held a celebration on March 25 to mark the bill proclaiming Asian Lunar New Year as an official day of celebration in Maryland. Organizer LamBao Nguyen said the event was designed to build strong relationship among the diverse ethnic communities.

The 6th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, Greater Washington DC Division, was held at Nyumburu Culture Center, University of Maryland on March 30. Twelve students from the University of Maryland, George Mason University, Georgetown University, University of Virginia and Brigham Young University attended. Confucius Institute at University of Maryland and Chinese Embassy organized and sponsored the event.

80-20 Initiative is a national nonpartisan cyberspace Political Action Committee. Its mission is to work for equal opportunity and justice for all Asian Americans. 80-20 has the experience (6 years), foundation (over 700,000 supporters on its e-mail list), and an open, democratic, and transparent organizational structure, and the status to organize a powerful political voice. The group hosted a dinner at Tony Cheng's Mongolian Restaurant on April 20. From left to right: 80-20 VP Amy Wong Mok, 80-20 Immediate Past President S.B. Woo, 80-20 Past Board Julia Wan, 80-20 President Kathleen To. Photo by Joel Wong, 80-20 Committee on Discrimination Chair.

On April 9, a welcome reception for Cherry Blossom Princesses of 2007 was hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy on 1024 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, D.C.

Miriam B. Riedmiller, (center) a Filipino-American Immigration lawyer practicing in Washington, D.C. recently re-dedicated two sketches of the famous Filipino national artist, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo (1853-1913) which she donated to the Philippine Embassy on July 8, 2005 in memory of her late husband, Michael E. Riedmiller. Shown in photo, holding the back-to-back sketches are Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa). Shown also (L to right) are: Consul Joy Quintana, Reme Grefalda (Founder of QBd ink: Friends of the Performing artists, poet & playwright), Linda Pirrone, artist, Isabelita Paterno , Ms. Riedmiller, Ambassador Gaa , Mrs. Avelina Bustamante (Ms. Riedmiller’s mother), Elizabeth Osborne (GWU student) and Washington D.C. artist, Julian Oyteza.