2022 ICAN INSPIRE Scholarship Cohort

Nhi Duong is a first-year at UC Davis, majoring in Nutrition Science with an emphasis on public health. Nhi immigrated to the United States with her family in 2012. She attended high school in San Jose, where her passion for science kickstarted. During the summers of her sophomore and junior years, she interned at UC Santa Cruz for STEM-related projects. This experience deepened her love for science and research.

Nhi is beyond grateful for the Vietnamese community's help during high school. The summer before college, she participated in the SEEDS program hosted by the Vietnamese American Roundtable. During this time, Nhi learned more about her culture and reflected on her personal growth. She also appreciates all the Vietnamese mentors who offered her support and resources. In the future, Nhi hopes to give back to her community in various ways.

Chau Vu is currently a freshman at Mission College, and she will be an upcoming sophomore after this year. Her major is computer science. Her proudest achievement is being able to speak English fluently because when she first came to California, she was afraid of not being able to speak English well. Now, she feels more confident in the language that she was not familiar with, something that amazes her because time flies so quickly. Some of her future plans are learning more programming languages, expanding her knowledge in her major, and hopefully getting into the school that she wants to go to (which is UC Davis).

A person that she believes has made her the person she is today is her mom. Chau’s mom helped her become a better person by influencing her to volunteer at ICAN with various events, volunteer at the Temples with various events, help her surroundings by being a team leader for projects (being an upstander), and do charities in ICAN's event (like the eye surgery that takes place in Vietnam).

Quang Dao is currently a sophomore at Ohlone College studying Business Accounting. In the fall of 2023, he hopes to transfer to a UC to continue with his education. He enjoys making new friends and giving back to the people in his community. Through economic hardship and homelessness, Quang dreams of leading a non-profit organization of my own that can support all low-income children in my community to continue with their college education. He is currently working as a Tutor Administrator at Ignited the Mind Tutoring, Finance Intern at Ohlone College, and Program Coordinator at ICAN. At ICAN, Quang wants to further his positive impact on the community and foster future AAPI leaders.

Thu was born in Vietnam before her family moved to San Jose, California, where she spent her formative years. She pursued her passion for the sciences at UC Davis, graduating with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her journey into medicine began with passing her first medical board exam, marking the initial triumph in a series of three challenging tests.

Currently immersed in her clinical rotation in Family Medicine, Thu brings her academic rigor and compassionate approach to patient care. Her commitment extends beyond the clinic walls; she chaired the COSGP Research Committee during the 2022-2023 term, showcasing her leadership and dedication to advancing medical research.

A pillar in her community, Thu dedicates herself to various outreach programs, mentors aspiring students, and actively volunteers her time. Her multifaceted involvement reflects her belief in the power of giving back and fostering a brighter, healthier future for all.