by Elpidio Estioko
Diana Ding, founder and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Media, announced the winners of the 2025 Asian American Tell Your Stories Video Contest.
The contest has a theme of “My Gift To America,” with over 93 contestants who submitted their entries. The awards ceremony was held at the H.L. Peninsula Restaurant in Milpitas, California, on May 1.
The awards ceremony was hosted by ABC News Reporter and local celebrity Dion Lim and Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens.
“As I watched every single entry, I was deeply moved. These stories made me laugh, cry, and reflect,” said Ding in her message during the ceremony.
“They captured the quiet heroism in everyday lives. These are not just videos – they are living legacies, /they are blueprint of courage, identity, and belonging, they remind us that Asian American stories are not side chapters but central to the America can narrative.”
There are three winners for the Adult Category Award:
First Place – Hino Lee for his video that centers on the profound sacrifices made by the storyteller’s mother that illuminating her selfless actions and positive ripple effects on the wider world.
Second Place – Vicki Manalo Graves on her video about The Gift of Two Golds that highlights the two Olympic golds that America won in the 1948 London Olympics, which shows a vision of true strength in the shadow of World War II.
Third Place – Friends Of Children With Special Needs submitted a video that unveils a heartwarming testament to the quiet yet powerful force of Asian Americans building a vibrant “Dream Community” tailored for children.
Now, for the Youth Category Award, the three winners are:
First Place – Jaslyn Kwan for her video that shows a vibrant expression of cultural heritage through a beautifully captured passion for dance.
Second Place – Kaihua Skyler Chong, who submitted a video showcasing his love for wushu, a Chinese martial art practice, that he performs at big events like the Stanford Spring Festival Gala and SF Chinatown celebrations.
Third Place – Gunn Language Bridge Club sent a video that shows a poignant reflection on the initial challenges of immigrating to America.
There were also excellence awardees namely Eva’s Aloha Spirit: Sharing Hawaiian Joy Across Generations; Visionary Pioneer: Dr. Vernon Wong’s Million-Eye Miracle; From Harvard to Hope: Amanda Nguyen’s Gift to Legislative Reforms; Joanne Ho; Asians Are Strong; Yi Ding; Min Zhu; Jasper Chen; Vivian Liu & Claire Wang; and Shinyee Tang.
The Viewer’s Choice Award went to Li Ding and Liana Chung, while the first submission prize went to Jasper Chen’s Ignite Your Story, Inspire Others.
The four Special Recognition Awards were awarded to Jiay Li, Cantonese Opera; Jun Hao Su; Chengwei Chen & Weng Kee Fu; and Elly He.
Kristi Yamaguchi, one of the most prominent Japanese-American women in sport and pop culture, received the 2025 Legendary Story Teller Award. Yamaguchi won the gold medal for the USA in women’s figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. She is a member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to all the winners!In closing, I would like to echo the parting words of Diana during the awards celebration:
“Let tonight be a celebration of who we are, a recognition of all we give, and a promise to keep telling stories that matter.”
ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKOwas a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the Chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream, which is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris Publishing. For feedback, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.
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