Asian-American Stories Video Contest Is On!

by Elpidio R. Estioko

This year’s Asian American Tell Your Stories Contest 2024-2025 is on with a new theme: “My Gift to America!”

Participants can submit their video entries starting January 1, 2025, to March 2025. The awarding ceremony will be on May 1, 2025, according to co-chairs Diana Ding, founder and CEO of Ding Ding TV and Silicon Valley Community Media, and Joel Wong, president of National Asian American United.

Hawaii residents of Asian American ancestry are highly encouraged to send in their entries. Last year’s contest had a total of 72 entries but sadly did not have any Hawaii entries. The farthest entry came from Alaska who came to California to receive his award.

This year’s theme “My Gift to America!” is a continuation of last year’s theme of “All of Us Belong Here.”

Ding and Wong stated:

“Building on the tremendous success of last year’s contest (72 entries, a dynamic awards ceremony, and a significant impact on the Bay Area’s Asian American communities), we’re excited to embark on a new chapter. It celebrates the unique contributions Asian Americans make to the fabric of our nation.”

Contest rules remain largely unchanged, with minor adjustments based on last year’s experience. Please review the rules on our website: https://aastories.org/.

Video entries will be accepted from January to March 2025 and the Awards Ceremony will be on May 1, 2025, at the HL Peninsula Restaurant, Ranch Drive, Milpitas, CA.

Congratulations to last year’s major winners: Tim (Jian) Zheng, 1st Place, Adult category; Sylvie Nguyen 1st place, youth category; Min Zhou, 2nd place, adult category; Samantha Quynh Huong Tran, 2nd place, Youth category; Jiayi Li, 3rd place, Adult category; and Abby Wu, 3rd place, youth category.

Other winners: Avalyn Wu, Judges’ Special Merit Award, Adult category; Cathy Chang, Judges’ Special Merit Award, Youth category; We Dance, Viewers’ Choice Award, Adult category; and Samantha Quynh Huong Tran, Judges Special Merit Award, Youth category.

For the Excellence Awards, the following were the winners of the Adult Excellence Awards: Victor William Chen, Long Jin, Min Zhou, Ann Chang & Yue Chang, and Dr. Arthur L. Jue.

The Brotherhood Foundation Youth Excellence Awards went to: Ethan Guan, Kaihua Skyler Chong, William Chui, Lauryn Chew, and Sophia Cheng.

As to the Youth Ambassadors Winners (Awards presented by judge Elpidio R. Estioko, Hawaii Filipino Chronicle columnist), the winners were: Sophia Cheng, a high school senior at Pinewood School; Ethan Guan, president of the Harker School Film Club since 2019; and Michelle Ahl, a 10th grade student from Carlmont High School, and co-founder-president of the American Chinese Youth Performing Foundation (ACYPF).

Winner of the Legendary Story Teller award was Gerrye Wong, a fourth generation Chinese American who has always been an avid story teller of Chinese-American history as an elementary school teacher for the Moreland San Jose School District (MSJSD).

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Amy Zhao, Liyan Zhao, Chin Lin, and Alex Lin, for their exceptional contributions to the team for the Asian American stories.

The Asian American Tell Your Stories Contest will continue its mission to share stories with the world and work together to be a strong voice in our nation!

Fellow Asian Americans from the island of Hawaii, let’s be part of this year’s advocacy – “My Gift to America!”

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was 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, and comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.

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