| ASPIRE's Outstanding Woman of the Year Award celebrates a female high school or college student of Asian American descent who is a proven leader with the initiative and determination to make a change in her community. ASPIRE looks for young Asian American women who are role models for their community and are committed to ASPIRE’s mission of empowerment. Stay tuned for 2010 contest entry to begin! |
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This year, ASPIRE is proud to announce Rashmi Jasrasaria as the grand prize winner of the 2nd Annual ASPIRE Outstanding Woman of the Year Award. Jasrasaria is a volunteer with Support for International Change (SIC), a non-governmental organization in Tanzania that raises awareness about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention in rural areas. Since 2007, Jasrasaria has dedicated her time to teaching SIC’s HIV curriculum in village primary schools as well as leading teaching sessions for the village locals, athletes, and religious communities. Originally from Boxborough, Massachusetts, Jasrasaria is currently a senior at Harvard University, where she also acts as the SIC on-campus coordinator through recruiting, interviewing, and training SIC volunteers. “Receiving this award motivates me to continue along an independent path in global health, community development, and social justice work,” says Jasrasaria. “I am grateful to ASPIRE and SIC for supporting and encouraging me in my endeavors.”
As the Grand Prize Winner, Jasrasaria attended the AAWIL Conference where she was honored with an award, the opportunity to spend a day with an Asian American female mentor of her choice from ASPIRE's network, and a featured profile on ASPIRE’s website and other media.
Finalists of the 2nd Annual ASPIRE Outstanding Women of the Year Award included:
First Runner Up: Lori Phanachone, Storm Lake, IA , Asian Pacific American Community Activism
Second Runner Up: Huong Nguyen, New Orleans, LA , Asian American Youth Activism
Honorable Mention: Sarasi Jayaratne, Potomac Falls, VA, English Literacy in Sri Lanka
Honorable Mention: Oyland Dong, Cambridge, MA, HIV/AIDS activism in Panama