Miami-Dade Asian American Advisory Board Awards Academic Scholarships

MIAMI, FL--(Marketwire - October 20, 2009) - The Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board today announced that winners of its Inaugural Asian American Student Scholarship Fund will be honored at an Awards Ceremony on Sunday, November 1, at the University of Miami's Storer Auditorium, 5250 University Drive in Coral Gables, 4 pm to 7:30 pm. The event is open to the public.

The Awards for academic excellence and public service will honor 17 Asian American college and high school students who are Miami-Dade County residents, including students of Korean, Indian, Chinese, Iranian, Pakistani and Filipino heritage.

More than $17,000 in scholarships and endowments will be presented at the event which will be highlighted by a presentation by U.S. Congresswoman Carrie Meek (retired), who is one of the award sponsors. Miami-Dade County Commissioners also have been invited to attend the celebration, which will include performances by Asian Americans.

The Asian American Student Scholarship is funded by Friends of the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity. College scholarship applicants must be enrolled at an accredited post secondary educational institution. Currently enrolled applicants must have at least a 3.25 GPA; applicants who graduate high school in the Spring must have a 3.5 GPA and be enrolled full-time in the Fall term for the scholarship and awards ceremony. Financial need is also considered in selection of scholarship recipients.

"The Student Scholarship Fund is part of our overall mission to highlight the contributions of Americans of Asian descent in the Miami-Dade community and to give back to them what they have given to us in the community," said Shawn Khosravi, Chairman of the Asian American Advisory Board. "We are especially excited to have this opportunity to celebrate academic excellence and public service among Asian American students and to encourage their continued excellence and contributions to our beloved Miami-Dade County community. We are also very grateful for the generous contributions of our sponsors for the scholarships, particularly in light of the financial challenges presented by the current economic climate."

In addition to the individual scholarships, ranging up to $2,500 this year, the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board also will present an endowment to the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Florida International University at the November 1 event.

The 2009 Awards Ceremony will be held from 4 pm to 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 1 at the University of Miami's Storer Auditorium, located at 5250 University Drive, Coral Gables. Refreshments/hors d'oeuvres will be served at 4 pm; the awards ceremony will begin at 5 pm. All are welcome; there is no charge for admission. Please come and support our awardees.

Students interested in applying for the 2010 Miami-Dade Asian American Student Scholarships can find information about the scholarship and about Friends of AAAB by visiting www.friendsofaaab.com. The 2010 submission deadline for scholarships is August 1, 2010. Also, information about joining as a member of Friends is provided in the website. Membership dues help pay the expenses of the scholarship ceremony and the many projects Friends undertakes for the benefit of the Asian American community.

About the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board

The Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board (AAAB) was created to work in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners, administration, community and all agencies in Miami-Dade County with respect to matters pertaining to the Asian American community. The AAAB also is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Asian American culture and heritage and promoting social and cultural awareness of Asian Americans in Miami-Dade County. Major cultural events in South Florida, such as the annual Chinese New Year Festival, annual Asian Cultural Festival, The Asian Heritage Month celebrations and the annual Festivals of India, Iran and Pakistan, are promoted under the group's aegis.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Alan Penchansky The Pen Group Communications (305) 529-1944 alan@thepengroup.com