2012 Phoenix Exemplar Award Winner- Thao Tran *Gypsy*

This year, the Scarlet Dinner Committee presented a new initiative to honor a Kappa Phi Lambda alumna. The "Phoenix Exemplar Award" aims to recognize graduated Sisters who have dedicated their time to promoting and raising awareness about the social, political or economical issues that Asian Americans face today. This Alumna also embodies our three pillars and makes tremendous efforts to contribute back to the community. Most importantly, this Alumna carries the spirit of the National Campaign "Embracing the Strength Within" and is someone who is dedicated to educating and protecting APIA Women and their rights.




Her nominator writes:

This alumna “has an incredibly admirable strength that resonates from within. Her passion and experience in public interest and immigration issues are obvious. [She] has consistently dedicated herself for the last eight years, from undergraduate through law school, to advocating social rights and justices for APIA women and the community. She has worked with low-income APIA immigrant communities and helped people access legal services.”


Activities:

• In law school, Thao continued her passion and participation within the APIA community by getting involved with the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA), serving as the Treasurer, Vice President, and then President of the organization.
• In her time with APALSA, she organized a highly successful Human Rights and Labor Trafficking Panel that brought awareness to modern day slavery and the intersections within the APIA community.
• She led the organization in planning many forums on immigration reform and race relations.
• In addition to her involvement with APALSA, Thao dedicated a summer to the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center in DC, where she worked with low income Vietnamese and Spanish domestic violence survivors.

Congratulations to Thao Tran *Gypsy* of University of Florida, Rho Chapter, Alpha Class.