Yuan Foundation’s 2025 Awards Ceremony Concludes Successfully as Young AAPI Leaders Shine in Maryland
Ting Tang
Mason Chervenak
Greencourt Innovation Center | North Bethesda, Maryland | June 16, 2025
In the early days of summer, the Yuan Foundation hosted its 2025 Awards Ceremony in North Bethesda, Maryland. Asian American high school students and their families from across the country gathered to celebrate the importance of youth leadership and civic engagement. The event honored winners from two major competitions: the Write to Your Representatives Contest and the YES! Young Entrepreneurs Solutions Competition. Adding to the excitement, four prominent Maryland state legislators attended in person to deliver inspiring speeches.
Lawmakers Inspire with Powerful Speeches
Maryland Delegates Lily Qi, David Fraser Hidalgo, Sarah Wolek, and Teresa Woorman attended and gave powerful remarks. They emphasized that AAPI youth should not just be spectators in civic life, but active participants and leaders.
Delegate Lily Qi emphasized the underrepresentation of Asian Americans in politics, despite being one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups. “Don’t just aspire to be like us—be better,” she urged, encouraging students to run for office and shape policy.
Delegate Fraser Hidalgo added, “You're not just writing letters and plans; you're training to become tomorrow’s leaders. Leadership is action, not just words.”
Delegate Sarah Wolek, drawing from her upbringing as a child of immigrants, spoke about combining entrepreneurship with civic engagement: “When you lack connections, create your own opportunities.” She recommended students look into internships with lawmakers and apply for college scholarships.
Delegate Teresa Woorman reminded the audience: “Public health, education, and equity aren’t just government duties, they’re shared societal responsibilities. Real systemic change begins with the next generation.”
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen sent a congratulatory letter applauding the students’ leadership and civic spirit, and recognizing the Yuan Foundation’s continued efforts to strengthen AAPI participation in democracy.
Additionally, recognition letters were signed by former Congressman David Trone, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller, Secretary of State Susan Lee, House Majority Leader David Moon, and the full Maryland District 15 delegation (Senator Brian J. Feldman, Delegates Lily Qi, Linda Foley, and Fraser Hidalgo), among others. These honors acknowledged the Yuan Foundation’s work in empowering the AAPI community and advancing civic education.
Delegate Chao Wu sent in a congratulatory video thanking the Foundation for its vision and commitment, and emphasized the vital role young people play in giving the AAPI community a stronger voice in public decision-making.
Emceed by Mason Chervenak: Clear, Confident, and Compelling
The event was hosted by Mason Chervenak, a student at Fordham University and President of the Yuan Foundation Alumni Network. His composed stage presence, articulate delivery, and strong time management were praised by guests and families alike.
Stephany Yu Reflects on Five Years of Growth
In her closing remarks, Stephany Yu, Chair of the Yuan Foundation, reflected on the organization's growth:
“We began with a small contest and have since expanded across Maryland, Virginia, Texas, and New York. We don’t just serve a community, we serve a future.”
She noted the rising quality of projects and student participants this year, and reaffirmed the Foundation’s goal to increase youth involvement in policy and social innovation.
Awards & Innovation Highlights
Write to Your Representatives Contest
Gold Award
Philip Li: Called for addressing “digital waste” caused by unused devices and inactive accounts contributing to hidden carbon footprints.
Silver Award
Angela Tu, Kevin Geng, Sophia Zhu, Andrew Ni: Advocated for later school start times to combat teen sleep deprivation.
Silver Award
Sree Saranya Ganti, Hazel Meekins, Joy Newberger: Proposed educational equity for international students and more culturally inclusive federal resources.
Bronze Award
Shaina Kakar: Suggested better support for first-gen immigrant students through bilingual education and digital literacy programs.
Bronze Award
Bryan Ung, Albert Liu, Jeremy Zhu, Jerry Zhao: Tackled disinformation on social media with solutions like community monitoring and media literacy.
Honorable Mentions
Rina Zhang & Jerry Chen: Focused on the mental health effects of gun violence on youth.
Mingfei Yang, Zixuan Chen, Junye Lyu: Reflected on school lunch and phone policies.
YES! Young Entrepreneurs Solutions Contest
Gold Award
Jennifer Wan & Caroline Zhou – Aires Enterprise: A startup converting methane gas into biodegradable plastics for eco-friendly packaging.
Silver Award
Shaina Kakar, Sophia Cheng, Yaoyao Zhang – Diabetic Friendly App: Designed to help diabetic patients monitor blood sugar and meals.
Bronze Award
Jessica Yao – Track Gems: GPS-enabled earrings providing stylish, safety-conscious monitoring for seniors and children.
Honorable Mention
Philip Li – Aplayability: A platform for checking and reserving open athletic spaces in real time.
President's Commendation Award
Ms. Pingping Yin: For her research on AAPI voter behavior in the 2024 presidential election: highlighting turnout trends, population dynamics, and key policy concerns.
Distinguished Guests Join the Celebration
Attendees included leaders from the political, business, and academic spheres:
- Jiang Xu, President, Coordination Council of Chinese-American Associations
- Xiaohui He, Chair, Washington Care Foundation
- Karen Fu, Secretary General, Washington Care Foundation
- Vivian Xu, President, Chinese American Parents Association (Montgomery County Chapter)
- Huang Nina, Vice President, Chinese American Parents Association (Fairfax County Chapter)
- Yilin Zhang, Chief Strategy Advisor, Yilin Zhang Advisory
Parents and Students Reflect: “The Most Important Day in My Child’s Life”
Many parents praised the ceremony as a transformative moment for their children. One mother from Texas said tearfully, “This is the first time my child has ridden a bus to Capitol Hill—not just an honor, but an awakening.”
One student shared: “We used to just talk about politics in class. Today, we spoke up and acted in the real world.”
Beyond Just a Contest
The Yuan Foundation’s programs are more than competitions, they are a civic experiment. They encourage young people to turn identity into public expression, complaints into proposals, and hesitation into action.
In a time when AAPI communities are still fighting for equal representation, this platform builds both the skills and ambition to make real change.
As Delegate Lily Qi said:
“When you write a proposal and step up to speak, you’re already taking the bravest political step.”
The future is here. The seeds have been planted.
Reporting from North Bethesda, Maryland by Yuan Media.
Click here to visit the Yuan Foundation’s official registration page!
