1

MEET THE
A Wo rd MAGAZINE COMMITTEE

Editor
f ro m t h e

Huge

F
thank
irst of all, I would like to thank all
you
of those who were able to help out
to our
with this magazine. I apologize to
I wish for everyone reading this to strive for mag-
those who had to hear from me all the
azine
time during the process of making this the best as well. Lucy Nguyen
com-
magazine. I might seem like a perfectionist Huge thank you to those who actually read mittee and
when it comes to the details. But I have to this magazine because this was a true test multimedia
admit that my favorite thing about working to my skill and motivation (and patience.) Minh Nguyen
team who
with everyone is the obvious variety VSO has given me endless opportunities to were able to
and individuality that comes out of each put my designs to the test and I am quite help put this
persons' contribution. glad I joined in this board with my friends, together over
Onward, I am so excited for this next year though there were many times I struggled winter break! It
and to put last year far in the past. To those with my own art practice. But, the one might have been
that knew about the endless hurt I had single thing I would like to come out of this a mess but thanks
suffered the majority last year, I extend magazine is that it could be meaningful to for bearing with us
the greatest thank you for being there someone out there. Lynne Cao anyways.We hope
for me. 2018 truly brought me the most I hope that everyone is looking forward to in the future you all
destruction to my life -- from a category this new lunar year as much as I am! (NO will join this special
Justin Nguyen
5 hurricane devastating my hometown to VENUS OR MARS RETROGRADES) I am committee again or
the loss of a friend to suicide and plenty of quite aware many people experienced a even go on to be a part
other events in between. rough end of 2018 like I did so I pray for of the multimedia team!
I'll never be able to forget 2018 for you also. Always be optimistic about the We hope this experience
everything it brought me as I have grown future and continute to work hard, as I will meant something to you,
so much is a short amount of time from be telling myself that as well. and we hope you all go on to
such pain, so I suppose I do have to say continue being a part of VSO!
LASTLY, a HUGE shoutout to my beautiful
"Thank you, Next." and amazing EMPRESS ladies, the VSO Katherine Nguyen

Despite everything dreadful from the past fam, and to my those who have been in
year, 2018 still had to have been one of my my life here and there! I appreciate you all
best years. Unfortunately, I'll also have to more than you know <3
Linh Ngo, Vivian Trang
leave those things in the past, but I guess I From: Linh, Lucy, and Minh
will only have to do better than before, and Editor-in-chief

2 3
 Message
Message
TABLE of CONTENTS from the

PRESIDENT
Greetings everyone,
What is Tet? 6
It is with great pleasure to welcome
Year of the Pig 7 you to the University of Florida’s 45th
Black April 8 Annual Tet Celebration! Tonight we
Miss Vietnam 2018 9 have prepared a special magazine for
you that spotlights our organization’s
The Art of Rebellion 10-13
accomplishments and events within the
UNAVSA 14 past year. We hope that you will join us as
SELC 15 we celebrate not only the Tet holiday, but
what the Vietnamese Student Organization
Pho Fundraiser 16-17
has accomplished this past year.
Philanthropy 18-19
I would like to give a special shout- or her Vietnamese culture. To some, it is
out to the unique and hilarious group fun to learn about traditions and customs.
of individuals that I call my board. The To others, it is fun to program large
way all eighteen of us came together so events. For most, it is the relationships
perfectly always leaves a warm feeling and connections we have built with others
in my heart. Each person holds a special that brought us into VSO and the sense
place in my heart, and I feel honored to of family that make us want to stay. A
not only have been able to work with them lot of us come from similar backgrounds
this entire year, but to be able to call them or grew up with similar experiences. As
20-23 Meet the Officers my friends afterwards. The memories and a result, we are able to understand each
24-25 ACE Pairing with the PRs experiences I have shared with you all other better than others. We laugh about
this year are things I will never forget. I our past but push each other to gain new
26-27 Sports hope that through this magazine, every experiences in the future and to become
single reader can feel the amount of pride, even better individuals. Through it all, we
28-29 VSO Dance satisfaction, and heart we put into each are always growing and improving under
30-31 Officers Then & Now and every event that we plan. It has been the guidance of our friends, littles, or bigs
a crazy journey full of different obstacles in VSO. The impact VSO has made on my
32 NewGen and challenges, but I couldn’t have asked own life has been only positive and I only
for a better team to experience it with. hope to pass it on to future generations.
33 Very Sexy 'Oliday Party
The underlying message I hope to relay As the saying around here goes, VSO is
34-37 Advertisements is the sense of family that we have built. all I know! Cheers to an unforgettable
Not everyone comes in connected to his year and to making new lasting memories!
38- Dedications

JOSEPH LAM | PRESIDENT | 2018-2019

4 5
 WHAT IS
TẾT?
T
et Nguyen Dan or Tet is the most
popular and most celebrated holiday
in Vietnam! It is the Vietnamese
New Year and it takes place from the
first month of the lunar calendar (which is
around late January to early February) and
lasts about three days. Tet is celebrated
by cooking special holiday foods such as
Banh chưung and Banh tet, cleaning the
house, and wearing extravagant clothing,
generally known as the traditional ao dai.
Some customs I grew up with as a kid was
receiving red envelopes, li xi that normally
contained money inside and wishing New
Year’s greetings to elders. Other traditions
celebrated during Tet includes visiting
close friends and family, ancestral worship,
and exchanging gifts.
Along with many other Asian countries, the
Vietnamese, consider red and yellow to be
very lucky colors which explains why there
is so much red and yellow present during
this time of the year. Even after the Tét
holiday, festivals continue for a month!
During these festivals you can expect to see
loud firecrackers, lion and dragon dancing,
boat racing and the traditional dancing with
fans and conical hats, non la in Vietnamese.
By: Marian Vu
6 7
YEAR OF THE
PIG
T
he pig is one of the most important
animals in Vietnam. Pigs symbolize
wealth, good luck and prosperity
with their chubby faces, large ears, and full
belly.
The Vietnamese people required heavily
on pigs for food. Pork is included in many
Vietnamese dishes including caramelized
pork, grilled pork, and boiled pork. In
addition, it is an important ingredient in banh
chung, an essential dish for Tet. Offering
these pork dishes to ancestors on new years
symbolized fullness and satisfaction.
People who are born in the year of the
Pig are said to be generous, kind-hearted,
and logical. However they are usually very
stubborn and short tempered. They are
very materialistic but this just serves as a
motivation for success. It is believed that
people who are born in this year will bring
luck and prosperity.
By: Cayle Gao
Black
April
T T
he official end of the Vietnam
war occurred on Wednesday,
April 30th, 1975. This day is
also known as Black April, or the fall
of Saigon. During this time, many
evacuees began searching for a way
to start over, to gain a better life. Over
2 million Vietnamese residents fled
the country fighting for their lives
and carrying everything they owned
hoping to find a new life.
These new refugees encountered
many hardships ranging from
communist fire on boats to pirates
boarding ships to harass them.
Although families were separated,
futures were uncertain, their
perseverance and desire to succeed
overcome any obstacle and the
Vietnamese spirit has found new
homes.
Today’s young Vietnamese
Americans should remember this
traumatic day and think of the lives of
our grandparents, parents, and other
loved ones. The sacrifices of loved
8 9
ones and those that could not make
it for the future of others should be
remembered.
Black April is one of the most
important moments in history that
has revolutionized the history of
Vietnamese people and its culture.
During Black April of this year, our
officers attended the memorial
with the Vietnamese Association of
Gainesville in remembrance of this
tragic event that happened over 40
years ago.
Vietnamese people are scattered
all over the world. Because of
Black April, many were given a new
opportunity to better their futures
because of the sacrifices of others.
Today is a day full of sadness and
thankfulness. Sadness because of the
sacrifices many had to give because
of Black Friday. Thankfulness
because of the bright futures and
new opportunities given.
By: Karen Tran & Tzyy Hsu
2018’s Miss Vietnam
“I was told to find a husband,
but I had to follow my dreams.”
-H’Hen Niê, 2018 Miss Universe Vietnam
his year’s Miss Universe
Pageant featured
a stunning model
representing Vietnam. H'Hen
Niê was born in Đắak La ắk to a
family of 6 children. Third oldest
of her siblings, H’Hen helped
her parents on their coffee farm
starting at a very young age.
When the time came for her
to start a family (at the age
of 14 as per Rade cultural
traditions), H’Hen defied
traditions and decided
to continue her studies
in school. She learned
Vietnamese in the eighth
grade and later proceeded
to study at Nha Trang
National Ethnic Community
College after graduating
high school.
With her olive skin and short-
cut hair, she made quite a
splash at her Miss Universe
debut, subverting traditional
Vietnamese beauty
standards of fair skin and
long black hair. Her bánh mì-
clad dress isn’t something
that judges or onlookers
anywhere will soon forget.
After winning the title of Miss
Universe Vietnam, rather
than keeping the money for
herself, she built a children’s
library in the heart of the
countryside and donated
the rest to the Room to Read
project.
The project aims to provide
scholarships for poor
students in the region.
She will being doing the
same for her most recent
Miss Universe earnings
(approximately $43,000
USD!). H’Hen Niê is a
beauty icon that dared to
defy expectations again
and again, and is truly
an inspiration to Asian
Americans everywhere.
By: Tzyy Hsu

REBELLION
The
Art of
To Kevin Trung Nguyen, a se-
nior graphic design student at Les-
ley University, the world of graphic
design is a place of talent to many,
but for people like Nguyen it is a
lifestyle that only a handful choose.
As an Asian-American, the path of
becoming a graphic designer is
not an easy choice to make, know-
ing it can be a real challenge in
many aspects.
In Nguyen’s case, choosing to
become an artist and graphic de-
signer was his own way of rebel-
lion “against that model minority
bull----.” But he isn’t rebelling just
10
In high school, Nguyen had
the opportunity to join a non-
profit organization called Artists
for Humanity. He endured the
advanced training of traditional
drawing and painting and was
quickly immersed into the art
world. Nguyen’s learning experi-
ence was like no other. But of
course, he was not
able to avoid getting his ass
kicked once he really started
graphic design.
When deciding which path
to take during his time with the
organization, he had many to
choose from (painting, sculpture,
photography, design, etc.) He
chose graphic design because it
was the only path that fit him
at the time and doing digital
art was much easier than any
tangible work. Luckily, graphic
design has fit him very well and
was able to follow this path into
his college career.
to rebel; his true purpose is to
hopefully change the way minori-
ties choose their careers in the fu-
Photo by Marvin Smith
ture. Nguyen had always stood out
from his friends even when he was
young; he was always “that art kid”
and none of them were interested
in the arts like he was.
Nguyen claims that he was
the one to fit the model minor-
ity figure in his younger days, but
there was a point in school career
where he said “f--- that s---, I don’t
really care anymore.” Once Nguy-
en found the artist in him, he had
a desire to turn his artistry into a
profession, and his profession into
a lifestyle.
11
Although Nguyen describes
his regular life as energetic –
sometimes even as “a walking
disaster” – his art style uses a
lot of negative space with “sub-
tle intention”. Every element
of his pieces is placed very
intentionally, whether one ob-
ject is aligned with another or
placed on a grid. Nguyen likes
for his pieces to be soft and
clean and with a certain mood,
which is the exact opposite of
his personality.
Nguyen’s most meaningful
piece that he’s created so far
is a letterpress poster with a
poem printed on its surface.
The poem is written by a
Japanese poet whose poems
resonated with Nguyen at an
early age. He describes the
poet’s writing as tough and very
“Street Asian”. The words of the
poem really contrast with the
old-style letterpress to create a
meaningful piece that speaks out
against those who disrespect
the Asian ethnicity.
Specifically, Nguyen wants
to speak out against American
society and racial issues that
are presented in his University.
He explains that most of the
racial issues faced are very, liter-
ally, black and white. Often, the
Asian community is ignored de-
spite their presence in society.
He describes this piece as the
beginning of his works toward
 Words by Linh Ngo
social dialogue and social
irk to attract the atten-
tion of Asian-Americans
like himself.
Most Asian-Americans
tend to “mindlessly” go
into the STEM field in their
college career, as Nguyen
speculates. Then in the
future when some of them
realize they do have a pas-
sion for the arts, they are
afraid to pursue it because
they have never seen it
done before. Nguyen really
strives to put his work out
in the community to prove
that there are people like
them. He especially speaks
out to those from “the
hood” to get them out of
the “bubble” they may be
trapped in, to show that
there are more opportuni-
ties than they realize.
Nguyen, like any other
Asian-American, has his
own story to share. He
often finds himself stuck
12
between being considered
a first- or second-
generation Vietnamese-
American. Though he
was born in Boston, he
relates a lot with those
who immigrated because
his siblings and family
were immigrants and
he grew up seeing their
struggles. Simply by being
born in America, Nguyen
feels considerably more
privileged as his siblings
were very supportive of
him and took care of him.
Though Nguyen does
experience many differ-
ences from his siblings, he
does not take it for grant-
ed. Nguyen has plans to
do documentary work of
cultures he’s experienced,
especially ones in Viet-
nam. His idea is to bring
the documentary back to
America to showcase it to
13
the Asian-Americans and
show them the uniqueness
of life in Vietnam.
Nguyen explains that
many cultures, like in
Vietnam, are not really that
“third-world” like many of
us are used to seeing. He
really finds some cultures
in Asia to be very inter-
esting and not seen very
often. Nguyen believes
that first-generation Asian-
Americans have a skewed
perspective of life in Asia
is like, especially for those
who have never been over
there.
Nguyen’s message isn’t
to simply rebel against
your family’s wishes, but
for Asian-Americans to
be able to speak out for
themselves. Speaking out
should even come in the
form of choosing to follow
your passion, rather than
choose ambivalence of life.
“Don’t be afraid to
disappoint your parents.
That’s how you pursue
your dreams.”
UNAVSA
Every year, the Union of North
American Vietnamese Student
Associations (UNAVSA) holds a
conference where individuals from
across the United States and Canada
come together for a weekend full of
professional development and team
bonding. The conference is designed to
empower and bring people together in
the Vietnamese community.
This year marks the 15th year of the an-
nual conference, hence the name UNAV-
SA-15. Five of our officers and members
had the opportunity to
“Stand Up, Stand Out” in Atlanta, Georgia
on Aug 2-5, 2017. From this conference,
attendees watched a cultural show,
listened to keynote speakers, attended
workshops catered to their individual
desires, and came together with the
Southeast region and other regions
across the continent. Attendees also
bonded with their families comprised
of individuals attending the conference,
and participated in family games and
staff card challenges. Overall, attendees
had a great educational and networking
experience at UNAVSA-15.
14
Here are their thoughts on U-15:
“I was terrified to come to U-15 because not
only was I completely new to the SE region,
but hardly anyone from UF was going and
we weren’t going to be in the same families.
But as soon as I saw how funny and open
my family leader was to us, I opened up as
well. Because of their supportive, yet
savage, efforts, we PULLED THROUGH
WITH A W!
WE HIT THE FLOOR
NEXT THING YOU KNOW
WE GOING LAU LAU LAU
This conference also fueled the flame for
my passion for VSA (VSO). I was inspired by
how much others cherished their VSA, and
how we all as an organization can make
such an impact on each other and
Vietnamese lives overseas. Because of
U-15, I learned the importance of my
culture and my homeland. It’s also an
added bonus that I get to travel and meet
amazing people.”
- Millie Vanto
“UNAVSA for me was something that I’ve
always been told about but never gone to.
It was an experience that I honestly would
never have imagined and has definitely
refueled my passion for VSA. I met so many
wonderful and inspiring people that are the
reason why I am able to do what I do today.
I went into this conference with a bunch of
strangers but left with the want to travel to
revisit those I call friends and family now.”
- Armani Nguyen
UVSASE
T
he Union of Vietnamese Student
Associations Southeast was
established in 2015, it is a non-profit,
community based organizations with aims
to unite Vietnamese (but not exclusive to
Vietnamese) youths in the Southeastern
regions of the U.S. The states involved
with UVSASE are Tennessee, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama,
and Georgia. They are partnered with 15
different Universities! UVSASE’s mission is
“to promote unity within [the] community
while empowering the rising generation
with leadership prowess, cultural
knowledge, and the wisdom to strengthen
and advance our community.”
15
T
he events held by UVSASE are
SELC, ELEMENT, and Olympics.
The Southeast Leadership
Camp (SELC) is a 3 day event where
attendees come to bond with other
vietnamese youths from all over the
Southeast region. The camp consists of
interactive activities and workshops with
the purpose to develop the campers’
leadership skills. This camp is a safe
place for attendees to bond and share
their stories! In 2018, UF had 11 VSO
members attend SELC. VSO alumni were
also on staff for this weekend retreat.
The ELEMENT Conference is
UVSASE’s professional and leadership
development conference. The
conference’s programs last 3 days and
2 nights; these programs provides the
attendees with the knowledge needed
to excel in leadership positions and
their career. The conference provides
the experience to acquire skills
necessary for success. In 2018, UF had
15 VSO members attend the ELEMENT
conference. VSO alumni were also on
staff for this weekend long conference
and the keynote speaker was a former
VSO president!
UVSASE’s Olympics is a friendly
competition that serves to strengthen
the bonds within members of their own
VSAs and with other VSAs in the region.
This is a one day event that includes
various sporting activities. The purpose
of Olympics, is to encourage teamwork
and leadership within the VSAs of the
Southeast region.
-Marian Vu
Pho Fundraiser
I
transitioned into an officer
in September, so I really
hit the floor running when
it came to responsibilities, I
vaguely knew what being an
officer entitled and what the
fundraisers were, but I did not
realize the vast scale of it all.
There was so much planning,
logistics, communication, and
organization that needed to be
done along with school and
work.
It was overwhelming for a bit,
but I ended up thoroughly
enjoying the experience of
being a fundraising director
and working alongside with
such a wonderful and involved
board of officers.
16
O
n November 11th, It
was an honor for both
Tommy and I to direct
one of the largest fundraisers
in the southeast region run by a
student organization. With over
sixty-five volunteers, hundreds
of visitors, and thousands of
dollars in revenue, saying that
it was a success would be an
understatement. With the efforts
of the volunteers, officers, and
the local Vietnamese community,
we sold out of almost everything
before we finished the night.
All profits that we made from
the pho fundraiser event were
donated to underprivileged
children in Vietnam in forms such
as healthcare, education, housing,
and nourishment. It makes me
unbelievably happy that both
Tommy and I were able to be
accomplishment and tradition.
I’ve said this multiple times
prior to the fundraiser, during
the fundraiser, and after the
fundraiser but thank you all
for coming out and showing
your support, thank you all for
volunteering and helping, and
thank you all for helping change
the lives of children.
By: Bok Wu
17
 CHILDREN
P of VIET NA M
H
F
or the 2018-2019 school year, our CPP is in collaboration with Children of Vietnam

I
(COV), a humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide assistance to
underprivileged children residing in the Da Nang area of Vietnam.
Founded in 1998, Children of Vietnam

L
has been serving to brighten the futures
of those who are stifled by poverty
by educating minds, mending bodies,
By: Tommy Lam
sheltering families and nurturing their

A development. COV is guided by its

T
commitment to be effective, efficient and
he Union of North American Vietnamese
transparent.
Student Association (UNAVSA) Collective

N Philanthropy Project (CPP) is an initiative created

by Vietnamese student-community organizations
to jointly collaborate in working toward a charitable
COV aims to do this by building
relationships, finding and fulfilling needs,
delivering aid, giving hope to families

T cause. Its mission stands to create momentum for

a collective national effort under one philanthropic
campaign. The CPP assists North American Vietnamese
and establishing permanent homes for
poor, orphaned, disabled or vulnerable
children. COV’s overarching goals are to

H
non-profit/philanthropic organizations in efficiently and break the cycle of poverty, illness, and
effectively achieving their missions through collective homelessness; and to provide immediate
and collaborative partnership with UNAVSA and its aid to children and families in crisis.

R
constituent groups.

UNAVSA's CPP was brought to life in 2005 during the

second annual conference to form an initiative for

O
students and community organizations to collaborate on
working towards a charitable cause, in conjunction with
the Vietnamese Interacting As One (VIA-1) Conference.

P
The concept of an annual collective philanthropy
campaign was introduced when student leaders and
aspiring professionals were in search of a vehicle

Y
to further drive UNAVSA’s mission of development,
networking and a unified voice outside of the
conference.

18 19

Meet The Officers
Joseph Lam - President
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING
FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS?
I am looking forward to where life will take me after college. There
are so many opportunities out there in the real world. The places I
will be and the people I will meet leave me hopeful for the future!
Albert Tieu - Internal Vice President
IF YOU COULD TURN ANY ACTIVITY INTO AN OLYMPIC SPORT,
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE AT WINNING MEDAL
FOR?
Mobile Legends!!! I’m pretty much a god at this game so if it
was an Olympic Sport it’s pretty much a free gold medal for me.
Cayle introduced me to the game during Pho Fundraiser a cou-
ple months ago and I’ve been carrying her and the entire board
“every game so hmu if you need them free wins.” Ign: Hotbabe24.
Marian Vu - External Vice President
WHAT HOBBY WOULD YOU GET INTO IF TIME AND MONEY
WEREN’T AN ISSUE?
If time and money were not an issue to pursue any hobby I
would definitely travel to every music festival and concert for
every artist I have ever loved!! If there’s anything that I love more
than listening to music, it’s definitely seeing live bands or artists.
If I were paid to be a concert/ festival blogger that would be the
dream!! And even better, I would take my best friends with me!!
Millie Vanto - Treasurer
WHAT IRRATIONAL FEAR DO YOU HAVE?
Time. When I was younger, I was terrified when I saw a dig-
ital clock and the time was XX:57 - yes, that exact time! The
fear is heightened more if I saw it at night. I don’t have that
particular fear anymore, but instead I think it manifested into
the pressure of deadlines and how long time really is, and
then at that point I’ve probably hit existential crisis LOL
20
Kevin Nguyen - Secretary
WHAT ARE SOME SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR DAY
BETTER?
There are many small things that make me happier such as waking
up early and not getting tired, reconnecting with old friends by
chance, staying up to date with my passion planner, my bus arriv-
ing as soon as I leave class, and getting lunch with my littos.
Linh Ngo - Media Editor-in-chief
WHAT STEREOTYPE DO YOU COMPLETELY LIVE UP TO?
As a Virgo sun, mercury, and venus, I pretty much live up to
every possible stereotype you’ve ever read about Virgos…. Ah
yes, I am “intelligent, analytical, practical, meticulous, reliable”
and I probably look pretty put together. I’m also very definitely,
the anxious, overthinking, obnoxiously overcritical, judgmental
Virgo. Lol y’all don’t need to tell me because even I find myself
annoying.
Minh Nguyen - Historian
WHERE IS THE MOST RELAXING PLACE YOU’VE EVER BEEN?
The most relaxing place I’ve ever been to was this biking trail I
went to a couple of years back with my cousins. There’s nothing
special about that trail but I just remember how peaceful I felt bik-
ing through it. I feel like many times people gravitate towards city
life and forget to enjoy nature!! I definitely need to take this advice
for myself, may 2019 bring all of us more experiences in nature!
Cayle Gao - Social Director
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT A TON OF PEOPLE ARE OB-
SESSED WITH BUT YOU JUST DON’T GET THE POINT OF?
Honestly, I never really understood why football was such a
big deal. I’m sorry but I am very uncultured oops hehe. May-
be I just need to go to a game and experience it myself but
it really doesn’t make any sense to me. Tickets are so expen-
sive and you’re just sitting in the sun for HOURS. I rather stay
home and play some mobile legends hehehe:))
Lucy Nguyen - Multimedia Director
IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO SLEEP, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH
THE EXTRA TIME?
I’ve actually thought about this a lot, because I spend too much
of my time worrying about everything I have to get done. If I
didn’t have to sleep, I think I would try to get all of my respon-
sibilities and productive work done, so I could use my time dur-
ing the day to focus on building connections with the people
around me. Oftentimes, I get too caught up trying to balance a
social life and work life that I end up doing neither.
21
 Dominic Van - Public Relations Director
WHAT FAD OR TREND DO YOU HOPE COMES BACK?
A couple years back I could go outside take a walk and see a bunch of famil-
iar faces walking around socializing and having a good time. If possible I would
love to bring back Pokémon Go. I mean of course there are still dedicated play-
ers such as myself but I really miss going outside and seeing random people I
know walking around chasing Pokémon. Back in my hometown there was a very
popular area to play Pokémon Go called Cranes Roost. There are poke stops all
around the man made lake and every lap you do will reset the timers to collect
items. Playing Pokémon Go at Cranes Roost not only could I catch rare Pokémon
because of events created by crowds of played but I caught my physics teacher
running around trying to catch a Gyarados. Regardless of whether that game will
become a hot trending app again, you will still be able to see me running around
still trying to catch a Pikachu.
Nicole Villanueva - Public Relations Director
WHAT IS THE MOST HEARTWARMING THING YOU’VE EVER
SEEN?
Your Lie in April gets me everytime. rip im ded, like SOMEBODY
we know anyways, it’s one of my favorites and always makes me
smile, so yeah, go on a journey!
Quan Trinh - Public Relations Director
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONSIDERED A LUXURY, BUT YOU
DON’T THINK YOU COULD LIVE WITHOUT?
I definitely cannot live without the luxury of the internet. I mean like
how else would I watch anime and play league. I’d also miss out on
the brilliant memes that people on the internet come up with!! Yep i
need the internet, I’m basically just a weeb that plays league hehe
Edward Liu - Athletic Director
WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST AMAZING ADVENTURE TO GO ON?
The most amazing adventure to go on would be to an isolated
island with only a backpack full of supplies with some of my clos-
est friends. I would hunt and fish for food and even build a house
out of whatever resources we have on the island.
Emily Tang - Athletic Director
WHO’S YOUR GO TO BAND OR ARTIST WHEN YOU CAN’T DECIDE
ON SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO?
My ultimate go-to bands or artist kinda depend on what mood I am
going for. The Chainsmokers are my get productive vibes when I
have hella lot of schoolwork. If I am really reflective and like bullet
journaling i’ll play John Mayer and if i am working out my go to is
always Blackpink.
22
Tzyy Hsu - Culture Director
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN MOVIES, BUT IS RARELY
PORTRAYED IN MOVIES?
I dunno if it’s the movies I watch or whatever but I never see a
random encounter that ends up being just that. It’s always your
stalker or your new best friend or love interest or boss or some-
thing. Yall never just bump into Steve from New Orleans who has
no relation to you whatsoever? Just me I guess.
Karen Tran - Culture Director
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT’S COMING
UP IN 2019?
I am excited for the change that is to come in 2019. All 2018 I was
so scared of everything around me changing and people leaving,
but I’ve realized that change is the one thing that is constant in
your life!! Everything around is constantly changing for the better,
even if you think it’s hurting you! Not everything stays constant,
but it’s okay live ur life and move on!!:’) After everything around
me changes me for the better it’s over for u H03$.
Justin Ho - Performance Director
WHAT MOVIE TITLE BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE?
Forrest Gump: it’s a freaking classic man. Better than any Disney
movie I’ve ever seen. Forrest is someone who I admire because of
how he views the world and sees the positivity in everything de-
spite how grim the situation is. I want to enjoy life the way it is no
matter how crazy it can get and to love others without judgement.
Tommy Lam - Fundraising Director
NAME A SONG THAT GETS YOU IN YOUR FEELS. WHY?
Steve Aoki - A Lover And A Memory
It’s sad to think about how a relationship can be your entire
world and your happiness at a point in your life, but after a
breakup, your world comes crashing down and you can’t feel
anything anymore.
Bok Wu - Fundraiser Director
IF YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR NAME, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
When my parents named my brother and I, they actually just
cut our Cantonese names in half. My Cantonese name is actual-
ly pronounced Bokkun while my Mandarin name is pronounced
as Bojjin. I always wondered how things might have been
slightly different had I had those names instead.
23
ANHCHI
A C EEM
WITH THE PRS
PAIRING

F
irst off, my co-directors and I came into this position with a lot of ideas. We
really wanted to bring VSO to the next level and I think we did! We've had
the highest amount of ACE applicants in many years and I am beyond happy
to see all of our pairings spending time together. It makes the countless hours of
pairing and logistics completely worth it. RACE week is coming up, so here's to
more additions to the phamily! Our social media presence is also better than ever
and thank you all for loving VSO as much as we do!
By: Nicole Villanueva

I
joined VSO because my sister forced me to go to the events
but through that initial push I was able to find a community that
I enjoy being a part of. Everybody in VSO is very friendly and
welcoming to all the members so I wanted others to experience
what I experienced. Becoming PR was a great experience, I was
able to meet a lot of people at UF and other Vietnamese student
associations throughout the country. Through VSO, I was able to
express myself in all of it has to offer from dance and culture to
silly videos and creative posts. However, for me, the best part of
the position is recruiting new members to keep the organization
going strong.
By: Dominic Van

H
ello friends. Ever since becoming PR, I've been able to step out of my
comfort zone and get to know a lot of new people. From the countless
hours of pairing to silly icebreakers, this experience is unforgettable. My
favorite part of this job is making some quality anime memes for social media. I was
really happy to hear that a lot ACEs loved your pairings! I hope to make VSO feel
like a family for everyone as it has for me. If you missed out on ACE, then RACE will
definitely be the biggest bet. I'm looking forward to seeing you all in the spring. VSO
is all I know,
By: Quan Trinh

24 25

V
SO sports is taking off with
some of the biggest turn
outs we have had in years!
We are so proud of how far we
have come as a team. VSO has
so many talented and athletic
members that made this season
our best yet.
VSO in the fall participated in
indoor volleyball, flag football,
and 3v3 men’s basketball. We
finished the season with 9 wins!
As VSO grows with more
members each year, our athletic
directors came up with the idea
of awarding a player who was
26
C
oming up in the spring,
we can’t wait to see some
many new faces play off in
sand volleyball, 5v5 basketball,
single and double tennis!
Thank you so much to our
amazing members who have
come out and helped support
VSO sports! We would not have
all these wins without you!
Join VSO sports!
By: Emily Tang
and Edward Liu
deemed Most Valuable Player.
The MVP can be anyone who
plays an integral part in a sport
or in supporting the team. Our
very first MVP was freshman
Nikki Feenstra, a freshman, who
came to every single game and
participated in both flag football
and volleyball. Our next MVP was
John Carlton Joseph, sophomore,
who was our MVP in both flag
football and 3v3 men’s basketball.
Lastly, our MVP of the GBM was
Alex La, sophomore, who was so
instrumental in every sport. His
enthusiastic cheering supported
every team and led us to so many
victories.
27
DANCE
Modern
Traditional
My Last Runthrough

Thank you. From the start of my freshman year to now the

end of my junior year, it’s been a wild ride with many ups and Traditional Vietnamese dances have been around for generations and can include handheld
downs. There were times where I cried and times where I want- props such as fans, lanterns, lotus flowers, flags, platters, candles, incense, hats, scarves
ed to give up because I thought I was not right for the position. and ribbons. This school year (2018-2019) was my first time ever choreographing a piece
However, even if I didn’t believe in myself at times, you guys by myself and to tell you the truth it was very stressful, but watching everything fall into
still put your faith in me and I was able to push place and see that everyone was having fun was the most rewarding! In 2018-2019 we had
further. From many long nights, I witnessed many bonds traditional dances with props that included hats, ribbons, fans and umbrellas choreo-
began and grew stronger, dance sets come to life, and most im- graphed by Justin Ho, Nicole Villanueva and Kevin Nguyen and I!
portantly I was able to share many great memories with you all.
I joined VSO because I wanted to get more in touch with my culture, so I danced most of
Hello everyone, while this chapter of my life comes to a close, the culture dances (ILY Lily and Minhdu <3) In the past two years of being involved in
this is not goodbye. Whether you were my predecessor, a VSO, I have made most of my new and close friends through dance (traditional dance to be
choreographer, or even a dancer, each and every one of you are exact) As ½ of the cultural director, traditional dance is very important to me, it makes me
all amazing and I’m really happy that I was able share the stage listen to Vietnamese music more and learn the meaning of the songs. Thank you to every-
with you all these last few years. one who showed support by cheering traditional dance on and even participating in the
dances themselves!
To my predecessors, Anthony Nguyen, Vinny Nguyen, and so
on, thank you for laying the foundation and teaching me how -Karen Tran
to succeed. To all the choreographers I worked with, (Lily Cao,
Minhdu Van, Yuria Kusatake, Caitlin Kantner, Husein Fejzic,
Stephon Jamison, Larissa Jaurigue, Dominic Van, Thomas
Tang, Alfeil Felipe, Nancy Tran, Armani Nguyen, Daniel Kim,
Kevin Nguyen, Nicole Villanueva, Quan Trinh, Nikki Feenstra,
and Aria Henderson) thank you for bringing your creativity
and passion to VSO dance. Lastly, to all the dancers, thank you
for all your hard work and dedication in making each set and
runthrough phenomenal. To the future, just remember to have
fun out there.

I am grateful to all of you for being a part of this journey and

for that I say, Thank you.
-Justin Ho

28 29
Officers
THEN AND NOW
How did being part of VSO
Jenny Trang impact you?
Since joining VSO, I’ve gained leadership skills,
new experiences, met some of the greatest people
and found a home away from home. This organ-
ization has helped me get more in touch with
my culture as a Vietnamese American and how
I can make an impact on our community. Being
surrounded by others who had a similar upbring-
ing made me feel comfortable and open to trying
new things. The people I met freshmen year and
the officers I got the chance of getting close to
while serving on board have made my college
experience the greatest it could possibly be, and
I’m happy to know that these friendships will
extend beyond my time at the university.
What advice do you
have for future officers or
members?
VSO President ‘17-’18 My biggest advice is to have an open mind when it comes to
VSO Treasurer ‘16-’17 trying new things and meeting new people. If you’re hesitant
about becoming an officer, then reach out to those who have
held that position. If you’re nervous about meeting new peo-
ple, then just ask your anh, chi, or an officer to introduce you
to someone new. If you’re unsure whether or not you should
attend an event or dance, just go for it! You never know what
may come out of it, and odds are it’s going to be something
great. VSO has offered me so much more than I could have
ever asked for and I am forever grateful for the memories and
phamily that came out of it. So keep an open mind and see
what this organization has to offer!
30
What was one of your
Nguyen Ngo favorite moments you had
as a VSO member?
My favorite moment as a VSO officer was prepar-
ing for the first Pho Fundraiser we had to host. It
wasn’t exactly the easiest time because everyone
was stressed out, but we were all together working
towards a goal and I really remember the collective
struggle we all had to endure. Along the way, I had a
lot of fun being around everyone for three days just
stuck in one house. I felt like I got to know some of
VSO Social Director ‘16-’17
my board members a lot better through this!
How have you seen VSO
grow throughout the
years?
VSO has grown a lot throughout the years especially since I was a freshman. As a freshman, UF
wasn’t really connected nationally as it is today. I remember our first step of becoming connected
nationally when a lot of our members/ officers went to leadership camps and conferences to get
more connected! They brought back with them ideas on how to improve the way things worked and
it’s really nice to see how many people from UF show up to events like UNAVSA nowadays.
Why did you choose VSO?
I initially chose VSO because I wanted to be more
immersed in my culture and be surrounded by others
Kim Vo
like me. After being involved with the organization
my first semester and seeing the many aspects such as
philanthropy, ‘phamily’, and leadership opportunities,
I became more immersed in the organization in hopes
of being a part of these things.
VSO Internal Vice President ‘17-’18
VSO Fundraising Director ‘16-’17
What is your favorite part
about Tet?
My favorite part about Tet is the festive ambiance.
The loud fireworks, dancing lions, and bright lan-
terns create a sense of excitement and joy. I love that
VSO’s Tet show brings together hundreds of people
to celebrate this holiday together while also educating
about it.
31
 Very Sexy
‘Oliday Party
Our annual holiday party was a huge suc-
cess thanks to our amazing NewGen academy! It
was a night filled with whipped cream, delicious
food, and amazing holiday spirit. Everyone came
in their best holiday outfits and ugly sweaters
to greet our Santa Clauses (Tzyy Hsu and Quan
Trinh).
For the icebreaker, it involved deciding
between who was naughty or nice in the room.
We also had games in which teams decorated
someone into the best Christmas gift and they
also came up with skits that involved plot twists,
memes, and Christmas movies including the Po-
lar Express, Harry Potter, and Home Alone!
By: Kevin Nguyen
32
NewGen
Even more entertaining than the icebreak-
er and games, were of course, the Jar War dares.
Dominic, Quan, Edward, and Justin were faced
with lap dances, egg roulette, and getting pied in
the face! We also celebrated with an amazing as-
sortment of foods from our potluck featuring mac
n’ cheese, baked potatoes, and spaghetti (shout-
NewGen Academy, or New Gener- the event on our social
out to everyone for bringing plenty of food)!
ation Academy, is a mentorship program media. Lastly, the crea-
And to top off the night, we had a special
that aims to foster and develop professional tive path planned a promotion-
toast from Nicole to end the semester and cele-
skills by showing members what it’s like to al video and designed the event’s
brate the start of a new year. The Very Sexy ‘Ol-
program an event. Through networking and flyer. Each path had their own set of re-
iday party was definitely one of the most mem-
branding workshops, members learn how to sponsibilities and tasks that contributed to
orable events for VSO and it is all thanks to the
connect with others and how to make good the overall success of the event. Without
officers, NewGen, and our guests who attended!
first impressions. Through three different the hard work of these members, this event
paths: leadership, social, and creative, mem- would not have been possible.
bers are given the opportunity to focus on a This semester, NewGen will be plan-
specific set of skills they would like to de- ning and running their own general body
velop. By helping plan events, members can meeting where they will take on the role of
get more involved and are given a glimpse a specific officer for a day. They’ll learn what
of life as an officer should they be interested it’s like to serve on a board, hold weekly
in becoming an officer in the upcoming term. meetings, and complete tasks that will lead
This past fall semester, NewGen to a successful event. We are also introduc-
helped us plan, organize and run our annu- ing a shadowing program that will give our
al “Very Sexy ‘Oliday Party.” The leadership members the ability to shadow an officer
path planned the itinerary of the event, position they are interested in. This will give
as well as what activities were put members the opportunity to learn about the
on throughout the event. The different positions on our board and the re-
social path planned ice- sponsibilities that come with each position.
breaker activities and It is also a great opportunity for our other
used creative members to have a chance to see what next
ways to pro- year’s board will be and how they’ll be the
NewGen
Acade my mote future of our organization.
Class of 2018-19 The NewGen Academy has done ex-
Alyssa Haffner, Ange- ceptionally well in this past semester and
we can’t wait to see what they have pre-
la Cao, Carmen Lo, Christina
pared for us in the future.
Nguyen, Cindy Lin, Devon Phan, Do-
novan Vu, Gloria Nguyen, Holly Vu, Jackie
By: Joseph Lam
Deo, Jessica Dang, Julie Phan, Justin Nguyen,
Kathrine Nguyen, Kelly Nguyen, Khanh Hoang, Le-
quynh Le, Lynn Le, Lynne Cao, Michelle Bui, Michelle
Wang, Nikki Feenstra, Sam Zhang, Stanley Yang, Tan Nguyen,
33 Lin
Thai Bui, Tina Tan, Tuyet-Nhi Tu, and Vanessa Fung
Thank you to our sponsors:

34 35
36 37
38 39
 hey jennifart,
i just wanna say a fat THANK YOU to you for guiding me into my first few moments
here at UF. you’ve introduced me to different organizations and clubs, as well as
amazing and genuine people and i fr cannot thank you enough for that. through my
emo times and happy times, you’ve witnessed it all and still remain by my side (even
though you’re lowkey forced to). not only are you my sister, but you are my friend.
i’m glad we could spend your last year here and my first year here at UF together.
it’s been real and i cannot wait to embark on new journeys for this next and last
semester with you.
much love i
guess <3
- vivi

D E D I C AT I O N S

40 41
Dear Justin Nguyen,
Hi there b :-) I know I tell you very often how much I appreci-
ate you, but I thought I’d put it somewhere lots of people can
see so I can share how much you mean to me. You have
brought me an endless bounty of joy, love, kindness, laughter,
and stupidity — all of which have made my year incredible.
Thank you so much, Justin, for changing my life for the better.
I love you, from one side of the ever-changing universe to the
other.
Love,
Katherine Nguyen
Dear Phoi Pham,
I could type out a whole essay in MLA font with a minimum 1500 word count, listing and elaborating
on all the reasons I can’t imagine not loving and having you in my life. For the sake of the magazine, I
won’t be doing that lol. Through all of the times we’ve accidentally ran into each other, we should’ve
known that something was bringing us together. From seeing you for the first time at a basketball court
and making you thinking I was probably a scene kid, to when we finally started to become friends
during a Thanksgiving gathering through fangirling about Sam Smith, I always thought of you as some
really cute girl who I’d never have a chance with. I remember how you thought I was a bit of a creep
when I asked for your Instagram haha. Our friendship only got stronger as time went on and we be-
gan talking for hours on end. My cousin noticed how much we talked and he was always like, “Just
ask her out man what’s the harm in trying?” I always told him I didn’t want to risk losing a friendship
that became so important to me. I guess I’m some what of a hypocrite because I finally decided that
I was going to ask you out. You tried to be around the bush about it, but you ended up saying yes. :)
My belief that I would never have a chance with you shattered in front of my eyes at that moment and
I could not have been happier. I was able to add on “girl” in front of “friend” and actually call you that.
You became my significant other, my best friend, and as time progresses, hopefully my wife. Loving
you feels like earning that A in a class you worked so hard for. Loving you feels like experiencing the
beauties of nature. Loving you feels right, and I can’t imagine being with anyone else, but you. I love
you babe. You ma baby, MY F***ING CINNAMON APPLE.”

Love,
Darien Le
Dear Katherine Nguyen,
You are the most wonderful person I know! I
enjoy every second I spend with you and you
support me in ways I can’t support myself.
Thank you for making my days less boring.

Love,
Justin Nguyen

42 43
To my minions, Dear Kevin Naughton
Even though we don’t talk as much as I had From our first date on Valentine’s Day to now, there was never a day I didn’t have fun. My silly
hoped, I love you all endlessly. You all have cookie, smart boi, and guppy - you have been with me thick and through. Each day with you is
made my year more fun and I’m so glad to be a never the same - you bring happiness and excitement to my life. You are my rock when I get anx-
part of your journey through UF. I promise we’ll ious about things and I am so grateful you were always there for me. We had so many adventures
hang soon, and I love you all! the past year and I will never forget them. I can’t wait to make more memories and experience new
things with you.

Love,
Millie Vanto With Love,
Connie Mei

Dear VSO Board,

Dear Albert Tieu, Y’all are pretty cool or whatever :/

You’re ugly but you’re also an awesome big that

Love,
I talk to the most. Dominic Van
Love,
Dominic Van

44 45
Dear, Joshua Figueroa, Dear Linh, Kevin, Connie,
Albert Tieu, Joseph Lam, Triana Albert, Greg, Johan, Josh,
Le, Kevin Naughton, Linh Ngo,
I’d like to take the time to thank you guys
Johan de Jesus, Alan Phen, for being my friends. You guys became my
Khang Truong, and Tabitha second family, my second home. And I’m so
Basuseto, glad to have met you all and for you to be a
part of my life. Thank you for all of the laughs
and the adventures. Thank you for sharing all
of your quirks and letting me a part of your
I’m glad I met you guys and can rely on you guys when I need
lives. Thank you for changing my life in your
to. We have made so many great memories from shaved ice to own special ways, no matter how big or how
Josh’s graduation to raving together. I am grateful for the mem- small. You may or may not have noticed that
ories we have made and the future ones to come. Even though I haven’t been myself for a long time. I’ve
distanced myself from a lot of people be-
we have gotten busy, we always try to get together for special cause of it. I’ve been stressed and depressed
occasions. Even though we are separated, we still message for almost a year now with everything that’s
each other. I am excited to see what the new year holds for been going on in my life. But things are finally
starting to look up. I have more hope for my
us and I wish you all plenty of joy and happiness and best of
future. I do miss how it use to be, us always
health.
Sincerely , hanging out and always laughing and just
having fun. I’m sorry that this sounds super
Connie Mei super sad haha, LEMME FIX IT REAL QUICK!
Anywho, coming into this new year, I expect
big changes and new opportunities in my life.
And I’m planning to bounce back into my old
ways and hope that we can all do it again,
Dear Bao Nguyen the whole crew. I’m sorry I’ve been such a
ghost. Here’s to a happy new year! I wish you
(Pork Bun), all nothing but love, luck, and happiness. I
love you guys so much. I miss you.

Thank you very much for everything you have

done for me since the day we met. I’m grateful Love,
to know you, to hang out with you, and to be
your chewy. Thank you for being patient with
Triana Le
me!

P.s. I <3 U
Love,
Tuyet Nguyen

46 47
To: Quan Trinh

As the great movie The Little Rascles once said- Dear Quan, I
hate your stinking guts. You make me vomit. You’re scum be-
tween my toes!

To my Wife Joseph
Love, Karen Tran
and my 17 VSO Children...
To: Millie Vanto

I am being forced to say this... I love you, Millie!!! You’re the

BeSt!!!!!1!
Love, Michelle Bui
To: Dominic Van
Hey ading! Just wanted to say I’m proud to see all the work
you’re putting into VSO as an officer! It’s not an easy job,
I’m sure, but it’s definitely a fulfilling one! I’m excited to see
what you’ll accomplish this upcoming semester, and even
after I graduate, I hope I’ll be able to support you wherever I
am <3 Thanks for letting me dance in your piece a year ago,
wouldn’t be friends without ~wanderlust~
Love, Carissa Chanrasmi
T
hank you for everything you all have done for VSO and myself this year. It’s crazy
how many memories and bonds can be created in a such a short time span. It
seemed as if it was just last week that I saw all of you chosen for your positions
during elections. Each and every one of you have a special place in my heart and I
don’t think I could have chosen any other group of people to be IVP for. While I was
seen as the Dad of VSO, I cannot describe how much I learned and grew throughout
the year because of you all. And while each of you will continue to grow as time goes
on, don’t change from your weeby, geeky, memey, and loving selves. Love you all <3
Your soon-to-be Sugar Daddy,
Albert

To: My Littles (DLD ;D)

Love you guys :) can’t wait to spend another year with all of
you. Thanks for putting up with my diva attitude, roasting,
endless rambling, and spam messages and calls. Can’t wait to
spend another year with all you brats. (Also we need to start
taking pictures because I have like none)
Love, Dominic Van

To: VSO 2018-2019 Board

hallo boardies, thank u all for an amazing year !! it’s been rough
but i think we really pulled VSO to the next level and i cant wait
to see where the remainder of our officer terms take us. thank
u for always putting up with my annoying messages!! love yall
<333
Love, Nicole Villanueva

48 49

2018-2019 VSO officers...
To the
“Without your support and dedication, nothing would have been possible.”
Albert Tieu: Thank you for being my right hand man through this entire year. Not
only were you dad to our board, but you were there every step of the way when
I had any problems. Through all your sass and friendly insults, I knew you always
had only good intentions in mind towards me and our board. Your dedication and
work ethic for VSO has made our cultural shows possible. Most importantly, thank
you for being one of my best friends and I hope you will one day be able to serve
me the good meds when you become a pharmacist.
Marian Vu: Your enthusiasm for VSO has left me in awe. The way you interact with
other VSAs and the connections you have made show me that you care about
your culture and the Vietnamese community as a whole. You are honestly the
spokesperson for VSO to be honest. With your positive and funny attitude, I can see
why you are so likeable. You know how to keep it real with a smile and you will be
successful wherever you end up!
Millie Vanto: With you as our treasurer, VSO was getting tons of bread. You were
always organized and kept up with monetary deadlines, ensuring that we never ran
into issues with money. Your extra and humorous personality made sure that there
was never a dull moment on board. Stay true to yourself, as that is what makes you
so unique.
Kevin Nguyen: The moment you said you keep a bullet journal, I knew you were
the right person for the position. Your organizational skills and creativity ensure
that we all meet our deadlines and that our GBM presentations stand out. Your
assertiveness leaves a great presence on our board (though your snoring already
makes your presence known lol). Thanks for being so vocal and creating a fun
atmosphere for others on board.
Quan Trinh: You never play league with me, but I know it is because you think I am
better than you hehe. Besides that fact, I appreciate what you bring to VSO. Your
plugs and social media are one of my favorites things to follow. Your humorous
and savage personality makes board meetings funny to be at. With you, no
moment is ever boring. Thanks for joining us on board this year!
50
Dominic Van: Your passion for VSO is inspiring. I know that I and other VSO members
appreciate the time you take out of your day to host NewGen workshops and I hope
that you enjoyed hosting these sessions. Your ability to network and connect to
everyone you meet is honestly impressive, as you seem to know everyone in VSO.
You are honest in your opinions and keep it real with everyone. Your charismatic
personality is what makes you so likeable and I hope that you never change who
you are. Thanks for everything you do for us.
Nicole Villanueva: Your presence on social media is insane. From Instagram posts
to Facebook plugs, you know the best ways to attract attention to VSO. Not only do
you make VSO look good, but you also know how to have fun. I know you hella wild
lmao. Thank you for all you do to make VSO known and I hope to see you at another
rave one day lol.
TJ Hsu: The work you have done for VSO is something I admire. From culture
segments at GBMs to cultural dances/decorations, you have helped make our
show possible. Your actions always lead to fun moments (the deodorant stick)
and you always know how to keep a positive attitude. Thanks for educating us on
Vietnamese culture while knowing how to have to good time!
Karen Tran: You are always so mean to me, but I know you mean well on the inside.
Not everyone can be like me!! Your loyalty towards VSO shows in the work you do,
from your cultural dances to your beautiful show decorations. Our show is a huge
success thanks to you. Never change your personality, as I appreciate that you
aren’t afraid of voicing your opinion and saying it as it is. Your humor makes every
conversation with you enjoyable and I wanted to thank you for everything you have
done as our cultural director.
Edward Liu: You were amazing as athletic director for VSO this year. Your
competitive spirit and athleticism ensured that there were no L’s in all our sports
games. You have a great personality and were easy to work with. Thanks for making
all our sports game this year such a pleasure to watch.
Emily Tang: I am so glad you decided to join board as our athletic director! Your
ideas for sports show your passion towards both your position and towards VSO. I
know you are always roasting me (like a lot), but I know its because you wish you
were me lol. Thanks for making everyone’s time on board so much fun and for bring
home the wins for our sports team!
Tommy Lam: I know you were pretty shy from the start of your officer position, but I
have seen you grow to become more social. VSO board is so thankful for what you
have done as fundraising director this year. Your work led to another successful pho
fundraiser, where we raised a lot of money for tha kids. Hope to see you rolling in
real dough in the future ;).
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Bok Wu: I am thrilled you decided to spend the remaining twilight years of your
college education by joining VSO board. Your leadership and assertive personality
made sure that prep for pho fundraiser was organized and that the event itself ran
smoothly. You add experience and good ideas as a officer and as the fundraising
director. Not only were you a natural leader, but you were super fun to be around. I
hope we get to headbang again sometime soon!

Cayle Gao: Mobile legends?!? Just kidding. You are a vibrant person and make
board meetings and events more enjoyable. Your tarps are honestly fire and your
outgoing personality makes you fun to be around (hence why you are the social
director lol). Don’t change your personality, as your savageness is what makes you
so special. Please boost me back to grandmaster in mobile legends hehe!!

Linh Ngo: All your flyers and designs are amazing. I don’t know how you have the
time to balance VSO work with school and other clubs. Your dedication and passion
for VSO shows in the quality of your work. You are one of the nicest and funniest
people I have ever met, which makes you so easy to get along with. Thanks for
being one of my good friends and for all that you have done for VSO.

Minh Nguyen: Wow our stylish historian! Everyone knows you be stylin everywhere
you go. I would like to greatly thank you for joining the VSO multimedia team in the
fall! I know there’s always a lot of tasks for you guys so we really appreciate the
support and the amazing pictures you take for us.

Lucy Nguyen: Honestly, multimedia has done so much this year and you really put
a lot into making our videos look nice and making the board look cool. Being a
graphic design student must be crazy busy so thank you for putting the effort in just
for us. You have really shown us true patience dealing with our butts so I hope all
is well for your future! Pursuing an artist career is super respectable and you’ll do
amazing!

Justin Ho: One more runthrough?!? I am so glad you came back with me for one
more year on board. Your wisdom and advice has left a good influence for the
newcomers on board. Your passion for VSO and our outer VSAs has left me inspired.
You travel so much, but know to always get your work done beforehand. Thanks for
being a good reminder of why coming back to VSO was so worth it.

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