BALBIR SINGH/INDIANAPOLIS:

The 2024 Retreat for Asian Youth (RAY) organized by Asian American Alliance, headed by Rupal Thanawala, at 575 Riley Hospital Dr., Suite 2500, Indianapolis, IN 46202, on September 22, was a big attraction.

As many as 100 students from 22 high schools from all over Indiana participated, Event chair was Pritikaa Biswas who led the committee of Ishita Masetty and Lily Mar. Linda Chang was RAY Advisor.

A number of prominent speakers inspired, encouraged and motivated the students by giving valuable tips during their addresses and question-answer sessions. It was an inspiring and transformative experience at this year's Retreat, designed to empower Asian high school students to unlock their full potential.

"The RAY event is an impactful high school student leadership conference to encourage and uplift the future Asian American community in Indiana. It featured a dynamic agenda, including leadership workshops, guest speakers, networking opportunities, panel discussions and interactive activities."
Students were engaged in interactive sessions to hone their leadership skills, listen from prominent Asian American leaders who narrated and shared their stories and insights and connect with fellow students, mentors, and community leaders to build lasting relationships.

"The RAY event is an impactful high school student leadership conference to encourage and uplift the future Asian American community in Indiana. It featured a dynamic agenda, including leadership workshops, guest speakers, networking opportunities, panel discussions and interactive activities." Students were engaged in interactive sessions to hone their leadership skills, listen from prominent Asian American leaders who narrated and shared their stories and insights and connect with fellow students, mentors, and community leaders to build lasting relationships. Among the key speakers were Olympic swimmer Apsara Sakbun, Patrick Armstrong, Linda Chang, Lauren Li Primer, TV Investigative Reporter Cat Sandoval, WISH-TV and IU Vice President Regional Campuses and Online Education Ken Iwama.

In her closing remarks AAAI Rupal Thanawala promised the 2025 conference "for the students and by the students. The students suggestions and active involvement will will be further strengthened in future AAAI programs,"

Speaking on the occasion, AAAI president Rupal Thanawala hinted at making the 2025 conference more educational, interesting and result-oriented. "Let us know what you want from us as we want to design many other programs based on your feedback. We want to design the programs for you, so give us your feedback. suggest us how to make the 2025 program more interesting," There is always a scope for improvement.

This event is not put together by me. This conference has been put together by my amazing team of Pritikaa Biswas who led a committee of Ishita Masetty and Lily Mar. Linda Chang was RAY Advisor.

For the 2025 conference, Rupal Thanawala encouraged the students to come forward and join the organization expressing their desire to volunteer on a particular committee.
She also advised the students to nominate your friends for AAAI scholarships but application must be written by the candidate only.

The students get motivated and inspired from successful Asian American leaders, develop essential skills for their academic and personal life, be part of a supportive community that celebrates and promotes Asian heritage and culture and discover their strengths to achieve their goals.

The Asian American Alliance Inc. is proud to invest in the development of future leaders that can help create positive change and a lasting impact on society.

Cat Sandoval, Investigative Reporter WISH TV, joined WISH-TV in April of 2023 as a member of I-Team 8. Born in the Philippines, Cat moved around her whole life and jokes that her parents have ‘itchy feet’.
She’s lived in Redlands in California, Philipsburg in New Jersey, Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, New York City and Chicago. Although she’s now an official Hoosier, Cat is no stranger to Indiana. She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle.

Linda Chang and Lauren Li Primer were involved in student engagement activities. Lauren Primer is Senior Analytical Chemist in Eli Lilly and Company, Linda Chang is Recruiting Specialist, Brand Ambassador Milliner & Associates LLC, Pacers Sports & Entertainment Keynote speaker Ball State Graduate Olympian swimmer Apsara Sakbun inspired students to embrace their passion and cultural identities as tool for leadership and growth.

Pamela K Sari, Director Asian American and Asian Resource and Culture Center (AAARCC), Purdue University, actively involved the participants to engage and develop communication skills.

The students were divided into age wise groups and were asked to communicate with their respective group members. The students introduced themselves, Each group was provided a big sheet of paper to draw their expressions by drawing. The students demonstrated their skills on the paper sheets.

Emotional Intelligence talk by Patrick Armstrong Podcaster, speaker, content creator Patrick Armstrong, He says "I’m a storyteller". He is a transracial Asian American adoptee, born in South Korea and adopted to a white family in rural Indiana in 1990.

Patrick Armstrong is the host of the award-winning podcasts The Janchi Show, a show about the Korean + Asian adoptee experience, and Conversation Piece, a show about the missing pieces of the conversations we’re already having.

Unpacking, understanding, and sharing my lived experience has helped me become a more whole version of myself; I believe everyone deserves that opportunity

Ken Iwama, who has served as IU Northwest’s chancellor since 2020, has assumed the charge of the vice president for regional campuses and online education in May 2024.

“Our regional campuses and IU Online are key pillars in how we serve this state and provide access to a life-changing education,” Iwama said. “I’m looking forward to building on the robust academic community we’ve nurtured at IU Northwest as I serve Indiana University in this new role.