10th Annual Khmer Student Coalition Conference

Table of Contents Welcome From CSA ................................................................................................... 3 About Kscc ................................................................................................................ 4 Csa Board ................................................................................................................... 4

Halima Lucas.............................................................................................................. 5 Schedule .................................................................................................................... 6 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Emad Rahim ........................................................................... 7

Breakout Sessions & Presenters ............................................................................... 8 Khmer College Advising ........................................................................................ 14 Elvis Of Cambodia: The Sinn Sisamouth Story ..................................................... 15

Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 16 Sponsorships & Partnerships ................................................................................... 16 Campus Map .............................................................................................................. 17

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Welcome from CSA Sou’r Sdey!

Welcome to the 10th Annual Khmer Student Coalition Conference! It is an honor for the Cambodian Student Association at the University of the Pacific to host this uniting event. This year’s theme is “Building Bridges”, named after a documentary put together by a Pacific alumna, Halima Lucas. During her time at Pacific, Halima contributed tremendously to spreading awareness about the Cambodian American identity and cultural understanding within our community.

This year’s KSCC strives to shed light on these issues as well as to provide the skills and tools to help us become successful in the real world. This conference is structured to prepare us for those beginning steps. While not the sole focus, we also stress the importance of understanding our history, culture, and giving back to the community. By allowing us to connect with one another and “build bridges”, we are able to achieve these goals and lead a successful life.

We hope you enjoy your time and build many bridges throughout the conference!

Sincerely, CSA of UOP

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About KSCC The Khmer Student Coalition was created to unite Cambodian students throughout various college campuses.

As of today, there are 14 colleges that participate in the coalition. KSCC is a special annual event for members to rally together and discuss issues unique to the Cambodian community in addition to networking. The Cambodian Student Association of the University of the Pacific has the honor of hosting the 10th annual Khmer Student Coalition Conference.

Outreaching to the Stockton Community

Stockton is home to a large population of Cambodian Americans who immigrated to the U.S. during the Khmer Rouge. There is a cultural gap between many young Cambodian Americans and their parents that stems from a lack of awareness of past sufferings and cultural understanding. The conference will be an opportunity to engage members of the community to participate and share their experiences and struggles with others. Younger participants—namely high school students—will be able to meet college students and learn about the college experience from a Cambodian American perspective, while college students will be able to network and receive information about the professional world.

Goals and Purpose There is often a focus on East Asian culture and identity, and the stories of other Asian cultures are left untold. While the conference seeks to shed light on the Cambodian community, it is not strictly restricted to those that identify as Cambodian; it is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Cambodian culture. The theme for the 10th annual Khmer Student Coalition Conference is “Building Bridges”. The conference aims to create lasting and meaningful connections between individuals across different age groups and backgrounds. It is more than just a networking tool. The goal is to engage students with a diverse range of individuals and encourage them to think critically about issues that affect the Cambodian community. The conference will also provide participants with resources and opportunities to advance academically and professionally.

CSA Board

Davin Kaing is a junior at the University of the Pacific majoring in Bioengineering.

Jennifer Khin is a sophomore at the University of the Pacific studying English, and is interested in pursuing medicine.

Cathy Khoonsrivong is a junior at the University of the Pacific and is studying Music Therapy.

Vida Chea is currently a junior at the University of the Pacific studying Mechanical Engineering

Cabral is a junior at the University of the Pacific studying English with a minor in Ethnic Studies.

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Halima Lucas

Halima Lucas is a 23-year-old filmmaker from Stockton, California. She is second eldest of eight siblings and her unique familial experiences are a huge inspiration in her story telling.

Her goal as a writer and director is to tell stories from commonly misunderstood people in society with the hope of building bridges of understanding and empathy. She is currently in her second year at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and pursing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production.

“I am so honored to have my film be part of the 2014 Khmer Student Coalition Conference.

The passion and bold leadership it takes to coordinate such an event like this inspires me and I hope you will be inspired too. As a filmmaker, I raise my voice through storytelling. My hope for everyone participating in the conference is to use your unique voice in your own unique way to build bridges within the community and with new allies.”

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Schedule 8:00 am-9 am REGISTRATION Location: Grace Covell 9:00 am-9:50 am Opening Ceremony Location: UC Ballroom 10:00 am –10:50 am Session 1

11:00 am -11:50 pm Session 2

Defining Success Location: UC Ballroom

What is it Like in the Real World?

Location: UC Ballroom 12:00pm-12:50pm ~LUNCH~ Location: Grace Covell 1:00pm-1:50pm Session 3 Feature: BUILDING BRIDGES Location: Grace Covell

2:00pm- 4:00pm Session 4 (2:00 pm - 2:50 pm) & Session 5 (3:00 pm - 3:50 pm) Growing Up in America Location: DUC 217

Cultural Dancing Location: UC Ballroom

The Art of Bassac Location: Janet Leigh Theater

Music of the Past Location: Weber 103

Traditional Games Location: WPC Lawn

I Am Khmer Location: President’s Room

YMCA Cambodia Project—A Cambodia Journey Location: Weber 102

Khmer Women: Past, Present, and Future Location: Regent’s Room

You’re Smart... for a Khmer Location: Weber 101 4:00pm- 5:00pm ~DINNER~ Location: Grace Covell 5:00pm-6:00pm ~CLOSING~

8:00pm-10:00pm KSC’s Got Talent Location: UC Ballroom 6

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Emad Rahim

Dr. Emad Rahim is a Cambodian American survivor of the Killing Fields whose life was turned into a short documentary, “Against the Odds”, crafted into the leadership book, S.A.L.T., and depicted in the theater production “Tales from the Salt City”, written and directed by internationally acclaimed director and award-winning playwright, Ping Chong.

While living in Brooklyn NY as a refugee, Rahim was shot during a block party and was forced to relocate to Upstate NY where his family lived in public housing and placed on welfare. He grew up in an economically challenged community, experienced severe abuse, and got involved with gangs and substance abuse. Like many immigrant children living in these poor conditions, he struggled with violence, identity, and education. He overcame these adversities going on to earn a doctorate and became an award-winning educator, writer, and entrepreneur.

Rahim has been featured in CEO Magazine, Forbes Magazine, Huffington Post, IntelligentHQ, and the Rutgers Humanist, in addition to BBC and PBS programs. He was recently recognized by the United Nations Foundation as an Empact100 Honoree, participated in an invite-only entrepreneurship symposium at the White House, and received a Congressional Award. Rahim currently serves as the Endowed Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Oklahoma State University and Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University. Follow him on Twitter @DrEmadRahim”.

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Breakout Sessions & Presenters Callyan Y Callyan Y is a Higher Education Professional in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is currently a University Admissions Specialist for San Francisco State University. She is UOP alumna (UOP ’07) born, raised and educated in Stockton, CA. With a shared passion for all things Cambodian and a need for cultural identity at University of the Pacific, she along with friends Samnang Bou and Varaxy Yi reactivated the Cambodian Student Association at University of the Pacific in 2007 and made CSA a small club with great impact! In her spare time, this self-proclaimed “Foodie” can be found enjoying great ethnic foods with friends and family.

Catherina Nou Catherina "Cat" Nou graduated from the University of California at Davis with a degree in Psychology and Asian American Studies and later obtained a Master of Arts in Higher Education at Sacramento State University. Nou currently serves as the Vice Chair of the SEARAC Board of Directors and is a member of the Cultural Advisory Council for the California State Fair/Cal Expo. She is the co-founder of the Khmer Youth of Modesto (KYOM) and is the daughter and sister of refugees from Cambodia.

Heang Chan Heang Chan graduated with a joint MBA/MA in Education at Stanford University in 2010 and a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at the University of the Pacific in 2002, summa cum laude. Chan is one of the top mortgage originators of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

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Breakout Sessions & Presenters Helena de Crespo

Born in Barcelona, Spain, and educated in Bristol, England, Helena de Crespo entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London for her theatrical training at the age of 15 under full scholarship. She was also awarded the drama diploma from the University of London, and has many awards from the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Now a resident in the United States, de Crespo has performed, directed, produced and acted in theatre, film, TV, and radio in 16 different countries, having toured extensively in Europe, North and South America, and Southeast-Asia.

Kelley Pheng Kelley Pheng is a Cambodian American spoken word artist & community activist born in Modesto, CA. She is also a 4th year Psychology undergraduate at Cal State Long Beach as well as the current Treasurer for the Cambodian Student Society of CSULB, the oldest Cambodian student organization in the US. Phenge has been a featured artist for many events and benefits, most notably performing for Common Ground in Santa Ana, CA. Her work can be found at: www.facebook.com/kelleyphengpoetry and www.youtube.com/kayphunk

Dr. Kuy Ky Dr. Kuy Ky arrived to the United States from Cambodia as refugee on September 7, 1979 with his family. Ky received his B.S. in Biology from the University of the Pacific in 1992 and went on to receive his dental education from the University of the Southern California in 1996.

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Breakout Sessions & Presenters Monica Ambalal Monica Ambalal was born and raised in Stockton, and began her academic career at Delta College before continuing on to Pacific, the University of New Orleans (BA), CSU Long Beach (MA), and UC Davis (MA) to study both musicology and ethnomusicology. She has presented at national conferences including: The Society for Ethnomusicology, and The American Studies Association. She was a committee member for the Northern California chapter of the Society of Ethnomusicology and the Society of American Music. She recently completed a grant project in connection with the Stockton Arts Commission to create an archive for the Stockton Symphony. She currently teaches music history at Delta College. As a musician she teaches cello and performs as a member of the San Francisco Civic Symphony.

Mayura Ouk

Mayura Ouk is a second generation Cambodian American from Rochester, Minnesota. Ouk embarked on “A Cambodia Journey,” –a journey that gave her the opportunity to learn from the country in which her parents are from. With that experience, Ouk discovered her passion in life: teaching. Ouk is currently in her final year at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) where she plans to use her talents to bring awareness of Cambodia’s poverty.

Pete Pin Pete Pin is a Cambodian American Brooklyn-based photographer. Born in the Khao-I-Dang refugee camp on the border of Cambodia and Thailand and raised in California, Pin received his B.A. in Political Science at the University of California at Berkeley where he graduated magna cum laude and was awarded the Outstanding Honors Thesis Award. He went on to study documentary photography at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan and interned at the photo department of TIME Magazine. He is currently an adjunct faculty at the New School in New York.

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Breakout Sessions & Presenters Phanith Rama Sovann Phanith Rama Sovann is a Cambodian American singer/songwriter born in a refugee camp in Thailand during the Khmer Rouge Regime. She has been singing since age two and has been a worship leader for over twelve years, performing throughout Southern California and in other parts of the country within the past four years. In addition to music, Sovann also has a deep love for humanitarian work, especially serving children in need around the world. Sovann is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in International Development and Urban Studies.

Phatry Derek Pan Phatry Derek Pan has over 10 years of experience in community development and digital media. From 1998 through 2003, Pan was an active student leader at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he organized dozens of cultural events, founded an arts organization called Rajana Society, and was featured in an ABC Nightline special for holding a candlelight vigil on the 25th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh. A recipient of the Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship in June 2008, Pan earned a postgraduate certificate in the Asia Pacific Leadership Program at the EastWest Center, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Currently, Pan is the CEO and President of Khmerican, Inc., a leading news company that provides coverage on the Cambodian diaspora.

Ron Ung Ron Ung is a second generation Cambodian American. Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Ung graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in Asian American Studies. Throughout the course of his years at UCLA, he learned that he was not alone in the struggle against his identity. In November 2011, he partook in the first servicelearning and cultural exchange trip to Cambodia and returned with a full understanding of his true character and fundamental role in society. Ung succeeded in building a foundation for the YMCA Cambodia Project –a project that not only focused on saving the street children, but also on helping others embrace their roots. Since then, he has been the project’s head Program Director.

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Breakout Sessions & Presenters Samnang Bou Samnang Bou, (UOP '07), is a Accounting/Finance professional in the financial services industry. She currently holds title as Vice President, Controller and directs the strategic plan and implementation of the Accounting/Finance department of an FDIC insured financial institution headquartered in Oakland, CA. She is a 1st generation college graduate which she holds as one of her important achievements. In her spare time, she enjoys studying khmer linguistics and aspires to teach the subject matter one day.

Seak Smith Seak Smith was born to a Khmer Surin mother and a Cambodian father who survived the Khmer Rouge regime. The eldest of five children, Seak spent most of her childhood living in the housing projects just minutes outside of downtown Los Angeles. Seak is the founder and Co-Director of the first ever Cambodian Music Festival (CMF). The first event took place on August 3, 2014 in Hollywood at the historic Ford Theatres. The 8-hour long festival featured 14 artists/bands from across the United States onto one stage. They garnered extensive media coverage from the LA Times, LA Weekly, and CTN. Continuing on a global scale, Seak founded Seak Entertainment & Media Inc. Seak EMI aims to bridge artists in the US and overseas to collaborate on music projects. For more info please visit: www.cambodianmusicfestival.com Sokheang Khen Sokheang Khen was born and raised in Stockton, California. Last year, she graduated from University of Pacific during the spring of 2014. She has a passion for teaching and enjoy all forms of art. She likes to draw, paint, and work with clay. She is currently teaching at Oakwood Elementary School.

With the competitive job market, she is grateful to have a classroom of her own.

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Breakout Sessions & Presenters Sophaline Mao Sophaline Mao is a 1.5 generation Cambodian American born in the Khaol Dang Refugee Camp, but raised entirely in the United States. Sophaline attended San Francisco State University and earned a B.A. in AsianAmerican Studies. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Mao entered the workforce and gained hands-on professional experience working for companies such as Wells Fargo, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and BioMarin Pharmaceuticals. Mao continued her education part-time at the University of San Francisco to complete a dual-Master degree program earning both a Master of Arts in Asia-Pacific Studies and Master of Business Administration this year. Currently, Mao works in Global Sales Operations at Salesforce.com Inc. in San Francisco.

Varaxy Yi Varaxy Yi is a first generation Cambodian American college student from Modesto, California. She is a 2003 Gates Millennium Scholar recipient and is currently in her final year of coursework at the University of Denver in the Higher Education’s Doctoral program. Varaxy is also a 2008 alumni of the University of the Pacific, holding degrees in Business Administration and English. She and two other Khmer Pacific students reinvigorated the Cambodian Student Association, which became known as the “little club that could”. She credits the vital experiences of working within the organization for sparking an interest in exploring her identity as a Cambodian American woman.

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Khmer College Advising

Mission Statement: The purpose of this page is to provide academic resources and information about employment and internship opportunities to the Khmer communities in the U.S. with cultural competency. We are the resources for our community and it is our responsibility to provide support, resources, and assistance.

Moreover, our success is insignificant if it does not impact our community in a positive way. I urge everyone to share this page and also encourage everyone to contribute to the content of this page through ideas and writings.

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/khmercollegeadvising

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“Elvis of Cambodia: The Sinn Sisamouth Story” Elvis of Cambodia: The Sinn Sisamouth Story, is a documentary, which examines the power of a music legend and his legacy years after his execution at the hands of the Khmer Rouge during the Cambodian genocide reveals Sisamouth’s influences in Cambodians. With the beauty of his golden voice and sincerity of his music, Sisamouth continues to move many generations of Cambodians while serving as a commonality for the diaspora of Cambodians across the world. This documentary recalls the magnificent and vibrant Cambodia of yesteryear. Those who utilizes Sisamouth’s and his contemporaries’ glorious past, show their honor to Sisamouth through their efforts in propelling Cambodia into a better future.

The documentary begins with an exploration of Sisamouth’s humble life in Stueng Treng province and continues through to his time in Phnom Penh as a medical student, where he pickups singing as a hobby. National Radio discovers Sisamouth’s unique talent and adds him as a regular to their program. Sisamouth unique voice and style quickly becomes widespread throughout Cambodia, eventually leading him to become one of the most popular musical artist.

Sisamouth’s biography and Cambodia’s recent history serves as context for this documentary. Incorporating information from Khmers in the present, who possess a great amount honor and respect for Sisamouth brings out the power of this documentary. Stories of their daily lives and survival is instrumental in revealing Sisamouth’s everlasting impact on the lives of Cambodians. The documentary frame its story through Khmers, who deep appreciation of Sisamouth and his music dictate their intention in keeping his legacy alive. Elvis of Cambodia: The Sinn Sisamouth Story potentially exposes an importance of a country and culture, which nearly meets the precipice of total demise. Elvis of Cambodia: The Sinn Sisamouth Story further reveals the country’s ability to position itself back to relevance over the course of thirty-five years through economic growth, political power, arts, and culture.

For more information, please visit their site at: www.elvisofcambodia.com

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Acknowledgements: Building Bridges: Making connections one step at a time.

This conference was made possible with the help of these individuals:

Sondra Roeuny Dr. Gregory Rohlf Dr. Xiaojing Zhou Amanda Elrod Jennifer Torres Leslie Rudbeck Raquel Rodriguez Halima Lucas Masrshea Pratt Cynthia Lau Career Resource Center

Alpha Phi Omega

Sponsorships & Partnerships

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Campus Map

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