For Immediate Release
June 2, 2004

Oakland, Calif. (June 2, 2004) - The Port of Oakland Employees Association and the Asian Employees Association generously contributed $68,000 this year to the higher education of outstanding high school students. The Port of Oakland Employees Association awarded 21 scholarships totaling $42,000. The Asian Employees Association awarded 12 scholarships totaling $26,000. The recipients of these scholarships were presented to the Board of Port Commissioners at a special ceremony, yesterday, Tuesday June 1, 2004.

The Asian Employees Association, which was established in 1991, launched a scholarship program two years later in 1993. To date, the organization has awarded over $91,000 in scholarships. This year there was a special award in honor of past Port Board President Frank Kiang. Funding for this scholarship was provided through a generous donation from The Organization of Chinese Americans, East Bay Chapter, in honor of Commissioner Kiang for his leadership and support of the local Chinese community. Helen Pho, a senior at Oakland Technical High School who has been accepted at Yale University, received the Frank Kiang Scholarship. The other scholarship recipients are:

$3000 Scholarship Awards
Ashley Chambers - McClymonds High School
Baongoc Emerald Tran - Skyline High School

$2000 Scholarship Awards
Samuel Becerra - Life Academy
Carrie Jun Cai - College Prep
Anna Lau - Oakland Technical
Jeffrey Lee - Bishop O' Dowd
Tiffany Louie - Oakland High School
Aditi Shastri - College Prep
Jue Wang - Oakland Technical

$500 Book Reimbursement Awards
Allison Michele Yee - Holy Names High School
Heather Schrader - Skyline High School

The Port of Oakland Employees Association has been awarding scholarships to outstanding high school students since 1994. To date, the organization has awarded more than $252,000 in scholarships to 145 students. The third Charles W. Foster Award, a $5000 scholarship, was presented by Mr. Foster to Robert "Kyle" Brown. Charles Foster is the program's creator and former Port Executive Director. Kyle is a senior at Arrowsmith Academy in Berkeley, and will attend Morehouse College in Atlanta this fall.

Here are the recipients in the various categories:

Category: 4-Yr University ($2,000)

1. Kimberly Bess - Skyline High
2. Ashley Chambers - McClymonds High
3. John Brooks-Jung - Oakland Technical High
4. Ian Foti-Landis - Berkeley High
5. Leigh Grossman - Skyline High
6. Anabel Herrera - Skyline High
7. Rachel Lee - California High
8. Vanessa Siu Lee - Oakland High
9. Melanie Lew - Castro Valley High
10. Givenchy Manzano - Rodriguez High
11. Rachel Mata - Fremont High
12. Kimberly Nakamura - Skyline High
13. Sophia Song - Oakland Technical High
14. Baongoc "Emerald" Tran - Skyline High
15. Adetola Williams - Street Academy
16. Gina Wong - Skyline High
17. Janny Hiu-Woo Wong - Oakland High School

Category: Community College/Vocational School ($1,000)

1. Naomi Jasper - Skyline High
2. Diana Victa - Mount Diablo High
3. Robin Walker - Oakland Technical High

Andy Denoga, the chair of the scholarship committee for the Asian Employees Association said that each year the selection process is becoming more difficult as the qualification of the candidates becomes more competitive. "These students are amazing," he said. "Not only do they have outstanding academic credentials, some of them do this while working, raising a child, performing community service, and in some instances, learning English. One student progressed from English as a Second Language to preparatory English literature in just three years," he added.

Phillippa Stephens, the chair of the Port of Oakland Employees Scholarship Fund echoed the same sentiment. "Each year, the selection process gets more difficult because of the number of exceptional students applying for scholarships," she said. "However, with the growing budget cuts in higher education, we are delighted that we were in a position to assist this year's deserving young men and women. Next year, we hope to increase the dollar amounts," she added.

Port of Oakland Contact:
Marilyn Sandifur
Media/PR Manager
(510) 627-1193
msandifur@portoakland.com

Asian Employees Association Contact:
Andy Denoga
(510) 627-1536
ldenoga@portoakland.com

Port of Oakland Employees' Scholarship Fund Contact:
Phillippa Stephens
(510) 627-1228
pstephen@portoakland.com