Congratulations to our 2021 APAHM Celebration Contest Winners!

DragonSprouts is proud to announce the winners in each category of this year’s poster and essay contest. We would like to thank all the students, teachers, principals, parents and judges for their amazing support of our first APAHM Celebration Contest. Each and every one of you inspires us!

Sophie Kuo, Kindergarten

I drew a picture of Coco Lee and Yo Yo Ma performing the song “A Love Before Time” from the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Coco Lee sang this beautiful song at the Academy Awards. Yo Yo Ma plays the cello and is very talented.

Phoebe Chiu, 1st & 2nd Grade

In my drawing the dragons are roaring and having fun.

Alisa Baranova, 3rd Grade

Dragon’s moon cake full moon.

Kaiti Fang

I read about a book called [When the Mountain meets the Moon] and on the cover, the two main character 'Minli' was riding a dragon. Also, the dragon is one of China's favorite animals. (Also include phoenixes and pandas.)

Diana Chung, 5th Grade

Bruce Lee is a great representation of a successful Asian American, and I think this poster means a lot, especially how Bruce Lee responds.

Leo Lhert, Middle/High School

There are countless things that make me proud of being Asian American. One aspect of Asian culture that I have always enjoyed and admired is Asian cuisine. This seemingly simple aspect of Asian culture has the ability to connect people and create century-long traditions.

First of all, there is an incredible variety of popular Asian dishes. Some notable examples include sushi and noodles. To start, sushi is a very popular food with great variety. It originates from Japan, but can be found almost anywhere in the world today. I personally have always loved sashimi, and I find it cool how such a unique dish could be created. Additionally, another popular food that originated in Asia is noodles. Noodles were created in China, but many different types of them can be found all around the globe today. There are ramen noodles, udon, pho, and shan noodles, just to name a few. There are many more unique dishes and flavors, but these are some of the more known ones. Asia is home to many delicious foods, and they help define its many unique cultures.

In many Asian cultures, different foods symbolize different values. For instance, many people believe that noodles are a sign of long life. Another idea is that eating good food promotes harmony and closeness between friends and family members. Also, dumplings are believed to bring good health and prosperity. Whenever I eat these foods, I think about these beliefs and appreciate the beauty of the culture. Food is a wonderful aspect of Asia, but I believe that the traditions it creates and the people it connects are even more important.

In my experience, Asian food and culture have helped connect my mother’s side of the family. I visit China every year to see my family members. Family gatherings never take place without grand meals and unique dishes. In addition to being delicious, the food helps connect us, and can even be a great conversation starter. I admire this aspect of our culture, and how these unique traditions can unify us. Even with this admiration, I am still aware of negative stereotypes/beliefs towards Asian people and Asian food. One incorrect belief I hear way too much is that COVID-19 originated from someone eating bat soup in China. This has sparked a lot of anger and racism, but there is no evidence to support that theory [Source]. However, these negative stereotypes and racist beliefs will never stop me from being proud of my culture.

From the food to the culture and traditions, all of these are reasons why I am proud of being Asian American. No matter what people say, I will always enjoy and be proud of these parts of our culture.