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Southwest Airlines Community

A Reflection on the 2015 APIASF Higher Education Summit

kdelevett
Employee
Employee

The following is a guest blog from Joy Yo Thanks to Southwest Airlines, the Official Airline of the 2015 Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) Higher Education Summit, 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Scholars from across the country were able to participate in the Summit in Washington, D.C. on June 23, 2015. For many, it was the first time that they took a plane ride, visited the nation’s capital and mingled with nation’s top community and corporate leaders. The sixth annual APIASF Higher Education Summit convened around the theme, “Ensuring AAPI Student Success: Prospering in America’s Future Workforce.” Leaders from all sectors – nonprofit, policy, corporate, higher education, and community – discussed the important role that institutions play in developing AAPI students into graduates who are poised to prosper in today’s economy. However, the critical component of the Summit is that it gives student a seat a table and allows them to participate in the national education dialogue. Throughout the event, Scholars played an active role in shaping recommendations and developing action plans to help further AAPI student success. Additionally, for the first time, the APIASF Higher Education Summit incorporated various new platforms to amplify impact and bring the conversation online. As a result, the critical conversations expanded to thousands more:
  • For the first time, APIASF launched a microsite dedicated to the 2015 APIASF Higher Education Summit – allowing for ease to get all event information and updates – to more than 1,100 unique users.
  • For the first time, the 2015 APIASF Higher Education Summit was live streamed on the event’s microsite to broaden the reach of the conversation and allow online audience to tune in and engage – reaching 530 unique viewers throughout the day.
  • The #APIASFSummit conversation was extremely lively and engaging – reaching over 1 million impressions online.
“As the nation's fastest growing community, it is critical for us to provide opportunities to inspire and empower our next generation of leaders," said APIASF President & Executive Director Neil Horikoshi. "Thanks to Southwest Airlines, we were able to provide these students with the tools needed to become change agents in their local communities and help them become positive role models for other students looking to make a difference." To learn more about APIASF and the Higher Education Summit, visit http://summit.apiasf.org.