More than five years ago, local Virginians established AASuccess. The nonprofit organization has been focusing on helping high schoolers with academic work, career development, and other challenges in life. Today, among the active volunteers and professionals of AASuccess are fellow McLean students and alumni.
“The best thing about [AASuccess] is that it gives students the opportunity to learn new skills while leaving an impact in the community,” said Khanh Mi Nguyen, a class of 2010 McLean alumna who is the Finance Coordinator.
Annually, the organization works on large civics projects, involves in health fairs, holds the Youthcon Scholarship, and hosts other events to promote health and academic success.
“We have been involved in health fairs since 2008,” Operations Coordinator Minh Pham said. “[The fairs] target the underserved population.”
Nguyen and Pham are two of the many professionals running AASuccess. The organization welcomes volunteers to help with large events and programs, such as the Life Skills Academy. Many volunteers are high schoolers in the area. Some attend Langley High School, others McLean.
“I [am an AASuccess volunteer] because when it was the main sponsor of [major events], it needed a workforce and I wanted to help,” said Nini Nguyen, who is one of AASuccess’ active volunteers.
The organization has ambitious goals for this spring. Vihanh Tham, a class of 2006 McLean alumna who is the current president of AASuccess, plans to implement a Recruitment Plan in a couple of months. His goal is to search for more students who want to be volunteers.
“This will be the main focus for the spring,” said Tham.
AASuccess just had their YouthCon Scholarship ceremony a week ago, and is now collaborating with the Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, D.C. Gala.
“We are brainstorming on how we can contribute to this event in May,” said Tham.
Tham and the rest of the Board of Directors agree with the importance of alumni and professionals coaching students. The almuni-student relationships were critical for past events to be a success.
“How great would it be if people thought about empowering students to take leadership, to create something that gives the community a hands-up instead of a hands-out?” said Nguyen.
Because of our McLean alumni, AASuccess is continuing to be a success. Like its mission statement says, AASuccess hopes to grow and “empower our students to achieve academic, social, personal, professional fulfillment and be active citizens by inspiring collaboration between committed skilled professionals and students.”
