2024 Updates

Below are updates on the students that the Foundation has been helping and mentoring since 2017.

Updates on the Nguyen thi Thu Family

Last year Ms. Nhai started 10th grade at a new high school (https://www.facebook.com/p/Tr%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng-THPT-Ho%C3%A0ng-V%C4%83n-Th%E1%BB%A5-Nam-%C4%90%E1%BB%8Bnh-100057627422042/?locale=vi_VN). She appeared to struggle a little in the first semester at the new school, but re-bounced to earn all 7's and 8's (out of 10) at the end of the school year 2023-2024. She'll be entering 11th grade and starting to plan for college and exploring various majors and college options. She started on learn Korean on her own; perhaps hoping to earn a scholarship to study in Korea later.

Baby Loc finished 5th grade and will be entering middle school in school year 2024-2025. She earned the perfect score of 10 in math again; as a reward for her good grade, a benefactor of the Foundation sent the sisters a few items on any girl's wish list: purse, scarf, perfume, clothes, and chocolates. The mother relayed that they were pretty ecstatic for the gift.

Updates on Mr. Duong Pham

After 3 years, Mr. Duong Pham accumulated 107 units and a 3.7 GPA. His homeroom professor noted that He performed better than last year, participated enthusiastically in all social and volunteer activities, and has a clear plan and goals for the final year. We are glad to learn that He participated in several events and activities beyond the classroom, which would help broaden his knowledge, experience, and connection. Earlier this year, as a former valedictorian, Mr. Duong was invited to attend the celebration of his high school foundation day and be a guest speaker at an engagement event with high school students. In another event, Duong was rubbing shoulders with local leaders to learn about the "Culture and Identity of the Peoples of Nam-Định."

Updates on Ms. Chau Pham

Ms. Chau successfully passed the high school graduation exam and subsequently submitted applications to study nursing at Ha-Dong Medical College as her first choice, or study accounting at Vietnam Nation University - Hanoi, as an alternate. The admission selection is based on the score of the high school graduation exam as well as the scores from each of high school. [High school in Vietnam comprises of grades 10 through 12.]  In the old days, admission was based solely on the score from the high school graduation/college entrance exam plus preferential points, which gave children of government officials a significant advantage over other students. 

From the acceptance letter, we learned Ha-Dong Medical College gives 70% discount on tuition, so for the first semester, Ms. Chau Pham will have to pay about 4 million VND which is about $200US. We hope the scholarship of $500 will help cover her tuition and books for the first year and she can focus on room-and-board and adjusting from life in a small city to the big capital Hanoi.