history

The University of Central Florida's Vietnamese American Student Association (VASA) was first established on this campus in December of 1982. In over its two decades of existence, our association has adapted to the winds of change and continues to share the common struggles to define the Vietnamese American experience.

At first, we have served as a meeting place for our Vietnamese refugee forefathers who had only recently left their homelands and families behind in order to escape the Communist oppression across the Pacific seas. VASA served to unite fellow UCF students in their pursuit of knowledge/happiness/ equality and allowed members to strike new friendships and start new beginnings. In the course of time, our association has had ups and downs, but we continue to build with leadership for a better society.

At this point, we are at a re-birth, a crossroads to find a new direction to take UCF and the Vietnamese-American culture. We hope that you can join us in support for the continuing journey to define our cultural identity and to make an impact on the community here in Central Florida.

- UCF Vietnamese American Student Association 2003-2004

 

mission

The visions and goals of the Vietnamese American Student Association at UCF are:

1. To create and stimulate awareness of the transforming Vietnamese-American cultural identity at UCF and the Central Florida community

2. To assert our rights to retain our Vietnamese cultural heritage

3. To be an all-inclusive, all-embracing association

4. To educate and empower our community through programs which create conscious awareness

5. To foster a culture of understanding and commit to a dialogue among all students and people in order to bring about social change for the better.

6. To foster friendship, good will, leadership, and community among our members.