OAKLAND, CA—May 14, 2009— The Asian Employees Association at the Port of Oakland (AEA) generously awarded 17 scholarships totaling $36,000 to students entering college this fall (2009). The scholarship awards were recently presented at the annual AEA Scholarship Fundraiser and Awards Dinner at Silver Dragon Restaurant in Oakland Chinatown held earlier this month.

The Asian Employees Association (AEA) was established in 1991 as a non-profit organization and started offering scholarships in 1993. This year, the AEA at the Port of Oakland awarded two students $3,000 scholarships - Elisa Chan of Skyline High School and Wilfred Manzano of Armijo High. Ten students received $2,000 scholarships: Kathleen Sau - Skyline High School; Juliana Britto Schwartz - Marin Academy; Wendy Wu - Oakland Technical High School; Brianna Pang - Skyline High School; Priscilla Chang- Skyline High School; Tiffany Fan - Dublin High School; Jimmy Dinh - Oakland High School; Deidre Lafieyah Sudderth - Jesse Bethel High; Jennifer Tu - Skyline High School; and Janan Luu - Oakland High School. The $1,500 scholarships went to four students: Nathaniel Jones - Piedmont High; Zachary Jones - Piedmont High; Luis Rodriguez - Mandela High; and Kristine Morley - College Park High. The largest scholarship, the $4,000 Frank Kiang Scholarship Award (named in honor of the late Port Commissioner Frank Kiang and co-sponsored with Oakland Chinese Association), went to Fanny Hoang of Oakland High School.

Port of Oakland Deputy Executive Director Joseph K. Wong said, "I am pleased that during these tough economic times, many people still generously donated and raised much needed funds to help finance the continuing education of these motivated students."

As of today, the AEA has awarded 160 scholarships totaling $239,000. "It was challenging to select the candidates to be honored as so many of the applicants were outstanding. They are all truly deserving of the scholarships," said Chris Chan, chair of this year's scholarship committee.

For more information about the AEA Scholarship Program, please visit www.portaea.org or contact Chris Chan, Scholarship Chair, at (510) 627-1331 or [email protected].

About the Port of Oakland: The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest containerport in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport offers 150 daily nonstop flights to 34 destinations; and the Port's real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Please visit www.portofoakland.com.

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