Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution
On September 27, 2007, Congress established the AANAPISI program to enhance the availability and quality of postsecondary education for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students. Montgomery College is proud to be a designated AANAPISI institution.
The AANAPISI Planning Group's mission is to raise awareness of our AANHPI employees and students at Montgomery College. We offer resources to support their success, helping them thrive and achieve their professional and personal goals both at the College and within the surrounding community.
On January 10, 2025, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) hosted a convening in Washington, D.C., celebrating the resilience and achievements of AA and NHPI communities under the Biden-Harris Administration. The event featured cultural performances from various local groups, including the Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. Their performance was led by Assistant Art Director Vathany Say, who is also a part-time faculty member at Montgomery College.
You can watch the WHIAANHPI Convening: A Community of Partnerships videonew window online. The Cambodian Buddhist Society's performance begins at the 2:05:01 mark.
If you’re interested in receiving information on scholarships, training, internships, and other opportunities for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students, you can join the AANHPI Student Distribution List.
By signing up, you’ll receive regular emails with updates on scholarships, internships, and more specifically available to AANHPI students.
Scholarship and Internship Opportunities
The Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Scholarship Programsnew window are available to all US Citizens and permanent residents (except the 3 Gold scholarships that will be reserved for Vietnamese students from Vietnam, who have been accepted to US universities) who demonstrate:
- Outstanding academic achievement
- Strong leadership potential
- A track record of service to the communities
- Pride in their culture and heritage, and
- A passion to apply their academic background to create a better world
- Financial need
- Special consideration will be given to students with unique situations, for example:
- Low to moderate incomes
- Single parents returning to school to improve their families’ lives, or
- Students who are trying to recover from a past criminal record and improve their own lives
- Attending the scholarship ceremony to accept the scholarship award
Each undergraduate scholarship will be $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 annually. The scholarship is renewable annually for up to 4 years, for students who are pursuing a bachelor degree.
***3 Gold scholarships will be reserved for Vietnamese students from Vietnam, who have been accepted to US universities***
Apply for the Scholarshipnew window
Application Deadline: January 16, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) Visiting Scientist Program is offering 10-week summer internships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Why should I apply?
This internship provides the opportunity to independently utilize your skills and engage with experts to move the proposed research forward. As a participant you will:
- Receive hands-on experience and individualized research opportunities while networking with top scientists and researchers.
- Have access to a one-of-a-kind federal research laboratory and state-of-the-art instrumentation.
- Increase your marketability by enhancing your academic and professional preparation.
What are the provisions?
You will receive a competitive stipend based on your academic status. In addition, you may receive a Housing Allowance and dislocation benefit, if your permanent address is more than 50 miles from the hosting facility.
Qualifications
In order to be considered, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:
- Be a sole U.S. citizen. Dual citizens are considered foreign national and are ineligible for this opportunity.
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
- Meet one of the following conditions at the time of application:
- Undergraduate Student: Be enrolled as a full-time student at a U.S. accredited college or university pursuing a degree in physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or similar.
- Graduate Student: Be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at a U.S. accredited college or university pursuing a degree in in physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or similar.
Applicants located in or near the Atlantic City International Airport area are encouraged to apply.
To learn more and apply, visit: DHS TSL Summer 2025new window
Application Deadline: February 15, 2025
The Program Award for Technical and Higher-Education (PATH), sponsored by National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), offers scholarships to students from Minority Serving Institutions pursuing a technical certificate, associate, bachelor, or graduate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM)-discipline that supports the critical needs of the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). The NSE has a wide array of critical needs that range from technical expertise and skilled trades to STEM research. Important research areas include nuclear security, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, engineering, and energy systems.
Why should I apply?
As a NNSA PATH Scholarship recipient, you will receive:
- Financial support to pursue a STEM-focused academic pathway that applies to the NNSA Mission Directorate.
- Information about STEM-related research and other activities/programs taking place at your institution.
- Support from other NNSA MSI-affiliated students, faculty, and alumni.
- Details related to other NNSA programs: NNSA MSI Internship Program and/or NNSA Graduate Fellowship Program.
- Exposure to STEM-based careers at NNSA and the NSE.
What are the benefits?
Scholarships will begin on September 1st and will end on May 31st, regardless of a student's academic calendar.
- One or two-year certificate/degree: $4, 500/year for up to 2 years
- Four-year undergraduate degree: $10,000/year for up to 4 years
- Graduate degree: $20,000/year up to 2 years
To learn more and apply, visit: NSA Path Scholarship 2025new window
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025, 5PM EST
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Marine Energy Fellowship: Graduate Student Track.
What will I be doing?
You will get to advance your master’s or doctoral thesis utilizing the expertise,
resources, and capabilities available at DOE laboratories, industry, or other approved
facility to accomplish your research goals, all while networking with top scientists
in the field. You will conduct research at both your academic institution and at an
external hosting facility conducting research in Marine Energy.
Why should I apply?
In addition to advancing your thesis research, you will 1) enhance your education
and training in water power technologies fields, 2) increase your marketability in
these disciplines, 3) gain access to top scientists and state-of-the-art equipment,
and 4) gain insight into research and career opportunities through your internship
experiences.
Where will I be located?
You will identify the host facility where you want to conduct your research and a
potential mentor currently conducting or directing research in an area of importance
to the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), including, but not limited to, technologies
for clean domestic power generation from hydropower, waves, and tides. For a list
of potential hosting facilities, please visit: https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/host-institutions-marine-energy-fellowship
The details:
You will receive a competitive monthly stipend ($2,500 for students pursuing a master’s degree and $2,950 for students pursuing a doctoral degree), health insurance or a health insurance supplement to offset the costs of health insurance, reimbursement for education, research, and/or conference travel and materials up to $7,000, and limited tuition reimbursement. A relocation and/or travel allowance of up to $3,000 may be provided for eligible participants relocating and/or traveling to the hosting facility.
You must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and be enrolled as a full-time master’s or doctoral graduate student at a qualified program requiring a research thesis/dissertation at an accredited U.S. college or university with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
Deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 7:00 PM
APIA Scholars offers a range of scholarships to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students who are underserved, with a focus on those who are living at or below poverty level, who are first-generation college students, and who represent a geographically or ethnically diverse AANHPI community.
Awards range from one-time $2,500 awards to multi-year $20,000 awards. Our vision is to provide scholarships to AANHPI students so they can cultivate their academic, personal, and professional success regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, or financial means.
For more information, please visit APIA Scholars 2025-2026 Scholarship Applicationnew window
View recordings of past events hosted by the AANAPISI Planning Group and other units at MC.
The panel delved into the important initiatives that support and elevate the visibility of AANHPI students and employees. Panelists included Dr. Janelle Wong, Ms. Jocelyn Park, Dr. Joe Stumpf, and Ms. Kimmy Duong. | Wednesday, May 15, 1:30-2:30 p.m., via Zoom
Hear the inspiring stories of these AANHPI professionals who are enhancing the field of STEM, an event hosted by the ignITe Hub| Monday, May 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m., in-person and Zoom
Author Nghi Nguyen, also known by the pen name N.N. Nicky, discusses the inspirations and backgrounds behind his debut novel, Red Oak: A Collection of Short Stories. | Wednesday, May 15, 1:30-2:30 p.m., via Zoom
Ways for employees and students to contribute to the MC AANAPISI Planning Group
Our Planning Group is opened to everyone at the College regardless of your ethnicity and background.
We meet once a month and work together to find resources to help and connect the AANHPI employee and student populations at MC. These resources include conferences, scholarships, grants, and financial supports.
Some of the AANAPISI Planning Group objectives include:
- Research resources and services students may need to enhance their holistic experience at MC
- Explore mentoring opportunities for students in these demographic populations
- Explore internal/external mentoring opportunities for employees in these demographic populations
- Provide external connection group information (community group, cohort, etc.)
- Research external professional development opportunities for students (conference, webinars, local events, etc.)
- Explore opportunities for faculty, staff, and administrators to participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, or other avenues to increase awareness
- Explore opportunities to engage in community events
- Explore opportunities to engage in collegewide events (e.g., AANAPISI Week, AANHPI Heritage Month)
To be eligible as a designated AANAPISI, an institution must meet several criteria as outlined in Section 312(b) of the Higher Education Act, which include:
- Undergraduate enrollment is at least 10 percent,
- Enrollment of at least 50 percent of students with low-economic background, and
- Institutions maintain low average of educational and general expenditures.
Learn more about the importance of AANAPISI in supporting Asian and Pacific Islander
students (PDF, 
) .
- Native American Pacific Islanders—The term ‘Native American Pacific Islander’ means
any descendant of the aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is
a territory or possession of the United States.
- “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” includes Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian
or Chamorro, Fijian, Tongan, or Marshallese peoples and encompasses the people within
the United States jurisdictions of Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia
If you have questions or need more information about the AANAPISI Planning Group, please contact Dr. Shinta Hernandez.
Updated 1/13/2025.