From Mar. 15 to Apr. 15, NC State celebrates Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American (APISAA) Heritage Month — our preferred name for the national observation of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. (While that commemoration takes place in May, we move the date forward to make sure everyone in our campus community can come together before graduation.)
Events throughout the month are coordinated by Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the many APISAA student organizations at NC State. The throughline for this year’s celebration is “Unity Within Diversity,” echoing the name and motto of NC State’s South Asian American Association for students, EKTAA, which means “unity” in Hindi.
Below, you can learn more about the month, the breadth of cultures it honors, and how you can get involved this spring — and all year round.
What is Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American Heritage Month?
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is observed throughout the United States to recognize the contributions and culture of the diaspora from the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. It was officially proclaimed as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week” in 1979 and expanded to the full month of May in 1992.
The choice of May is symbolic: The first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the national transcontinental railroad — built predominantly by Chinese immigrants — was completed on May 10, 1869. At NC State, the month is celebrated six weeks earlier, before the last day of classes and commencement.
How do I get involved?
The month begins with a public kickoff event in the second-floor lobby of Talley Student Union on Mar. 20. All are welcome, so this is a wonderful opportunity to…
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