LU SASE chapter earns national recognition with 2024 Inspire Award

The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) chapter at Lamar University has been honored with the 2024 SASE Inspire Award Honorable Mention for Most Improved Chapter, a distinction that recognizes exceptional growth and achievements among more than 90 SASE chapters across the United States and Canada. The Lamar chapter's leadership and members celebrated the recognition as a major milestone in the group's development.

"This award means so much to our chapter and the amount of work each officer put in to achieve this goal," Alex Tran, president of Lamar SASE said. "There are over 90 SASE chapters competing for this award, and we were able to get noticed nationally despite being a relatively smaller school."

Founded in 2015, Lamar's SASE chapter has seen rapid growth in recent years, driven by its commitment to professionalism, community, and cultural awareness, the organization's three core pillars. Over the past year, the chapter hosted more than 40 events, offering students opportunities to network, develop leadership skills, and engage with their peers. These activities ranged from professional development workshops to community service events, such as their collaboration with the University of Houston SASE chapter for a beach clean-up at Crystal Beach and a Lunar New Year Celebration open to all students.

"Our events are open to all, and we truly believe SASE has something to offer to anyone, regardless of major or cultural background," Tran said. "These previous years really showed exponential growth in our chapter in terms of membership, professional development, cultural awareness, and other areas."

One of the standout events of the year was the NASA Info Session held in March 2024, which drew more than 70 students from across the university to learn from NASA interns. The session was hailed as one of the largest professional turnouts in the chapter's history and served as a key indicator of the chapter's growing influence on campus.

"We invited NASA right to our front door," Kathy Nguyen, vice president of internal affairs, said. "This event, which brought together students from different disciplines, was a momentous day for SASE at Lamar. It really marked a turning point for us in terms of our professional outreach and the engagement of our members. Our hard work paid off."

The Lamar chapter's success in engaging students and fostering professional growth is reflected in its improved attendance at career-related events, as well as its increased visibility on campus through strategic partnerships with other student organizations and professional entities. These efforts have helped the chapter grow its membership, expand its community involvement, and attract corporate sponsorships to support future initiatives.

"For our chapter members, they have realized how successful our chapter has become in the past year and seize any opportunity presented to them," Tran said. "Being able to compete with schools nationally for recognition shows the impact of our tight-knit community and chapter at Lamar University. Members are motivated to seek higher leadership positions with SASE and leave their own mark on our chapter. The future of SASE is brighter than ever."

The chapter has also invested in its online presence, recently launching a fully developed website, lamarsase.org, which offers information about the chapter's mission, events, and leadership team. Their Instagram account has seen a significant increase in engagement as well, further expanding their outreach.

The chapter's next major event, the Water Lantern Festival, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Open to all students, the event will feature free boba and treats and will offer participants a chance to create and release water lanterns at sunset, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. The festival is a highlight in the chapter's cultural programming, reflecting SASE's mission to foster a deeper appreciation for Asian heritage and traditions within the campus community.

Former SASE President Dennis Tran emphasized the importance of collaboration and teamwork in the chapter's growth, crediting his fellow officers and chapter members for their dedication and passion throughout the year.

"I'd like to recognize the effort from each and every one of the officers from the 2023-2024 year," he said. "None of this would have been possible without the commitment of our team. We've laid a strong foundation for the future, and I'm excited to see how this new leadership will continue building on that legacy."

As Lamar University's SASE chapter looks ahead to the coming academic year, they remain focused on their mission of promoting professionalism, fostering community, and celebrating culture, with plans to continue expanding their reach both on and off campus.

"Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where students can grow professionally, connect with others, and learn about different cultures," Tran said. "We're looking forward to continuing that journey and making an even bigger impact in the years to come."

For more information about Lamar University's SASE chapter, visit lamarsase.org or follow the chapter on Instagram at @lamar_sase.

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