SFA's Office of Multicultural Affairs to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's Office of Multicultural Affairs will host its inaugural celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May on the SFA campus.

In partnership with SFA's Asian Culture Club, the OMA welcomes the SFA and Nacogdoches communities to join in activities and traditions that embrace Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.

"The month of May has been recognized as National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by the U.S. Congress. It originally started as a small celebration for a select few days in 1977 and later became a full month celebration in 1992," said Jalon Berry, OMA assistant director. "The OMA aims to embrace more cultures and traditions so that every Lumberjack feels included at SFA. We look forward to seeing everyone come out to celebrate the OMA inauguration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month."

According to the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website, the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

The Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration will take place at noon Wednesday, May 1, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.