Happy New Year!

The Save the Thai Temple crew would like to wish everyone a happy 2010. To start the new year off, we would like to recognize some our very own founding members for their accomplishments in 2009.

Pahole Sookkasikon was crowned Mr. Hyphen 2009 by Hyphen Magazine. He has been recognized by Asianweek as “breaking the boundaries of Asian American male stereotypes” and has been featured in major news outlets ranging from the New York Times, SFGate to MSNBC. The contest donated $1,000 to the winner’s charity of choice and Pahole chose the Thai-American Scholarship Fund and the Asian American Donor Program.

2009 also marked the inaugural year for the Thai-American Scholarship Fund founded by our very own Johnny Vilaikeo and Virada Chatikul. The annual competition, consistting of an essay and interview process, seeks to provide funds for underrepresented college students of Thai, Lao, Khmer and Southeast Asian decent. The Thai-American Scholarship Fund honored its first recipient, Catherine Le.

We are so very proud of Siwaraya, Pahole, John, Virada and the rest of the STTT crew. We are honored and humbled that their hard work and persevering spirit have benefited and been recognized by the greater AAPI community.

We also want to thank everyone again for helping the Thai Temple secure its place in the heart of the City of Berkeley. This could not have been done without the help of all the letters, phone calls, support of community organizations and the love we have received over the past two years. The journey was a long one, but through the dedication, organization, and hard work or our little band of sisters and brothers combined with the overwhelming support from the community, we were able make a little bit of Thai-American history with nothing more than passion and love for the Thai Temple. With or without recognition, the most valuable feeling that we all share is that we were able to give back to the community that has provided us with so much.