The 2023 Also-Known-As Adoptee Excellence Scholarship is now live!
Applications are due APRIL 28 by 11:59PM EST
For more information, FAQs, and how to apply, click here.
Hear from our 2022 Adoptee Excellence Scholarship Winner, Jin Oakes
We recently caught up with our 2022 winner, Jin Oakes, to see how he was doing, what he used the scholarship for, and if he had any words of encouragement for this year’s applicants. Check out our interview with him below! Note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.
What have you been up to since you won?
I'm in my last stretch of college now! I am currently petitioning to graduate in December, which is a semester earlier than I was anticipating. I've been applying to a few internships as well!
As a history major, I am excited to start working in a museum setting and I hope to one day represent adoptees in an exhibit . . . I'm very excited to see where this journey takes me next!
How did you use the scholarship?
I was able to use this scholarship to help cover many desperately-needed supplies, unnecessarily expensive textbooks, and even some bills! This helped me immensely as I finally had the materials I needed to succeed in college.
It also indirectly helped me get dorm and grocery items since I was able to use the funds for college and didn't have to choose between food and textbooks. It was greatly appreciated!
Do you have any advice for this year’s applicants?
I encourage all adoptees to apply as this is such a good opportunity to get some funding and a community behind you! It certainly helps alleviate the stress of loans and paying for textbooks and the rest of the semester's costs.
I always love seeing adoptees succeed and this is one great way to get a bit closer to graduation. When one of us wins, we all win and get representation in a plethora of fields! Good luck, everyone!
Also-Known-As Upcoming Events
Virtual Tea Time 4/12
Also-Known-As, Chinese Adoptee Alliance, IAMAdoptee and Adoptees of South America + Extended Latin America are excited to present Tea Time with adoptee scholar Hollee McGinnis, MSW, PhD to share more about “Mapping the Life Course of Adoption Project (MAP)”.
MAP is a national adoptee-led and community-engaged project aimed at mapping the life course of adoption in adulthood and the role of adoptee-led groups/connections as a resource for thriving adulthoods.
Join us to support Hollee and her team’s efforts in order for all adoptees to leverage their findings for generations to come.
WHO: Adoptees Only
DATE: April 12, 2023
TIME: 7:30-8:30PM EST
WHERE: Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtfu-tqzgiHNHOEHt2yMzPkFuJwqMOGj7d)
RSVP: On Facebook or Click to Join Day Of!
TAKE THE SURVEY NOW HERE:
https://www.caare-research.org/updates/take-the-survey-mapping-the-life-course-of-adoption-project-launch
Paint & Sip 4/15Let your artistic creativity sore with Also-Known-As as we head over to The Paint Place for a late afternoon paint n’ sip. The Paint Place will provide everything we need for this event; however, all alcoholic beverages are BYOB. Please limit to wine, beer, or hard seltzers, and feel free to also bring non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. Afterwards we will grab a bite and beverages locally. With only 25 spots available, please fill out the RSVP google forms and pay $40 to @alsoknownas via Venmo. Only then will your RSVP be submitted. We can’t wait to see you there!DATE: Saturday April 15th, 2023 TIME: 4:00pm-6:00pmWHERE: The Paint Place (243 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023COST: $40/person for the class via Venmo to @alsoknownasRSVP:Here by Thursday April 13th.
"Found" Documentary Q&A 4/18
What do you think of when you hear the word “Found”? Also-Known-As is excited to host a Q&A with Lily Bolka (IG: @lilybolka) and Sadie Mangelsdorf (IG: @sadiemangelsdorf), two Chinese transracial adoptees from the documentary, Found. This adoptee-only online event will allow Lily and Sadie to share their experiences with returning to their birth country beyond what is seen in the film. We will explore their relationships with each other, their adoptive identities, and what “found” means to them. There will be time at the end for audience questions.
What: Found Documentary Q&A
When: Tuesday, April 18th (7:00-8:00 pm EST)
Where: Zoom (Link will be sent out day-of)
Who: Adoptee-Only
Cost: Free
RSVP: Here
Lily Bolka - Lily is 23 years old and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is a proud Cowboy and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS in Accounting. Lily loves hanging with her friends, watching “Modern Family” and enjoys a good, fruity cocktail loaded with festive garnishes.
Sadie Mangelsdorf - Sadie is 18 years old and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves being active and does yoga and goes running. She also loves going out with friends, cooking, and baking. Sadie is a cat lover; her cats’ names are Thomas and Mitski. True to her adoring spirit for felines, she is a proud Wildcat at University of Arizona.
SAVE THE DATE!
Foundations Fireside Chat 5/6Also-Known-As is excited to host this chat with our organization’s founder, Hollee McGinnis! As our community continues to grow organically, we want to take a moment to share more about our foundational roots to help continue to propel us into a sustainable long-term future. With it being both AANHPI Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, Hollee will share more about her experience of founding Also-Known-As, racial reckoning and what has led her to the impactful and wide-reaching work she leads today.
WHEN: May 6, 2023 from 4:00-5:30PM EST
WHO: Adoptees Only
WHERE: In-Person Location (TBC), Optional Group Dinner to Follow in NYC
RSVP: On Facebook or Join Day Of!
Cost: Free Event
Stay tuned for more event details coming soon!
Community News
The next Korea Gathering is being planned for July 10 to 16th 2023. To learn more about the gathering and register to attend, visit the 2023 Gathering page. IKAA is also recruiting volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering with the planning committee, please fill out this form.
Calling adoptee creators going to the IKAA gathering! If you have certain talents that you would like to showcase to the community and are interested in performing at the IKAA Creative Art Program event, please reach out directly to nbgreene@gmail.com to inquire further by April 21, 2023.
To publish your news in our community section, please send us an email with the details!