2026 USCAC AANHPI Youth Leadership & Innovation Awards Ceremony Successfully Held

Gaithersburg, Maryland – May 24, 2026​

    In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, the U.S.-China Association of Commerce (USCAC) proudly hosted the 2026 AANHPI Youth Leadership & Innovation Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This annual event honors the outstanding achievements of AANHPI youth in the areas of community service, academic excellence, and leadership.

The ceremony opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Xinbin Gu, Chair of the 2026 USCAC AANHPI Youth Leadership Award Committee and Associate Dean for Research at Howard University College of Dentistry. Remarks were also delivered by Ning Li, member of the USCAC AANHPI Youth Award Committee and Chairman of the Board of the Howard County Chinese School.

• Distinguished guests in attendance included :

• Honorable Judge Chung Pak

• Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam

• Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi

• Maryland State Delegate Dr. Chao Wu

• Christina Poy, Administrative Director of the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Office of Governor Wes Moore

• Dr. Yang Yu, Chair of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission​

    This year’s awards included multiple categories such as the Merit Award, Leadership Award, and Innovation Award. Nearly 40 outstanding students were recognized for their excellence in academic research, technological innovation, community engagement, leadership development, and social impact.Guests delivered congratulatory remarks, commending the young awardees and presenting commendation certificates on behalf of their respective institutions to USCAC for its remarkable contributions to youth development and community service.​During the ceremony, selected awardees took the stage to share heartfelt reflections on social responsibility and aspirations for the future.

    Special thanks were also extended to the 2026 Scholarship Selection Committee members and volunteer team for their months of hard work and dedication in organizing the event. The committee members included Dr. Xinbin Gu, Dr. Meirong Liu, Ning Li, Dr. Ping Lu, Dr. Shaolei Teng, Dr. Jia Lin, Joy Chen, and Yingda Xia.​

    The event concluded with a group photo featuring all award recipients, guests, committee members, and volunteers, marking a successful and memorable celebration of youth achievement and community excellence.