UWM lecturer Tong Yang brought students from his Hmong literacy class on stage at the AAPI celebration. The group spoke about the class and sang Hmong songs while Tony Yang played the guitar. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
UWM students line up for henna tattoos, often called mehndi in South Asia. The henna plant offers a reddish-brown dye when applied to the skin. Henna designs are synonymous with celebration in some cultures. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Multimedia artist and UWM film student Pader Xiong, aka Lucky Ducky, sells art at the AAPI celebration. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Pachoua Lor of the Student Success Center, John Contreras, manager of sociocultural programming, and Sheng Chang, lead of Southeast Asian American Student Center, pose for a photo together at the celebration of AAPI month at UWM. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Kevin Loh, a second-year master’s degree student in UWM’s classical guitar program, plays at the AAPI celebration. Loh has been receiving an impressive number of awards in international guitar competitions and has been traveling the world to play. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Chancellor Mark Mone purchases a gift from Hmong artist Maixia Xiong. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Students were able to try foods from throughout South Asia including red bean buns, mango lassi, spring rolls and more. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
UWM students check out the intricate items created artist Lily Jade Lee, who does business as Lil Crochets. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Students pose for a photo at the closing celebration for AAPI month at UWM. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is observed in the United States during May, but UWM expanded its celebration though much of April, too, since the semester ends partway through the official month.
The university’s celebration included a slew of events, including a festival of crafts, food, performances and vendors in the ballroom of the Student Union.
The events were coordinated by UWM’s Sociocultural Programming, Southeast Asian American Student Center and the Inclusive Excellence Center.
