MOST OUTSTANDING Organization NOMINEE
Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University (VSA-LSU)
What are the purpose and goal(s) of your organization, and how has it met or exceeded those goals?
The Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University (VSA-LSU) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit student organization dedicated to promoting Vietnamese-American culture and creating a sense of unity within the college and community. Our mission is to strengthen Vietnamese-American awareness through active participation in social and cultural events, community service, and charitable contributions. During the 2024-2025 academic year, VSA-LSU has demonstrated exceptional growth, engagement, and creativity in fulfilling our mission.
The purpose of VSA-LSU during the 2024-2025 academic year was to strengthen Vietnamese-American awareness and build unity between the Vietnamese and American communities. Our goal this year was to revitalize the organization, making it new, refreshing, and better than previous years by increasing membership retention, enhancing engagement, and staying organized and proactive in all our efforts. We aimed to build on past successes while introducing new ideas to elevate the organization’s reputation and impact.
Address how your organization was outstanding in the following areas: recruitment, marketing, outreach to campus community, use of resources, officer training and event planning.
Recruitment: We increased our membership count from 94 members last year to 120 members this year, demonstrating substantial growth. We attended every recruitment event available at LSU: Fall Fest, Involvement Fairs in both Spring and Fall, and the Incoming Freshman Club Fair during orientation before the school year began. We extended our reach by vendoring at external events such as the Stacks Pickleball New Year’s Tournament, UVSAGC Dua Chua Slam, and UVSAGC Talent Auction. We also recruited by selling baked goods in Free Speech Alley, café sua da at Patrick F. Taylor Engineering Hall, and promoting ourselves actively through these activities. To encourage paid memberships, we offered more competitive pricing for events like Pho Night and Spring Roll Night, making the benefits of membership more attractive.
Marketing: We tried various marketing tactics and promoted our general body meetings as fun and engaging experiences. We maintained consistent marketing through Instagram, posting at least once a week and frequently reposting stories to ensure visibility. We revived our TikTok account, creating engaging short-form content to attract more members. Our Snapchat presence also improved, as we regularly posted clips of our intramural activities. We utilized our Discord server actively, fostering communication and involvement through announcements and discussions. Collaborations with other organizations, such as our hiking trip with VSOUL, Thanksgiving Potluck Karaoke with SASE, and our Valorant tournament with Esports Club at LSU, helped expand our reach. Email marketing was also part of our strategy, ensuring communication with current and potential members. Offered better incentives for members and ensuring top 10 options were desirable for everyone, not just executive board members so members would be more motivated to win Top 10 in the future
Outreach to Campus Community/officer training: Several officers attended required RSO training to enhance their understanding of LSU’s policies and improve collaboration with other clubs. We successfully applied for and received funding from Student Government's Programming, Support, and Initiatives Fund (PSIF) for VEGA Night, fully covering food, entertainment, and utensils. This was the first time VSA-LSU had sought and obtained such funding. We kept our Tigerlink page up to date, ensuring that all members received notifications about our events. We established relationships with campus organizations such as BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry), where we spoke at their International Night about Lunar New Year. They even offered us their facilities if needed. We maintained communication with the International Student Association (ISA) and our senior advisor, Dr. John Hopkins, building stronger connections for the future.
Use of Resources: We consistently updated Tigerlink with our events, which many other organizations tend to overlook. We utilized funding opportunities like PSIF for our VEGA Night event, securing full coverage for food, entertainment, and utensils. Secured the most donations and donors we’ve had in the past 4 years through determined outreach and communication efforts.
Event Planning: Introduced new events like Escape Room and Pandan Party, which proved highly successful. Increased the number of collaborations with other organizations, including joint events with SASE and Esports Club. Improved fundraising through bake sales and givebacks with businesses like King Kong, Pho 97, Jeremiah’s, and Kung Fu Tea.
How did the organization work together to maximize strengths and overcome weaknesses?
We held an evaluation day and v-day where executive board members engaged in workshops and activities designed to identify strengths and weaknesses. The President held regular one-on-one sessions with each board member to provide feedback and encourage personal growth. Every event, big or small, was followed by a debriefing session where everyone could share feedback in a safe, open environment.
Provide specific examples of how the student group demonstrated growth and development in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Leadership improvements within VSA-LSU were significant throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. Many board members demonstrated personal and professional growth, directly contributing to the organization’s success.
One prominent example is Binh, who initially struggled with engagement and communication. Early in the year, he was hesitant to volunteer and rarely participated in the Discord discussions. However, after receiving feedback and support from fellow board members, Binh became more proactive and responsible. His most notable achievement was leading the logistics team at VEGA Night, ensuring that all food was handled properly and that performers had the necessary resources.
Another example is Fred, who faced challenges with public speaking and often lacked structure when presenting ideas. Recognizing this, he actively worked on preparing more organized speeches by writing down his key points in advance. His improved communication was evident during meetings, where he delivered his messages clearly and concisely.
Robert also showed significant growth by stepping up his involvement in VSA activities. Initially, he was quieter and less present during voluntary events. However, after some reflection and encouragement, Robert became more vocal in meetings and started attending more volunteer opportunities and vendoring activities. His willingness to contribute more consistently positively impacted the group dynamic.