Events

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month (APIDA)

AAPI

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is a celebration of Asians, Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) encompasses people from all of the Asian continent, India, and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Read this article with highlights that recognize the achievements of USF's APIDA community members.

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2023 university Calendar of Events

The University of South Florida recognizes that Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is nationally celebrated in May each year. Due to the academic semester ending on May 4, 2023, we invite the USF community to celebrate APIDA Heritage Month beginning in the month of April. To honor the true history of the month, we are also highlighting APIDA Heritage Month events happening in the Tampa Bay area during the month of May. 

Explore the events below, then login to BullsConnect for more APIDA Heritage Month events.


The Night the Spring Bloomed Banquet

Saturday, April 1st | 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM | MSC Ballroom
Join KASA and JCC for a night of games, food, performances, and so much more for their annual spring banquet!

Hosted by: Korean American Student Association (KASA) and Japanese Culture Club (JCC)

RSVP Here


centre gallery apida heritage opening reception

Monday, April 3rd | 6 PM - 7 PM | Centre Gallery
Join the Center for Student Involvement and the Office of Multicultural Affairs for the grand opening of the APIDA Heritage Month exhibit! The Centre Gallery provides USF community artists the opportunity to experiment with new ideas while gaining an educational gallery experience.

Hosted by: Center for Student Involvement and Office of Multicultural Affairs (Tampa campus)

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centre gallery apida heritage month exhibit

Monday, April 3rd - Thursday, April 13th | Centre Gallery hours | Centre Gallery
The Centre Gallery offers the University of South Florida students, faculty, and staff, along with Tampa Bay community members various stimulating visual art experiences by showing innovative, contemporary artwork. This month's exhibit highlights APIDA student artists at USF.

Hosted by: Center for Student Involvement and Office of Multicultural Affairs (Tampa campus)

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APIDA heritage month Bull Market Showcase

Wednesday, April 5th | 9 AM - 2 PM | MSC Plaza
Celebrate APIDA Heritage Month in April with this special Bull market collaboration! Join us as we showcase Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American student organizations and performances. As always, giveaways are included!

Hosted by: Office of Multicultural Affairs (Tampa campus) and the Marshall Student Center Bull Market team

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Pathways to Leadership

Wednesday, April 5th | 5 PM - 6:30 PM | Jenkins Hall at UT
Join the History and Heritage Month Committee at the University of Tampa in celebrating APIDA Heritage Month with a panel! This discussion features professionals who will speak about thier pathway to success. Resources and a free dinner will be provided!

Hosted by: University of Tampa’s History and Heritage Month Committee


APIDA heritage month Celebratory Luncheon

Thursday, April 6th | 11 AM - 1 PM | MSC 2708
Join the Office of Multicultural Affairs as we celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month at the University of South Florida! This luncheon features keynote speakers, student performances, testimonials, and the celebration of the APIDA community on our campus.

Hosted by: Office of Multicultural Affairs and the USF Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Committee

RSVP Here


Movie Night with SASE Science Week

Friday, April 7th | 5 PM - 7 PM | ENC 1000
This event, as part of SASE Science Week, will show a movie depicting science in film!

Hosted by: Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)

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APIDA Olympics

Friday, April 7th | 5 PM - 7 PM | Beta Courts
This fun-filled event will include games, activities, and the promotion of Asian unity and culture!

Hosted by: Malaysian Student Association (MSA) and Journey to the East

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ASIA x AFS Pageant

Saturday, April 15th | 6:30 PM - 10 PM | MSC Ballrooms
Join ASiA and AFS for their sixth annual scholarship pageant!

Hosted by: Asian Students in America (ASiA) and the Association of Filipino Students (AFS)

RSVP Here


Taste of Asia

Wednesday, April 26th | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Brevard Community Room at UT
Join the History and Heritage Month Committee at the University of Tampa for an Asian cuisine taste testing! This special event includes Chinese, Philippine, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Turkisk cuisine.

Hosted by: University of Tampa’s History and Heritage Month Committee


tampa asian pacific islander cultural festival

Saturday, May 13th | 10 AM - 6 PM | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Get ready to experience a spectacular celebration at the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Festival! Don't miss out on the incredible cultural performances, mouth-watering delicacies, and fascinating informational exhibits that will leave you awe-inspired. Join us and let's have an unforgettable time together!

Hosted by: City of Tampa

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Get connected with Asian Pacific Islander Desi American student organizations on the Tampa campus:

Greek Organizations:

View Sparks Magazine at USF, a nonprofit organization that supports a student-run publication and provides a mixed-media platform for the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) community. The magazine highlights stories and narratives about Asian and Asian-American experiences. They want to bring a voice to an otherwise unheard demographic, and expand the conversation from within the Asian/Pacific Islander community, to outside of traditional spaces.

The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Committee is charged with advising the President on matters pertaining to issues facing Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi, and South Asian American USF faculty, staff, and students; and evaluating and monitoring the university environment for issues and successes related to these matters. Connect with the APIDA Committee via email.

Visit the East Coast Asian American Student Union and learn how you can get connected to students with this identity, network, develop professionally. 

Visit the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center that brings Asian Pacific American history, art and culture to you through innovative museum experiences online and throughout the United States.