Events
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month (APIDA)
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.
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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)
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
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)
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
Get connected with Asian Pacific Islander Desi American student organizations on the Tampa campus:
- Malaysian Student Association
- Asian Students in America (ASiA)
- Students of India Association
- Vietnamese Student Association
- Chinese Students and Scholars Association
- American Cultured Desi
- Korean American Student Association
- Chinese Culture and Language Club
- Bangladesh Student Association
- Journey to the East
- Apex Interest Group
- Vietnamese International Student Association
- Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
- Bull Bhangra
- Pakistani Student Association
- Association of Filipino Students
- Japanese Culture Club
- Bulls Nakhra
- SoFlo Raas
- Bulls Afsara
Greek Organizations:
- The Chi Chapter of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- The Theta Chapter of Delta Epsilon Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- The Alpha Zeta Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
- The Alpha Alpha Chapter of alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc.
- The Lambda Chapter of Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc.
- The Mu Mecca Chapter of Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc.
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.