Koshland Young Leader Goes to Washington

January 2012

A winner of The San Francisco Foundation’s 2011 Koshland Young Leader Award, Huimin “Happy” Yang went to the White House this week to attend a forum on Asian American and Pacific Islanders Youth Leadership. A Balboa High School senior, Huimin is well on her way to fulfilling her promise as a strong advocate for her community.

Huimin was among a select handful of students invited by the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to participate in the briefing. The White House event featured speakers and panelists discussing critical issues such as resources for education, civil rights, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Huimin, who only emigrated from China two years ago, was selected for a Koshland Young Leader Award because of her demonstrated passion for civic engagement and immigrant rights. Her list of accomplishments is already long and growing. Huimin served on the San Francisco Unified Youth Commission as an appointee of Supervisor John Avalos. She launched a youth immigrant rights group to collaborate with the adult Immigrant Rights Commission. Huimin’s work on behalf of low-income youth helped establish a program that provides free Muni passes for students. The budding leader plans to study philosophy and law, and return to her native China to improve the educational system.

The San Francisco Foundation’s Koshland Young Leader Awards recognize the next generation of leadership in our community. These impressive high school juniors from San Francisco public schools are strongly motivated to achieve despite formidable life challenges. They are nominated by teachers and counselors because of their commitment to achieving their academic and career goals.

Congratulations to Huimin!

For information about Huimin Yang and other Koshland Young Leaders, visit our Koshland Young Leader Awards page. The 2012 Koshland winners will be selected this spring.