PEOPLE

Southimala founded OAK Microscholarship in 2008 with the idea to translate small, Industralized World donations into major academic awards for students surviving in severe poverty backgrounds. Her pilot project focuses on Laos, and she is currently working to expand the organization toward a broader global scope with the ultimate goal of a direct online gifted scholarship program. She believes strongly in the power of community and has long recognized academic opportunity as a direct avenue toward community well-being. OAK was founded as a tribute to her parents, Ounkeo & Ard Keovernkhone: honoring those very values of community, family, and personal excellence they nurtured in her.

In addition to her directorial duties, Southimala works as a Youth Development Coordinator with Seattle YMCA - counseling area youths toward academic and professional growth. She has also worked on several development projects with Laotian Youth & Family Services, The Wing Luke Asian Museum, and the Seattle Youth Employment Program. A graduate of the University of Washington, Southimala hold’s a B.A. in American Ethnic Studies as well as a Master’s of Social Work degree with Administrative Management focus from the University of Washington’s School of Social Work.

Vanthida joined OAK Microscholarship because of her love and respect for parents and their beliefs and values. She shares a deep commitment to academic opportunity and poverty relief and brings the passions her parents bestowed in her to work everyday. Her present focus remains on cultivating Project: Laos’s financial operations to sustain gifts and distributions on a larger scale. And she is presently working to develop OAK’s gift program to offer custom, online patronage.

Her work in financial administration also continues outside of OAK. Vanthida is also currently working for King County Office of Citizens Complaints –Ombudsman, Property Tax Advisor office as an Assistant Tax Advisor I. Vanthida graduated from Seattle University on June 10, 2006 with a Baccalaureate Degree in Political Science.

Luke joins OAK Microscholarship from his desire to help carry on the legacy of Ounkeo & Ard Keovernkhone and from his belief that higher education is a vital necessity towards long term economic growth in severe poverty communities. Following graduation, Luke taught English at a private college in Vientiane, Laos and was amazed by both the incredible need for academic aid but also incredible opportunity to affect that change. Starting in graduate school, he and Southimala fostered the idea of “microscholarship” towards her long-held goal of a youth assistance program in honor of her parents.

Luke graduated the University of Washington with B.A.’s in Communication and Asian International Studies. Presently, he is a master’s candidate for the University of Washington School of Communications’ digital media communications program. He brings with him a background in marketing with Entercom Broadcasting as well as freelance graphic and art design. In addition to OAK, he works in database administration at the law office of KL Gates LLP in Seattle.