The Dell family foundation awarded $5 million to 254 graduating seniors nationwide, and 18 Viet students figured among the winners.
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation scholarship is not the banal “get the highest grade and you’re in” kind of scholarship. It is specifically designed to boost a student from a low-income family to break out of poverty with a college education. And, yes, it’s that Dell. The Dell family foundation gives scholarship and grants specifically to enhance education at all levels for low-income families and neighborhoods.
According to the Foundation’s press release here, “Dell Scholars will receive $20,000 each to continue their higher education for the next six years.”
In addition, “the Dell Scholars program provides its students with technology, resources and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to obtain a college degree. The additional resources have contributed to the program’s retention rate of 89 percent, well above the national average of 22 percent for these students.”
Following are the students with Vietnamese surnames on the list of 2008 Dell Scholars:
Phuong Dang: Middle College High — Stockton, CA
Amy Dao: Wilson (Woodrow) Senior High — Los Angeles, CA
Huan Dinh: Pflugerville H S — Pflugerville, TX
Tony Duong: School Of International Business At Kearny High — San Diego, CA
Amy Hua: North Star High School — Lincoln, NE
Chau Nguyen: Akins High School — Austin, TX
Janny Nguyen: Leuzinger High — Lawndale, CA
Lam Nguyen: Dobie H S — Houston, TX
My Nguyen: Dobie H S — Houston, TX
Nancy Nguyen: Overland High School — Aurora, CO
Ngoc Trang Nguyen: East High — Wichita, KS
Oanh Nguyen: NE Acad Health/sci/engineering — Oklahoma City, OK
Tan Phuong Nguyen: Akins High School — Austin, TX
Yen Nhi Nguyen: Eisenhower High School — Houston, TX
Michelle Ta: Rancho Verde High — Moreno Valley, CA
Hong Thai: Dobie H S — Houston, TX
Linda Tran: Magnolia High — Anaheim, CA
Phi Vu: Franklin High School — Portland, OR
See the complete list on the Dell Scholars website here.
Most Dell Scholars are first-generation college students and are chosen because they participate in an approved college readiness program and maintain at least a 2.4 grade point average while dealing with personal responsibilities at home or in their communities. Requirements also include graduation from an accredited high school, 
demonstrated financial need and intent to enter a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited higher education institution in the fall.
As seen from the list, three of the Viet students came from one school: Dobie High in Houston, Texas. The Pasadena (Texas) Citizen wrote about their winning the Dell Scholarship here.
“It is an honor when any of our kids are recognized for their efforts,” Dobie’s principal Steve Jamail said to the Citizen. “These students have done a great job in and out of the classroom, and this award comes as a result of hard work and preparation.”
Good job kids….. I am proud of you!
NOW, THAT’S A NICE COMMENT jung kim
I’m not Viet. I’m Chinese. People commonly think I am, though.
The Dell scholars foundation is an extremely generous program to those in need. It’s definitely helping me out a lot in paying for college expenses. They also give you a free laptop and printer (this year a Dell latitude D630), as well as other starter kits throughout your undergraduate education, such as textbook credits.
Horray, Dell scholars!
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I was one of the Vietnamese recipients this year! Thanks Dell
Oh my. I was bored and was googling my name and info. I had no idea my name was in someone’s internet article… in a good article too. How funny and interesting… Anyways, thanks website for acknowledging my efforts.
extremely generous program to those in need. It’s definitely helping me out a lot in paying for college expenses. They also give you a free laptop and printer (this year a Dell latitude D630), as well as other starter kits throughout your undergraduate education, such as textbook credits.