AEF Award in partnership with The Manalang Educational Fund

---

Chloe's dedication extends beyond academics, as she's an active member of the UW Honors Interdisciplinary Program, the UW Tennis Club, and the NASA L'Space Academy, where she gained experience in proposal writing. In her personal statement, Chloe powerfully connects her Filipino-American heritage to her passion for engineering, seeing her family's immigrant journey as a testament to perseverance and adaptability. Inspired by her first trip to the Philippines, she aims to innovate an "efficient and clean" solution that connects communities and bridges gaps. Her hobbies include drawing, playing the guitar, baking, and tennis.
 

  Beyond his academic achievements, Aaron is a versatile individual, working as a Spotify artist, photographer, and digital content creator. He also gives back to his community as a Kumon teacher and church volunteer. In his essay, Aaron credits his mother, a Filipino immigrant and principal engineer, as his main inspiration, viewing engineering as a way to make a powerful impact on society. His skills include precision assembly, troubleshooting, and leadership, with hands-on experience in technology like computer repair. He hopes to follow in his mother's footsteps by contributing meaningfully to the world.

Ben's community involvement is notable, as he has volunteered on a community farm, helped with neighborhood clean-ups, and assisted small businesses with their digital presence. In his application, he also thoughtfully asked the committee to consider candidates with greater financial need. Ben's essay highlights his family as the driving force behind his ambition, and he aspires to become a software or data engineer who uses technology to "lift others up." He also hopes to give back to the Filipino community by mentoring young people and creating opportunities for others.

   Martin Tuazon is actively involved in the Filipino American Student Association and the Associated Students of Mechanical Engineering at his home university. In his essay, Martin links his passion for engineering to his Filipino-American identity, tracing his interest back to his two grandfathers, both engineers who immigrated to the U.S. and worked for Boeing. He credits them with instilling in him an "engineering mindset" based on discipline, resourcefulness, and a commitment to community service. He is currently interning at Tuazon Engineering, where he works with his father in the consulting and fire protection industry. Martin sees engineering as a culture that aligns with his heritage and hopes to not only grow his technical skills but also learn more about his background.