June 29, 2007

Congressional honors for Evergreen’s Bob Gill

Eleven new members were inducted into the Asian Academy Hall of Distinction at the Congressional Honors held recently in the U.S. Capitol. Among them was Evergreen resident Bob Gill, who serves as the Executive Director of the San Jose Gurdwara.

Bob Gill

Also present at the award ceremony to receive their Medals of Distinction were 2006 inductees Dr. S.K. Park, Dr. Christina R. Sevilla, Ms. Edith Ardiente, Atty. El Cid Butuyan, Dr. Sonny Lee; 2005 inductees Mr. Antonio David, Mr. Pablito Alarcon, Ms. Francesca Close, Dr. Josie Olympia, Dr. Ding Lee and 2004 inductees Dr. Hector Sulit and Dr. Sook Wilkinson.

The honorees were presented by Senator Carl Levin, Congressman Sandy Levin and Ambassador Willy Gaa, Philippine Ambassador to the United States. The event was co-hosted by Willie Jolly, professional speaker and media personality and Julie Koo, Director for Asian Pacific Affairs in Washington DC.

The inductees were selected on the basis of their professional achievements and contributions to the community.

"Asians have made significant contributions to America and the world. It is time they get recognized, not just by their own ethnic communities but by the larger mainstream society," said Dr. Andrea Sigler, Chairperson of the Selection Committee.

The awards ceremony is sponsored by the Academy of Asian Leaders, whose mission is to preserve, teach, research and make available for advanced inquiry and public awareness all of the records of significant achievements of Asians. The Academy also serves as a forum for research, discussion, and analysis of the significant contributions that Asians make to the world.

The Asian Academy Hall of Fame Awards have been held in various distinctive places around the world. The first one was held in the White House in Washington, D.C. in 2002, followed by a ceremony at the pyramids of Egypt in 2003. In 2004, inductees were knighted at a knighting ceremony in New Mexico and in 2005, the awards were given at the Olympic Stadium in Greece. In 2006, the awardees were inducted at the Sychrov Castle outside Prague, Czech Republic. The 2008 awards will be held on the Great Wall of China in Beijing on February 4.

For more information, please visit www.asianleaders.org