Featured Annual Events

There are many exciting events that celebrate the multiplicity and diversity of the Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities at UC Davis. Find out more about our signature annual events, we hope to see you there! 

AandPI and MENASA Fall Welcome 

This collaborative event is co-hosted by the Department of Asian American Studies, the Cross Cultural Center, MENASA Student Resources, and the Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative. Campus resources and student organizations are invited to join us in welcoming our Asian and Pacific Islander (AandPI) and Middle East, North African, and South Asian (MENASA) communities to campus. 

AandPI Student Leadership Conference (AandPILeadCon) 

The SAandPIRI Student Leadership Conference (AandPILeadCon) invites the Asian and Pasifika scholar leaders, emerging and current, to learn about organizational management, establish networks of support, and develop strategies for self and community care. The conference brings together specialists and experts from across campus, industry, and the greater AandPI community to engage, empower, and uplift attendees. Participants gain access to concurrent workshops, community building modules, and dynamic guest speakers.

Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (APAHM) 

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, or Asian and Pacific Islander (AandPI) Heritage Month, otherwise known as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month or APAHM, is traditionally celebrated in May and commemorates the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States. The AandPI Heritage Month calendar is a collection of colloquia, events, seminars, and other activities in supporting AandPI voices across campus during our heritage month and is co-produced by the Cross Cultural Center. The To feature your event, contact our office at apiretention@ucdavis.edu 

Filipinx Graduation Celebration (FilGrad)

The Filipinx Graduation Celebration is an annual ceremony honoring the personal and academic achievements of graduating students, undergraduate and graduate, who identify as Filipino/a/x, or are friends of the Fil-Am community on campus. Hosted by BRIDGE: Pilipinx Outreach & Retention, it was established in 1989 and is part of 10 affinity graduations hosted at UC Davis. 

Lunar New Year Celebrations

In honor of the diversity of celebrations across Asia and Southeast Asia, SAandPIRI collaborates across campus to celebrate Lunar New Year. Celebrations begin as early as November and culminate as late as February, depending on the lunar calendar. Lunar New Year commemorates the arrival of spring and is also known as the Spring Festival. Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian and Southeast Asian countries including China, Korea, and Vietnam.  

Pacific Islander Graduation Celebration (PIGrad) 

The Pacific Islander Graduation Celebration recognizes the academic and personal achievements of Pasifika scholars at UC Davis. It is the only ceremony specifically dedicated to Pasifika scholars, the most marginalized community within the AandPI diasporas. This ceremony fosters a sense of belonging and aims to highlight the Pasifika community, while also honoring the community who supported the graduates during their educational journey. Hosted by SAandPIRI, it was established in 2022 and is part of the 10 affinity graduations hosted at UC Davis. 

If you are interested in volunteering to support the 2023 ceremony, please contact our office at apiretention@ucdavis.edu. 

Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) 

Partnering with Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) and UC Berkeley's Pacific Islander Initiative (Cal PI Initiative), the Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) Summer Institute’s goal is to develop young Pacific Islander leaders that are grounded in social justice and cultural values, while building political power with pipelines to the Capitol. The 4-day Summer Institute welcomes undergraduate students at community college and four-year universities (or comparable experience) with the intention of increasing access to and retention in higher education.

Southeast Asian Graduation Celebration (SEAGrad) 

The Southeast Asian Graduation Celebration is ceremony that allows students to celebrate and reflect on their academic journey with those closest to them. The ceremony also serves as a platform to inspire younger classmates to participate in planning the event and attending to celebrate their peers. Hosted by SAFE: Southeast Asians Furthering Education, it was established in 2007 and is part of 10 affinity graduations hosted at UC Davis.