2008 WSU Mom of the Year, Christina Le
Political science senior Ann Nguyen and her mother, Christina Le, 2008 Mom of the Year, during the annual Mom’s Weekend Brunch.
Christina Le received the 2008 WSU Mom of the Year Award during the University’s annual Mom’s Weekend Brunch. Le was nominated by her daughter, Ann Nguyen, a political science senior at WSU.
A resident of Richland, Le was described by her daughter as “the hardest working person I know.” Originally from Vietnam, Le came to the United States with her children during the Vietnam War.
“For the very reason that she sacrificed (during) her life for our education, I know that my goal in life is to fulfill that dream of hers,” Nguyen said.
The 2008 Mom of the Year is a volunteer helping the Vietnamese community in the Tri-Cities area and has passed to her children the love for their origins.
“She does not realize that her determination to teach us about our culture is changing my life path and the type of person I want to become. Taking the time to just sit down and talk has allowed me to learn more about my life than any academic education I have ever received,” Nguyen said.
The other two finalists for Mom of the Year are Dorinda Schlunegger of Ventura, Calif., nominated by her daughter Autumm Swankosky; and Raelene Sanders of Tacoma, nominated by her daughter Amanda Walker.
The Mom of the Year Award is coordinated by the Mom’s Weekend Committee under the direction of the Women’s Resource Center at WSU. The award recognizes the positive impact mothers have in their children’s lives, and honors their personal achievements and contributions to WSU and their local communities.