Sun honored as Ambassador of the Year

Rice University Representative Y. Ping Sun, left, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker spoke at the Asian Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner, where Sun was named Ambassador of the Year.

Y. Ping Sun accepts the Asian Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year award. At the presentation, from left, are Donovan Casavave, Sun, Lily Chen Foster and Thanh Roettele. Casanave, Foster and Roettele co-chaired the annual awards dinner.

University Representative Y. Ping Sun was named Ambassador of the Year at the 23rd annual awards dinner of the Asian Chamber of Commerce at the Kim Son Ballroom in Houston June 6.

“By giving me this award, you have made me realize that since I came to Houston almost a decade ago, I have found a true home in Houston among all of you,” she said.

Following opening remarks by Houston Mayor Annise Parker ’78, Sun delivered the keynote address, reminding the packed ballroom that Houston has become the nation’s most diverse city, as detailed in studies by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and that “Asian communities are poised to play an increasingly important role in all aspects of life in Houston.” Sun noted Rice reflects the city as a community with no ethnic majority.