A Year with VSA

This year, VSA has been a space for community, culture, friendship, and growth. From large-scale events to smaller moments of connection, our e-board has worked hard to create experiences that bring a sense of home to UVA.

As secretary, I wanted to help preserve not just what we accomplished, but the spirit behind it. So much of student organization work happens quietly: the planning meetings, late-night messages, documents, problem-solving, and teamwork that turns ideas into reality. More than anything, I hope this page serves as a legacy. A legacy of commitment, creativity, and love for this organization. 

- Tina Pham (25-26 Secretary)

We Revamped Our Logo

With the help of our PR Chairs, Brianna Le and Kimmy Nguyen, we introduced an updated brand logo for VSA. VSA's logo has gone through many changes since its founding. After many late nights spent narrowing down the perfect shade of blue, Brianna and Kimmy created several thoughtful drafts that led us to a final vote on the new design. Inspired by our previous logo, this refreshed look honors our past while bringing VSA’s brand into a new chapter.

Introduction of Culinary Chairs

In March 2026, our executive team officially introduced Culinary Chairs after ratifying the position through an amendment. This vision grew from our recognition of the importance of dividing responsibilities more intentionally and creating a specialized role devoted to food and cultural programming. We hoped to establish a position with the skillset and passion to bring Vietnamese cuisine to the heart of Charlottesville.

​From the beginning, we imagined the Culinary Chair as an application-based role that could later transition into an elected position once events were established and a strong foundation had been built.

Tet Gala with Headliner: Monét Ngo

VSA at UVA’s Tết Gala was a vibrant celebration of Vietnamese culture, community, and performance. Students, alumni, and supporters came together to honor the spirit of Tết in a meaningful and memorable way.

A special highlight of the evening was VSA’s own Múa Lân team. Their performance brought energy, tradition, and excitement to the stage. It was a powerful reflection of cultural pride and helped set the tone for the celebration.

The gala also featured headlining California artist Monét Ngo, whose performance brought even more enthusiasm to the night. Artists like maybeblue and rine added their own unique sounds and styles, creating a dynamic and unforgettable program. Together, these performances made Tết Gala a beautiful blend of Vietnamese tradition and modern artistry.

We Raised Over $8,000 for Charity

Our Service Chairs, Melinda and Tranh have raised $8,000 and counting this year in support of VNAH, our chosen charity partner. Their efforts came to life through PhoFest, one of VSA’s largest annual service events and a cornerstone of our philanthropic mission.

This year, PhoFest was made even more ambitious by the challenge of working with a new venue and a new event layout for the very first time. Despite the learning curve, our Service Chairs handled the transition with dedication and care, creating a successful event that brought together food, community, and service.

At the heart of it all was VNAH, whose mission made our fundraising efforts especially meaningful. Through PhoFest, our Service Chairs not only organized a memorable event, but also helped turn community support into tangible impact.

A Phenomenal Tet Show:
​After the Rainy Season

VSA became the first Asian student organization at UVA in 1983 from the vision of students who wanted to bring a Tết Show to life. Their desire to celebrate Vietnamese culture, honor tradition, and create a sense of community laid the foundation for the organization we know today.

Since the summer of 2025, our Culture Chairs, An Tiet and Vivian Hoang, have worked tirelessly to build VSA’s Tết Show from the ground up. Through careful planning, creativity, and steady leadership, they helped make this an incredibly successful year for VSA culture.

With implementation of a new intern and committee system, the logistical and creative skills of An and Vivian created a memorable show.

This year’s production, Qua Mùa Mưa "After the Rainy Season," is story of love, family, ambition, and tradition. The tale tells the story of Minh Châu, a farm boy struggling to save his family’s farmland, and Trang Thủy, a city girl who changes his life forever.

Tet Celebration

Pitched by our Membership Chairs, Eva Le and Lawson Pham, Tết Celebration was an event that brought the warmth of home to UVA. For those who could not celebrate with their loved ones, our membership team brought that joy to the Multicultural Student Center at UVA.

The event was filled with fun activities and familiar traditions. Kimmy and Brianna hosted Coi Bói, offering fortune telling for attendees. We played đá cầu and enjoyed snacks and mực along the way. We even had our own fruit slot machine, which added a playful touch to the celebration. To make the night even more special, our advisor Nathan Tran DJ’d with his one-of-a-kind set.

​Altogether, Tết Celebration created a lively and comforting space for students to celebrate culture, community, and the spirit of the holiday.

Council Collaborations

This year, we collaborated with organizations like UPC and Second Year Council to bring students together through a shared love of food and refreshments. In the spring of 2025, we partnered with UPC to host a tri-color fruit cocktail and boba bar. In both the fall and spring, we also served milk tea and Vietnamese coffee at the Asian American Center, creating welcoming spaces for students to study and connect.
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We also collaborated with Second Year Council to host a Vietnamese candy and snack flight for our general body. These events gave students a chance to experience and enjoy Vietnamese treats in a fun and community-centered way. A special thank you goes to Ben Chu and Meredith Chin, who helped plan many of these Second Year Council events.

Sports Spotlight

When our Sports Chair, Davis Wang, was asked about his favorite memory from the year, he said, “TurkeyBowl. It was nice for everyone to come together. Even you came out!” His answer reflects what sports meant to VSA this year. Even while dealing with injuries, Davis continued to lead the team and stay involved.

​Sydney Pham also took the lead on volleyball and played a big part in keeping that energy up. From IMs to casual games in between, sports brought people together in a simple but meaningful way and gave members a chance to connect beyond VSA’s usual events.

Over 10,000+ Photos

VSA ARCHIVES

Thank you to Hieu and Melody, our historians, for a year of preserving our 2025-2026 memories through media. We’re also grateful to all our members who contributed to our photo albums. Visit the archives on this website to explore a catalog of images dating all the way back to 2013!