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Eden Center announces this year’s Ebenstein Scholarship winners from the Vietnamese American community.
Falls Church, Virginia – Eden Center is thrilled to announce the 2025 winners of the Ebenstein Scholarship, designed exclusively for Vietnamese American high school students who demonstrate a strong commitment to servant leadership and community growth. This prestigious award honors the legacy of Douglas and Norman Ebenstein, whose philanthropic efforts have greatly impacted local communities and advanced educational initiatives.
The scholars share a total of $10,000 in scholarship funds to further their education and continue their work in leadership and community service. They were selected for their proven track record of servant leadership and their active participation in AASuccess’ life skills and leadership programs.
Program overview. The Ebenstein Scholarship is a two-phase program that encourages young leaders to mentor other students and to create and manage impactful community projects, such as BizHarmony and the Annual AASuccess Benefit Gala. Beyond financial support, the program offers educational and career development opportunities through internships and mentoring, so scholars have the resources they need to succeed.
A rising freshman at Virginia Tech majoring in Economics, Kingston Ho has been part of AASuccess for five years. He has contributed to a variety of projects, including AASuccess’ annual scholarship program, a pickleball fundraiser, and support for past Galas.
As an Ebenstein Scholar, he worked closely with mentors and the Operations Team to lead BizHarmony, a student-led networking event he created to connect students with professionals and businesses through workshops such as resume reviews, elevator pitch practice, and professional headshots.
The experience was transformative, helping him grow as both a leader and a person while overcoming challenges like scheduling conflicts and tight deadlines, and ultimately bringing the AASuccess community together to build meaningful connections. His contributions during this period earned him a total of $4,000, reflecting his dedication to creating impactful initiatives.
Kaila Le is a rising freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing her passion for Marketing. She joined AASuccess five years ago and is one of this year’s Ebenstein Scholars. As Head of Marketing, she has worked on nearly all of the student projects.
One of her most significant projects during the scholarship was organizing the AAS Yard Sale fundraiser. She led the item collection, coordinated logistics, and designed the advertising to get the word out, raising a total of $700.
A big part of her scholarship experience was supporting AASuccess’ marketing: managing digital content, shaping the organization’s online presence, creating social media content, managing the website, and handling video projects such as Shark Tank Success, from filming to editing. While preparing for the Gala, Kaila led several marketing materials, including the “Save the Date” flier, the event program booklet and presentation, and the decorations.
Throughout this journey, Kaila learned the importance of delegating tasks effectively, trusting her team, and empowering others to take ownership of their contributions. She discovered the value of clear, concise communication, identifying problems early, responding quickly, and keeping strong connections with everyone involved. She also refined her marketing skills by exploring new techniques and perspectives, strengthening her confidence and effectiveness as a communicator and collaborator.
In addition to supporting the Ebenstein Scholars, the Ebenstein Scholarship is proud to sponsor an AASuccess community project: the Education Camp, led by students Hillary Nguyen and Mason Le.
Hillary and Mason’s project addressed the educational disparities faced by underprivileged 4th and 5th graders in Northern Virginia. Responding to the long-term academic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, their project bridges educational gaps by strengthening core skills in Math and English.
Before developing the curriculum, Hillary and Mason consulted local teachers to find the most effective approaches for 4th and 5th graders. They also drew on a variety of teaching tools, including instructional modules from the William & Mary School of Education, examples from FCPS Distance Learning, and math practice materials from the Virginia Department of Education and K5 Learning.
The project culminated in a three-day Education Camp for 4th and 5th graders, held on April 24, May 3, and May 4, 2025, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington. The camp served 6 to 7 students and focused on strengthening skills in Math and English.
Hello! My name is Mason Le, and I am a 9th grader at Thomas Jefferson High School. My partner in the Education Camp was Hillary Nguyen, a 10th grader at James Madison. The Education Camp, a project from September 2024, involved lots of planning and was often tedious. Since it was our first project, we struggled with productivity at first and faced many last-minute date changes due to conflicting schedules. On the first day, we felt anxious about how the hour would go and how we would teach the kids, but perseverance helped everything run smoothly. Co-leading this project gave us valuable practice in planning real-life events, talking on calls with adults, and emailing. In the end, the hardships we faced were worth it.
Eden Center is proud to support the next generation of leaders within the Vietnamese American community and is committed to continuing the Ebenstein family’s legacy of philanthropy and community support. The scholarship program is designed so that each scholar can maximize their leadership potential and contribute positively to society. For more about the scholarship and how to apply, see the Ebenstein Scholarships page.
Scholars are chosen from students progressing through the Life Skills Academy.
AASuccess helps students build life skills by giving back, through mentoring, community projects and scholarships.
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