The APA NEXT Summit
features enlightening
conversations about the
AAPI college journey.
The APA NEXT
Summit features
enlightening
conversations
about the AAPI
college journey.
Meet the Moderators
Ming-Na
Wen
Ming-Na Wen has had an illustrious acting career for decades. She broke barriers as the first Asian American contract actor in a daytime drama on “As the World Turns." Ming-Na is best known for a range of roles including her series regular work as Dr. Chen on “ER," June in Amy Tan’s seminal work "The Joy Luck Club," Fennec Shand in “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett,” Agent May in “Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" and warrior princess ‘Mulan’ in the Mulan Franchise. Ming-Na was named a Disney Legend in 2019 for her impressive body of work and also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
This upcoming year, Ming-Na stars as a lead in Karate Kid which premieres Memorial Day Weekend to launch the summer box office. Ming-Na is also adding author to her list of accomplishments with a forthcoming cookbook from Simon & Schuster. Her marriage of 29 years with Eric Michael Zee and their two children, Cooper and Michaela are her greatest credits to date. She is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon.
Ramona
Young
Ramona Young is making waves in Hollywood, best known for her fan-favorite role as Eleanor Wong in Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever, where she plays Devi’s quirky, theater-obsessed best friend. Raised between Hong Kong and California, Ramona attended over 40 schools before deciding to pursue acting full-time at 14. Since then, she’s captured audiences with standout roles in Blockers, SyFy’s Z Nation, and Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet, and even joined DC’s Legends of Tomorrow as Mona Wu.
Next, she’ll be front and center in The Office spinoff and star opposite Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell in You’re Cordially Invited in early 2025. She also shines in The Prank, an indie film that premiered at SXSW in 2022, alongside Rita Moreno. A true multi-hyphenate, Ramona writes and directs short films, plays multiple instruments, and is an avid martial artist, bringing passion and creativity to every project she takes on.
PANEL
TOPICS
McDonald’s Education Program for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students and their support systems.
McDonald’s has been supporting Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) students pursuing their educational dreams for over 15 years. In 2003, McDonald’s and the Asian McDonald’s Operators Association were one of the founding members of APIA Scholars (formerly APIASF), the first organization dedicated to providing scholarships to underserved APIA students. In 2008, McDonald’s started its national college workshop program, a one-stop stop, where trusted guest speakers would arm students and parents with critical information and practical tips to navigate the college admissions process. The workshops have since evolved into the free APA Next Summit with continually prestigious expert panelists, students and moderators. Local students and their support systems can attend in person, or watch together online.
Early on, RMHC/ASIA was the scholarships McDonald’s offered to the APIA community. Now McDonald’s has grown the program, creating the APA Next Education Program which works in partnership with APIA Scholars to make college more accessible to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander students. This past year, there were 95 McDonald’s/APIA Scholars awarded with single or multi-year scholarships. Come check out what McDonald’s APA Next program has to offer—and decide what’s next for you.
