Chapman University’s Asian Pacific Student Association can trace its earliest roots back to 1931 when a group of Filipino and Japanese international students joined together to form the Oriental Students Organization. However, it was not until 1997 when Asian Pacific Islander students took it upon themselves to re-establish the Asian Student Union. In the following year, the club renamed itself as the Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA) for inclusive purposes. In the early 2000’s, APSA focused on representing the API (Asian and Pacific Islander) community at Chapman while advocating for political and social change. Starting in the spring of 1998, APSA began the tradition of celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage through a multicultural event, most notably named “API Celebration.” With its membership ranging from many diverse backgrounds, APSA has encouraged all aspects of student activity through social events, community service, dance showcases and campus advocacy.