Hmong students, mostly first-generation Americans, feel pulled by cultural and family expectations coupled with the difficulty of college-level work, Ly says. "Most of us don’t have parents or even older brothers or sisters who went to college. There are both cultural and academic issues."

As an informal alumni group last year, 10 Hmong graduates mentored a similar number of students. For the coming year they decided to become an official UMAA interest group.

"I think a lot of alumni of color aren’t connected to the U after they graduate," Ly says. "We wanted that connection there so we would feel comfortable participating in events." With more than a dozen members already, HAG will tackle its short-term goals: mentoring, networking with other graduates, and recruiting new members. The group also kicked off a scholarship drive in June with an event featuring Zoua Vang (B.A. ’99), a television journalist in Fresno, California, and her documentary The Trail of Tears: The Hmong Story.

HAG hopes to award its first scholarship in the fall and to become an example to alumni of other institutions. "We think it is appropriate to be involved with your university and alumni association after you graduate," Ly says.