Immigrants Who Inspire Us All

A component of the American dream is that with talent and hard work, first-generation immigrants can move directly into leadership. The recent accomplishments of two from Orange County’s Vietnamese community are a source of pride and inspiration.

Diversity in the county’s judicial system got a welcome boost when Gov. Gray Davis appointed the first Vietnamese American to the Orange County Superior Court. Nho Trong Nguyen, 61, had been a pro-democracy leader in South Vietnam before riding one of the last helicopters out of the American Embassy during the fall of Saigon. He later was reunited with his family in the United States, became a citizen and earned his law degree at night.

The court vacancy occurred with the elevation of former Superior Court Judge Kathleen O’Leary to the 4th District Court of Appeal. In a county where there are very few ethnic minorities in the ranks of judges, the selection is an important step. Finding good minority judges, coupled with efforts to diversify grand juries, can help make the sprawling judicial system more representative for those it is intended to serve.

While Nguyen has been in this country long enough to make his mark, 18-year-old Oanh Nguyen of Garden Grove is a symbol of the future. Just a few years after arriving in this country, she now will go directly to USC after her junior year in high school. She will do so on full scholarship with a guaranteed acceptance into USC’s medical school. Her teachers marvel at her academic accomplishments.

These standouts reflect credit on their communities and show the continuing promise of their adopted land.