APAC Gala & Award Dinner 2026 Honorees
Excellence in Civic Leadership & Volunteerism Award – Presented to Helen Quintanilla
Helen Quintanilla is a dedicated civic leader, nonprofit advocate, and longtime volunteer whose work has significantly strengthened community engagement and public service initiatives in San Diego. With nearly two decades of active service, she exemplifies leadership through action—organizing programs, mobilizing residents, and collaborating with nonprofits and public agencies to drive meaningful change.
Helen has been a committed member of Lions Clubs International since 2006, serving in numerous leadership roles at both the club and district levels. She is a Past President of the San Diego Executive Lions Club (multiple terms) and previously served as Cabinet Treasurer for District 4-L6. She currently continues her leadership as District Global Service Team Coordinator and as a member of the Budget and Audit Committee.
Her work has advanced major service initiatives, including vision care outreach through Lions Eyes Across California and the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic. Her outstanding service has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the International President’s Medal, multiple Certificates of Appreciation, and the MD4 Service Medal. She is also a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow and Dwight E. Stanford Fellow, reflecting her sustained commitment to humanitarian service and leadership excellence.
Beyond Lions, Helen plays a vital role across several community and education-focused organizations. She is the Founder and CEO/President of the Ricardo Basila Sr. Family Foundation and serves or has served on the boards of the San Diego Lions Scholarship Foundation, Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation, Alliance for Quality Eduation, Parents for Quality Education, and Community Voices for Education. She is also an advisor to the Neighborhoods First Coalition in San Diego’s District 6 and an active member of the FBI San Diego Citizens Academy Alumni Association.
Professionally, Helen brings extensive experience in accounting and financial management across the banking, retail, and restaurant industries. She has held roles as a Corporate Accountant, Cash Management Supervisor, and Chargeback Supervisor, where she oversaw financial reconciliation, cash analysis, and fiscal operations—skills she has effectively applied to strengthen nonprofit governance and accountability.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Helen earned her degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Baguio. She now resides in San Diego with her husband, Medes, and is a proud mother and grandmother. Through her unwavering dedication, collaborative leadership, and passion for service, Helen Quintanilla continues to inspire civic participation and uplift communities, making her a truly deserving recipient of the Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership and Volunteerism.
Outstanding Organization Award – Presented to Kanaka Davis Trust Group
This award recognizes an organization that actively supports the mission of the Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC) and advances civic engagement within Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
The Kanaka Davis Trust Group, in partnership with the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation (GQHF), has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving and honoring the historical contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (APIA) communities in San Diego.
In May 2025, the group unveiled a monument in Pantoja Park honoring Native Hawaiian pioneer William Heath Davis, also known as Kanaka Davis. He played a pivotal role in establishing San Diego as a seaport city in 1850, helping drive early development in commerce, industry, and civic planning. This meaningful project was made possible through broad community collaboration, including support from APAC, Pacific Islander communities, Latino businesses, and private citizens.
Beyond this milestone, the Kanaka Davis Trust Group and GQHF continue to document and elevate the stories of San Diego’s diverse communities. Their recent efforts include working with students to highlight the history of the city’s pre–World War II Japantown, as well as collaborating with organizations such as the Chinese Historical Museum, Kumeyaay First People, Filipino artists, and the Chicano Park community to present their histories through authentic cultural perspectives.
Through these ongoing initiatives, the Kanaka Davis Trust Group exemplifies a deep and sustained commitment to preserving and celebrating the rich multicultural heritage of San Diego, making them highly deserving of the APAC Outstanding Organization Award.
Rising Star Award – Presented to Ishaa Giridhar
Ishaa Giridhar is an outstanding student leader at the University of California, San Diego, pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Business Economics with an exceptional 3.98 GPA and Provost Honors distinction. She exemplifies the spirit of the APAC Rising Star Award through her strong commitment to civic engagement, public service, and community leadership.
Ishaa has gained meaningful government and public service experience through internships with the Office of Congressman Scott Peters, the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. In these roles, she has engaged directly with constituents, contributed to policy research, supported community outreach—particularly for underserved and Spanish-speaking populations—and developed resource guides connecting individuals to critical services such as housing, food, and legal assistance.
Her leadership extends deeply into campus life at UC San Diego, where she serves as a Senior Orientation Leader, training and mentoring over 40 student leaders while promoting inclusive, student-centered programming. As a representative on the Thurgood Marshall College Student Council, Ishaa advocates for the needs of over 2,400 students, organizes community-building events, and collaborates with campus and community partners to strengthen engagement and belonging.
Ishaa’s work reflects a clear dedication to advancing civic participation, uplifting diverse communities, and building bridges between institutions and the public. With her proven leadership, commitment to service, and passion for community impact, she demonstrates exceptional promise as a future leader in the Asian Pacific Islander community and beyond.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Presented to Dr. Mitsuo Tomita
Dr. Mitsuo “Mits” Tomita is a retired family practice physician and a co-chair of the San Diego County Medical Society’s Bioethics Commission and a co-chair of their Retired Physicians Section. He serves on the board of the San Diego Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and was a past chair of the Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) board of directors.
Dr. Tomita chaired Mayor Dick Murphy’s Asian/Pacific Islander Citizens Advisory Board. July 22, 2008 was proclaimed Dr. Mitsuo Tomita Day throughout the County of San Diego and in 2008 he received the “Golden Apple” Award from United Way-CHAD for his community service. In 1998 he was selected as “Physician Partner of the Year” by his Kaiser Permanente physician colleagues.
Tom Hom Civic Engagement Scholarship
Presented to:
Tenzin Nima
I’m a first-generation college student at UC San Diego, focused on building a future that means something to me. Growing up, I had to figure a lot of things out on my own, which made me more independent and aware of how I move through life. I like staying active—playing basketball, working out—and I also enjoy cooking and making videos when I have time. Those things help me stay grounded and give me a way to express myself.
A lot of my experiences have shaped how I think and what I value. I’m always trying to learn, improve, and put myself in better positions. I take things seriously, but I also understand that growth takes time. I’m not perfect, but I stay consistent and keep pushing forward. At the end of the day, I just want to create something solid for myself and make sure everything I go through actually leads somewhere.
Ellie Chen
My name is Ellie Chen, and I am a first-year undergraduate student at University of California, San Diego. I major in Molecular and Cell Biology, but I am on a pre-med track to becoming a pediatrician. I want to work in a lab to understand rare diseases on a molecular level, while also working closely with children and monitoring their health. Currently, I am part of the board of the Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology club in UCSD, gearing towards building a welcoming and engaging community of these majors. We help people with their majors, providing resources to jobs and internships, as well as fostering new connections and networking to further their personal growth—especially since biology majors is very competitive at UCSD.
Outside of school, I love to stay involved with my Taiwanese community. I currently help volunteer and support an organization geared towards fostering future Taiwanese cultural ambassadors. I love staying engaged with the community I grew up in, and I especially enjoy helping people build leadership qualities as a team and family.
I am very grateful to be awarded the APAC Tom Hom Scholarship Award. This will definitely serve as a motivation to continue helping people around me and creating a welcoming community for everyone.
Tiona Troung
Tiona Truong is a first year at UC San Diego studying Molecular & Cell Biology on the pre-med track. As the daughter of a single-parent, multi-generational Vietnamese immigrant family, her upbringing has inspired her to advance equitable healthcare access and support underserved communities.
Tiona’s civic engagement focuses on addressing health disparities through direct service and advocacy. She volunteers with the non-profits American Pacific Health Foundation and the International Health Collective to provide free health screenings to underserved populations across San Diego County and conduct quality checks on electronic patient charts from free clinics in Tijuana. Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), she’s also supported individuals from diverse backgrounds through rehabilitation efforts while recognizing the structural challenges that impact their health. In addition, Tiona serves as an Advocacy and Leadership intern with APAMSA, where she helps curate educational resources to raise awareness about health inequities affecting AAPI communities.
Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatrician, combining her passion for science with compassionate, culturally responsive care. She would like to thank APAC for their generous support in helping her pursue her dream and continue her commitment to serving others.