In 1979, Vietnamese refugee Hung Pham arrived in San José, California. He did not speak English and had no money or family. He left Vietnam by boat, facing storms, hunger, illness, and pirates. The United Nations estimated that nearly half of Vietnamese boat people died at sea. Pham survived the two-week journey and enrolled at San José City College (SJCC), his first stop in the United States.
Pham faced challenges adjusting to life in the U.S. He struggled with the language and adapting to a new environment. SJCC offered him support and a sense of community. During this time, he was involved in a bicycle accident on his way to class. A stranger named Dan helped him reach the hospital and stayed until he received care. In appreciation, Pham later adopted the name Dan.
After two years at SJCC, Dan Pham transferred to Sacramento State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He then completed a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at UC San Diego. Over the next forty years, Pham worked as a mechanical engineer in Silicon Valley. He became a husband and father to twin daughters. He continued to value the support he received as a student…