UF’s Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers named one of the strongest national chapters
Members of the University of Florida’s Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers describe their beloved organization in two simple words: home and community.
“The most impactful thing that SASE has provided is all the friends I have right now,” said Vincent Lin, a computer science major and SASE president. “It provides a community where I feel at home.”
In 2007, the national chapter of SASE was founded in Denver to connect Asian science and engineering students with working professionals. Three years later, students pioneered a UF chapter, and the society has been cultivating a peer and professional support network ever since.
Currently at 800 members, the UF chapter has grown in size and stature.
In fact, in 2024 the national SASE chapter named UF as one of its two Overall Strongest Chapters (out of 86 chapters). UF also recognized the society as the Student Organization of the Year for 2023-2024 and the Life-Long Learner Excellence in Career Readiness award.
Lin has been part of the organization since his freshman year. Through the society, he has celebrated his culture, learned leadership skills, cultivated a large network of professional engineers, and made friends with a passion for engineering.
“They provided a lot of resources that helped me both academically and professionally,” he said.
As freshmen, new members can shadow society officers through an internship program where leadership skills are cultivated.
Many of Lin’s close friends are fellow SASE members, some of whom he met through the chapter’s internal mentorship program. As a third-year student and society president, he now has a cohort of students he mentors.
During his time as an intern, he helped plan a social event inspired by “Squid Game,” the widely popular South Korean competition-to-the-death fiction series. SASE members competed in challenges – minus the show’s violence – as they got to know each other.
“It’s a fun way to be able to bond and gain leadership experience,” he said, noting SASE is an “everything organization.”
Society members volunteer for community street cleanups with other campus organizations.
SASE and the Health Educated Asian Leaders, for example, adopted a street by Southwest Recreation, and six times a year the two organizations clean the street, said Emely Chhu, a fourth-year computer engineering student and former SASE president.
Tenants of Chhu’s presidency included embracing the society’s shared and different Asian cultural traditions.
Last spring, she worked with other board members to host the “SASE-ian Flavors Potluck” where members brought food from their culture, learned about each other’s cuisines and watched movies.
One of Chhu’s favorite ways to connect in SASE is the intramural sports program.
“I play on many,” she said. “I’m on four teams right now.”
SASE has one of the largest intramural programs of all the cultural organizations on campus, said Justin Doan, a second-year environmental engineering student and membership involvement chair. Over 100 members signed up for intramural teams this spring.
SASE offers volleyball, basketball, soccer, and tennis this semester. The society also holds weekly casual sporting events such as flag football at Flavet Field and sand volleyball at Southwest Recreation.
The recreational teams provide an environment for members to let loose and bond, regardless of skill level.
“Everyone comes together, we all play and it’s a really fun time,” Doan said. “That’s something really, really rewarding about being in SASE.”
Doan’s been involved since his freshman fall and values the leadership development and friendships he gained in the internship program. Now, as a membership involvement chair, he oversees the internship program.
“I consider SASE one of my second families,” Doan said. “It’s very comforting to know that when I’m walking alone, I’ll see familiar faces.”
He credits SASE’s community environment as the driving force behind the chapter’s strong development. Without such a large, dedicated community, the social and developmental programs would not be as successful.
“Although we are a professional leadership organization, it’s the community that comes with it that makes people stay,” he said.