Community Leaders, Educators, Alumni, Students and Parents Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Principal Ms. Lei Wang’s Career in Art Education

1/11/2023

Sponsored by Chinese American Education Association, the ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of Principal Ms. Lei Wang’s Career in Art Education was held at West California Academy of Art and Design on Jan 8, 2023.

Prof. Robert Liu, the president of Chinese American Education Association, made an opening address, and Omar Gallegos, WCAAD Vice Principal and Director of Education, made a welcome address. The elected officials and guests of honor including Representative of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Judy Chu (U.S. Congresswoman), Mike Eng (member of the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board), Mike Fong (California State Assemblyman), Dongmei Bai, stand-in for Representative Dr. Sophie Wong (CEO and founder of Chinese-American Elected Officials Association) to present CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma Recognition, Representative of Hilda Solis (Los Angeles County Supervisor, 1st District) and Kathryn Barger (Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th District), Tony Ding (Mayor of City of San Gabriel), Denise Menchaca (San Gabriel City Councilmember), John Wu (San Gabriel City Councilmember), Dr. Allen Wu (Mayor of City of Walnut), Eileen Wang (Arcadia City Councilmember), Dr. Charley Lu (Chinese American Political Action Committee), Florence Lin (Asian Youth Center Public Relations Manager), Melissa Cheng (President and Founder of Southern California Asian-American Parent Teacher Organization), Eva Qian (President of Chinese Women's Business Association of California), Mike Wang (President of American Chinese Experts Association), Mary Su (Health Fair Art Contest coordinator), each made a congratulation speech and presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang.

Prof. Robert Liu, the president of Chinese American Education Association, made an opening address

Omar Gallegos, WCAAD Vice Principal and Director of Education, made a welcome address

Representative of Senator Dianne Feinstein presented the recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Judy Chu, U.S. Congresswoman, made a congratulation speech

Judy Chu, U.S. Congresswoman, presented the recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Mike Eng, member of the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board,
made a congratulation speech and presented the recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Mike Fong, California State Assemblyman, made a congratulation speech and presented the recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Dongmei Bai, stand-in for Representative Dr. Sophie Wong, CEO and founder of Chinese-American Elected Officials Association,
presented the CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma Recognition to Ms. Lei Wang

Dr. Allen Wu, Mayor of City of Walnut, Representative of Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 1st District, and Kathryn Barger,
Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th District, made a congratulation speech and presented the recognition awards to Ms. Lei Wang

Tony Ding, Mayor of City of San Gabriel, made a congratulation speech and presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Denise Menchaca, San Gabriel City Councilmember, made a congratulation speech

John Wu, San Gabriel City Councilmember, made a congratulation speech

Eileen Wang, Arcadia City Councilmember, made a congratulation speech and presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

the Chinese American Political Action Committee members congratulated Ms. Lei Wang, from Left to right:
San Gabriel City Council John Wu, IAPAC vice chairwoman Linda Shen, HQH president & IAPAC vice chairman Zig Jiang,
IAPAC vice chairwoman Jennifer Hong, HQH vice president & San Gabriel Lion's Club vice president Mary He,
Arcadia City Council Woman Eileen Wang, Ms. Lei Wang, IAPAC chairman Dr. Charley Lu, San Gabriel Mayor, IAPAC honorable Chairman,
San Gabriel Hope Lion's Club president Tony Ding, IAPAC board member Jenny Kong

Prof. Robert Liu, the president of Chinese American Education Association presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Florence Lin, Asian Youth Center Public Relations Manager, made a congratulation speech

Melissa Cheng, President and Founder of Southern California Asian-American Parent Teacher Organization, made a congratulation speech

Eva Qian, President of Chinese Women's Business Association of California,
made a congratulation speech and presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Mike Wang, President of American Chinese Experts Association,
made a congratulation speech and presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Mary Su, Health Fair Art Contest coordinator, made a congratulation speech and presented recognition award to Ms. Lei Wang

Ms. Lei Wang thanked Chinese American Education Association for recognizing her with such a spectacular celebration, which offered her a great opportunity to look back at her half-century’s life in art education. “And I would also like to thank all the guests here today. It is a great privilege for me to receive you at our school. I am greatly honored by your gracious presence, and much more thanks for taking your precious time and resources to help me and my school during the past years!” Ms. Lei Wang said.

“As I look back on the past 50 years, I am glad that I have been focusing on just one thing, that is, teaching children art. And I continue to be awestruck by the accomplishments of our top students and our faculty and staff. We are producing intelligent, creative and successful graduates who play a vital role in art, design, and other significant professions around the world.” Ms. Lei Wang said, “Our students have been admitted into the finest universities in the world. They stand out from the crowd of applicants by expressing themselves in a unique artistic way, accepted to not only top art colleges such as Art Center, OTIS, RISD, Parsons, SVA, but also Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, UCLA, USC.”

Ms. Lei Wang is the Founder of West California Academy of Art and Design. Led by Ms. Lei Wang for almost 30 years, West California Academy of Art and Design has been transforming students into confident, creative artists and designers who have gone on to have successful careers in their chosen field.

With Wang Lei’s continuous efforts, West California Academy of Art and Design has officially become a WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accredited school since July 6, 2017. This Accreditation channels a new period of growth for the Academy and anchors its international reputation throughout the world. Graduation from a WASC accredited school will open doors to the graduates applying to top-notch universities around the world.

Throughout its existence, the Academy has continued to grow with, and often anticipate, the many cultural and technological landmarks of the new century while refining its educational tools and methodologies to remain on the forefront of art education.

In addition to offering art education programs for children, Wang Lei has also been continuously taking time and efforts to provide voluntary public service for the community. During the past ten years, Ms. Lei Wang, her students and her staff members have collectively contributed more than 6,000 hours to domestic and international public service.

The San Gabriel City Council presented the recognition awards to WCAAD student Lawrence Zhao
who led the Pledge of allegiance and Star Factory student Alisa Chang who sang the National Anthem at the opening ceremony

During the past three years, the Academy’s students have won multiple awards in various art competitions. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, however, many of the official award ceremonies have been canceled and some awards have not been passed out to the student winners yet. “We’ d like to take this opportunity making up for the missed award ceremonies,” Ms. Lei Wang said, “It is with great pleasure and honor that we ask our guests of honor to present the awards to our students.”

WCAAD student and parent representatives also made congratulation speeches at the ceremony.

Eric Ng, Class of 2003. Attending WCAAD at the age of 11. Graduating from Art Center College of Design, majoring in Product Design. Currently an art faculty of Art Center College of Design

Marvin Chow, Class of 2004. Attending WCAAD at the age of 8. Graduating from Art Center College of Design, majoring in Illustration. Currently an adjunct art faculty of Cal State University, Fullerton

Isabella & Felicia Dong, Class of 2023. Twins attending WCAAD at the age of 5

Ashley McGinn, Class of 2023. Attending WCAAD at the age of 4

Rebecca & Jonathan Chu, Siblings attending WCAAD at the age of 3.
Jonathan currently at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts --LACHSA. Class of 2023.
Rebecca currently at Otis College of Art and Design. Class of 2019