Gia Dang is a top student at High School for the Gifted VNU-HCM with a 9.8 GPA, SAT 1580, and IELTS 8.0. He leads the Shark Club and founded Teach for Happiness, impacting over 200 students through education and leadership.
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Gia Dang is a top student at High School for the Gifted VNU-HCM with a 9.8 GPA, SAT 1580, and IELTS 8.0. He leads the Shark Club and founded Teach for Happiness, impacting over 200 students through education and leadership.
A cultural movement igniting passion for Khmer Lakhon Khol Masks and Chằn Dance—where ancient tradition meets modern innovation, empowering youth and preserving heritage through art, education, and community.
My heart belongs to the preservation of heritage—a passion that blossomed into Maskhmerize in October 2024. As the Founder, I wasn’t just starting a fanpage; I was igniting a movement to breathe new life into Khmer Lakhon Khol Masks and Chằn Dance, focusing on economic empowerment and cultural enhancement.
Through passionate storytelling and campaigns, we quickly grew a dedicated community of over 1,500 followers, proving that tradition can thrive online. The real magic lay in transformation: I personally designed and sold Khmer-inspired merchandise—vibrant tote bags and pixel-art pins—successfully raising over $1,000 to fuel our cultural and educational missions.
The highlight of this journey was orchestrating a massive cultural exchange for 200+ Khmer students at Luong Hoa A Secondary & High School. We didn’t just talk about culture; we made it relevant. I trained 100 students in a Pixel Art Contest to digitally reimagine traditional masks, integrating this ancient art into modern water-rocket projects. Simultaneously, a Dance Workshop introduced 30+ students to the elegant movements of Lakhon Khol, with their inspiring performances shared online to reach an even wider audience.
Western Sydney University funding
Full academic scholarship recognition
LQT Startup Contest 2025
Ho Chi Minh City Television News