Washington State University Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month, Honoring State’s Fastest-Growing Minority Population

Washington’s second-largest minority population is Asian American Pacific Islander — a Census term that refers to people with origins in countries stretching from India to Hawaii, from Japan to Tonga. People of AAPI origin make up nearly 13% of Washington’s population, the 2020 Census found. That group was the fastest-growing minority population in the state from 2010–20.

Celebrations of the contributions and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders take place every year in May. Most colleges and universities, however, celebrate in April before students depart for the summer.