Winners of the 2010 American Success Award:

dr. kim b. kim and dr. miyong t. kim

Arriving from South Korea with two young sons, Dr. Kim B. Kim and Dr. Miyong Kim faced stress and social isolation due to language and cultural barriers. Both worked long hours to make ends meet while earning bachelors, masters and PhD degrees in Arizona. Dr. Kim B. Kim is Director and founding member of the nonprofit Korean Resource Center in Ellicott City that promotes health and wellness and provides access to free medications. Dr. Miyong Kim is Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Systems and Outcomes at Johns Hopkins University; her research empowers people to take control of their health. She has been a Board member of the Maryland Korean American Association and served on Baltimore’s Commission on Aging and Retirement. Both have volunteered at local health fairs, providing free health screenings in Howard County.

gus mendez

When Gus was only 8, his father died in search of the “American Dream”. Leaving Gus and his two sisters in Bolivia with their grandparents, Gus’ mother came to the U.S and worked two jobs. When he was 13 years old, Gus and his sisters joined their mother.  Gus earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and a degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland and is now a physical therapist at Springfield Hospital in Sykesville.  He is also a proud, involved parent of three sons and a generous, spirited community activist – President of the Parents of Hispanic Students at Mt. Hebron High School, a member of HCPSS’s Hispanic Achievement Sub-Committee, a Board member of Conexiones of Howard County, and a Hispanic Hero at the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium of the Hispanic College Fund.

Zack H. Shariff

Zack Shariff emigrated from Pakistan at the age of 21. Working his way through college in Oklahoma and Texas, he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree. Zach owned restaurants and worked as an engineer before founding Allen & Shariff Corporation in Howard County in 1992, which he has built into a $30 million international engineering firm with over 120 employees. A former FIRN Board member and continued supporter, Zack has also served as a founding board member of the Environmental Sustainability Board of Howard County and mentored many local entrepreneurs and business owners. Through his firm, he partners with Habitat for Humanity, Adopt-A-Family, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the Angel Tree program.