The Wall POV Project’s, “Willow Tree Scholarship,” was established in 2018 in honor of Mr. Lieu Van Pham.  Lieu was a refugee from Vietnam, who upon arriving to the United States worked multiple laborious jobs to support his family of six.  

Although Lieu had a degree in Political Science and was Lieutenant of the South Vietnamese Navy in Vietnam, starting a new life in the United States meant working during the day and taking college courses at night.  He eventually earned an Associates Degree, and later became a technician fixing pagers for a local business.  He kept his custodian position at night, and continued to work two full time jobs for more than twenty-five years.

Well educated in a war-torn country, Lieu immensely valued school and frequently reminded his children the value of education.  He expressed that education, knowledge, and free thought were things no one could take away from an individual. The name Lieu means “willow” in Vietnamese and The Willow Tree Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of his adaptability through difficulties and challenges, and his ideals for continual self-growth and learning.