Students of Green Hope registering for classes in the 2025-26 school year had a new elective option: Asian American Studies Honors. 

Proposed by AP U.S. History and Sociology Honors teacher Mr. Colin Richardson, the new addition is a result of the progress made by the school’s Asian American Oral History Project (AAOHP). 

The initiative was made possible by  Green Hope student and staff contributors along with the support from the UNC-Chapel Hill Asian American Center, both of which made joint efforts advocating for inclusive representation in the Green Hope community. 

From the summer of 2023 to the end of the 2023-24 school year, participants contributed to background research and events including orchestra concerts, guest speaker sessions, culture nights and exhibitions. The project gained the support of Principal Ms. Alison Cleveland, and its success led to the common goal of advocating for the course. “I was motivated to propose the course by the impressive advocacy of former students, like Shania Khoo, who advocated for the creation of an Asian American Studies Minor at Duke, and Raina Lee, who was one of the leaders of our Student Roundtable back in 2019,” added Mr. Richardson. 

Green Hope is the only school in the Wake County Public School System offering Asian American Studies Honors for the upcoming school year. Mr. Richardson stated that through this course, students and teachers will be able to, “[E]xplore the diverse and varied histories and contemporary experiences of Asian American communities in the United States with an additional emphasis on the American South.” 

He explains how Asian American Studies Honors will adapt standards – which focus on the themes of history, economics, geography, civics and culture – from existing social studies courses. However, the course will differ by covering more extensive ground, delving into vast detail. “[We] approach modern issues from diverse perspectives.”

New classes are bound to come with their own set of challenges. Advocacy for Asian American Studies sprouted from California and New York, states known for their more diverse student bodies. Integrating this course into the South brings inevitable challenges in properly showcasing the Asian American perspectives and experiences of a different region. 

Despite this, Mr. Richardson assures that through community support and the guidance of the UNC-Chapel Hill Asian American Center, the course is on track for success. “It’s a brand-new course so there will definitely be challenges – figuring out the answers will be part of the fun!” he assures. 

“If we, as students, want to have the best, most comprehensive understanding of American History, and what it all means for our present and future as well, then we have to take the initiative,” said Annika Rogov (‘25), a major contributor to the creation of this class. 

Rogov collaborated with Mr. Richardson and fellow Green Hope students for the past two years to craft the course’s curriculum. “[We design] academic standards, potential units for the class, and demonstrate basic interest and utility.” Rogov was dedicated to ensuring that the course was successfully created, working through tight deadlines in the busy month of December. She worked to spread the word throughout Green Hope and leaned into interest from humanities students. 

“I only wish that I could’ve taken it myself before I graduate, but I have to be satisfied in knowing that it’ll be available for people after me,” expressed Rogov. She expressed that her efforts in creating this class were not fueled by some potential for personal gain; her hopes are simply that the work that she did with her fellow teammates succeeds in spreading Asian American representation in secondary education. “I couldn’t care less about my name being attached to it as long as this class sticks around to make an impact on its students far into the future,” she explains. 

To Rogov’s satisfaction, Asian American Studies Honors is here to stay. Mr. Richardson confirmed this sentiment, and expects the course – which will only be offered at Green Hope next year – to expand through the Wake County system. 

“Wake County has approved the course, so it will be available in the future. GHHS will be the only school offering Asian American Studies in 2025-6, but WCPSS expects it to grow over time,” Mr. Richardson said.