The Albanian American Student Organization ( AASO Global) ( sq, Organizata e Studentëve Shqiptaro-Amerikan) is a non-profit organization established by Albanian-American students in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

Misson

AASO Global is dedicated to foster among the members a sense of comradery and support, promote cultural awareness and appreciation, and serve the community while promoting higher education. The organization hosts social events, fundraising efforts, volunteering events, leadership seminars, and networking opportunities.

History

AASO Global was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1998. The organization was initiated by Albanian-American students at Wayne State University. Their main objective was to promote fellowship among the Albanian-American students, along with other students around campus and to promote the preservation of Albanian heritage. Following the success of this chapter, other universities soon began to establish new chapters at their own college campuses.

Gjergj Kastrioti Scholarship (GKS) Fund

The Gjergj Kastrioti Scholarship (GKS) Fund was founded in 1999 as an extension of the Albanian American Student Organization (AASO Global). The goal is to provide scholarship support to Albanian-American youth that demonstrate a need and/or has maintained a history of superior academic achievement. Gjergj Kastrioti Scholars must attend four-year Michigan colleges and universities.

Mother Teresa Service Day

On September 26, 2009, the Albanian American Student Organization (AASO Global) organized the first annual Mother Teresa Service Day (MTSD) to honor

Mother Teresa Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, MC (; 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), better known as Mother Teresa ( sq, Nënë Tereza), was an Indian-Albanian Catholic nun who, in 1950, founded the Missionaries of Charity. Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu () was bo ...

. MTSD is a day dedicated to community service in the Metro-Detroit area, honoring the Albanian Roman Catholic nun's legacy. The event occurs annually and has gathered hundreds of student volunteers from around the state of Michigan.

Chapters

Connecticut *

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from Hart ...

(ASA) Texas * North American Collegehttp://www.assohtx.org ( AASOHTX) *

University of Houston The University of Houston (UH) is a Public university, public research university in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1927, UH is a member of the University of Houston System and the List of universities in Texas by enrollment, university in Texas ...

( AASOHTX) New York *

Iona College (New York) Iona University is a private Roman Catholic university with a main campus in New Rochelle, New York. It was founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers and occupies a campus of in New Rochelle and a campus of in Bronxville, N ...

(AAS/AASO) Pennsylvania *

Drexel University Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, S ...

(ASO) Michigan *

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It is Michigan's third-largest university. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 350 programs to nearly 25,000 ...

(AASO) *

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

– Dearborn (AASO) *

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

(AASO) *

Oakland University Oakland University is a public research university in Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, Michigan. Founded in 1957 through a donation of Matilda Dodge Wilson, it was initially known as Michigan State University-Oakland, operating under the Mi ...

(AASO) *

–

Ann Arbor Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...

(AASO) *

Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale, Michigan. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids. The universit ...

(AASO) *

University of Detroit Mercy The University of Detroit Mercy is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Roman Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 ...

(AASO) Canada *

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

(ASU) Australia * Australian Albanian University Students Association (AAUSA)

Notable alumni

Erion Veliaj Erion Veliaj (born December 17, 1979) is an Albanian politician, who is currently serving as the Mayor of Tirana. Stemming from a civil society activism organization as the leader of MJAFT!, Veliaj joined the ranks of the Socialist Party of Alb ...

– Albanian politician, who is currently serving as the 42nd Mayor of Tirana, Albania. * Suzanna Shkreli – Deputy Legal Counsel to Michigan Governor,

Gretchen Whitmer Gretchen Esther Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 a ...

. Former United States Congressional Candidate and Macomb County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. * Elizabeth Ivezaj – Miss Michigan 2014.

Other

* Albanian Americans *

History of the Albanian Americans in Metro Detroit The organization Global Detroit stated that the largest group of ethnic Albanians not in Europe is in Metro Detroit. As of 2014, 4,800 ethnic Albanians live in Macomb County, making up the fourth-largest ethnic group in that county, and the highes ...

List of Albanian Americans This is a list of notable Albanian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants. Politics * Sal Albanese – politician * Richard Caliguiri – American politician * Joe DioGuard ...

References

{{Albania topics