News

On Wednesday March 18, 2015 the Youth Arts Education program of the acclaimed East West Players theatre group will perform Born to Lead: The Susan Ahn Cuddy Story for Palms students. A grant has provided the funding.

Palms students will learn the story of Korean-American citizen Susan Ahn Cuddy, who was born in Los Angeles in 1915. Her parents were the first married couple to immigrate to the United States from Korea, and they were very loyal to America and to their Korean culture.

Susan Ahn Cuddy was active in school leadership, played second base at L.A. City College, and then fulfilled her dream to became the first Korean American woman in the U.S. military. She flew planes and trained other pilots during World War II, became a Lieutenant, and then worked for Naval Intelligence and for the Library of Congress!

She was named Woman of the Year in 2003 and received an American Courage Award in 2006. She's now 100 years old. March 10 was declared Susan Ahn Cuddy Day in Los Angeles County.

The East West Players is the nation's premier Asian American theatre organization, with a mission to introduce audiences to the diverse Asian Pacific experiences. Their productions blend Eastern and Western movement, costumes, language, and music.