He decided to enroll in Des Moines Area Community College, Urban Campus, to learn English. He found his dream job as a math teacher in Des Moines Schools after graduating from Drake University. He holds a Master teaching license in mathematic 5-12, ELL and Master degree in School Leadership; he currently works at Des Moines Public Schools.
Vinh has been active in the community for many years and has lent his skills and support to many projects and activities in the Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, refugee and immigrant communities.
He was the recipient of the “Passport to Prosperity Award” from the Iowa Council for International Understanding in 2004, the “Dan Chavez, Beyond the Horizon Award” 2005, a prestigious award given to individual who demonstrates extraordinary effort on behalf of immigrant, refugee and non-English speaking population of Iowa, the DMACC Alumni Award in 2008, the Governor Volunteer Award in 2010 and a Special Recognition Certificate from Governor Chet Culver in 2010.
