Winners of the 2008 American Success Award:

Francis A. and joyce Afoakwah

Mr. and Mrs. Aforakwah left teaching jobs in Ghana, West Africa, and came to the U.S. nearly 30 years ago. Francis, who earned bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, monitors child placement facilities for the Maryland State Social Services Administration. Since 1989, Francis and Joyce have worked at Grassroots Crisis Intervention Program, where Joyce is a full-time Residential Assistant and Francis is a part-time member of Grassroots’ Mobile Crisis Team. Francis is a founding member and current President of the Asante Kotoko Association, which educates the community about Ghana culture and facilitates the assimilation of Ghanaian immigrants. Francis has been a Block Captain, Board member and Treasurer of the Signal Hill Neighborhood Association. 

Peter S. Lee

Mr. Lee emigrated to the U.S. from Korea with his wife, Grace, in 1975.  Settling in Baltimore with only $25 in his pocket, Peter joined the Air Force and worked several jobs to save money to study at Towson State University, where he earned an accounting degree.  In 1981, he opened an accounting office, Lee & Associate, Inc., and obtained a real estate license to help Korean-Americans with home and business purchases. Today, Mr. Lee owns Leeway Development Group in Ellicott City that owns five shopping centers.  He and his wife also own a Residential and Commercial Real Estate Company in Ellicott City.  Mr. Lee is Elder of the Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church; Executive Director of Korean American Food for the Hungry International; and President of Sejong Scholarship Foundation of North America. 

Saba S. Sheikh, M.D.

Dr. Sheikh emigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan via Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.  Saba and husband Salman first settled in Buffalo, NY.  In 1988, she passed the equivalency examinations for an M.D. in the U.S. and completed her residency training. A Howard County resident since 1999, Dr. Sheikh has build a thriving medical practice and has demonstrated her strong commitment to community service as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians; a member of MedChi, Maryland State Medical Society; a Commissioner of the Howard County Commission on Aging; a member of the Leadership Council of the American Cancer Society, Howard County Chapter; a volunteer physician at the MCC Free Clinic in Silver Spring; and Lead Organizer of the highly-acclaimed Howard County Muslim Foundation Health Fair.