Leaguer Ricky Ly - 2025 OC Distinguished Citizen
Staff | Published on 12/1/2025
CONGRATULATIONS to Leaguer Ricky Ly who has been awarded the 2025 Orange County Distinguished Citizen of the Year! He is a civil engineer, food blogger, and voting advocate in the Asian community. In 2024, Ly and fellow Leaguers Onchantho Am and Kam Shenai founded Asian American Pacific Islanders Coming Together or ACT.
From the Orange County Gov. newsroom:
Ricky Ly, co-founder of Asian Pacific American Coming Together (APACT), was honored as this year’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year. APACT is a local organization dedicated to increasing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) civic engagement. Ly’s leadership and advocacy were recognized nationally when Congressman Darren Soto read his biography into the U.S. Congressional Record in honor of AAPI Heritage Month.
For decades, Ly has served as a dedicated community advocate, inspiring others – especially youth – through his commitment to civic participation and education. Through his STEAM Initiative at Pine Hills Elementary, he connects partners to expand science and technology opportunities for students, helping shape their future paths.
His lasting impact has been widely recognized: Orlando Weekly named him one of the “10 People Making Orlando a Better Place.” Ly also volunteers with numerous organizations, including the Mayor’s MLK Initiative, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and WorldOrlando.
Also, click below for a recent article about Ricky and his background:
Asia Trend article:
Ricky was later named by Orlando Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful people in Orlando. “It’s so important that our voices are heard. The issues that we face as a community, whether its education, immigration or anything else like that. I think it’s so important.”
To encourage Asian Americans to vote, in 2024 Ricky created Asian American Pacific Islanders Coming Together or ACT, with advocates Onchantho Am and Kam Shenai.
“Our Asian Americans are the least likely to vote of any group unfortunately in America and so we’re trying to change that.
It’s so important because your vote is your voice. If you’re not voting that means someone else is taking that vote from you.” The move caught the attention of the White House.