A group celebrating Asian American Pacific Islanders recognized DeKalb County State Court Judge Alvin Wong with its "National Spotlight Award" at an Aug. 29 reception at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. As part of the "Who's Who in Asian American Communities" event, Wong was interviewed by former CNN anchor Sachi Koto. During the interview, Wong discussed his career in Georgia, the impact of his socioeconomic background, the influence of his family, how his education affected his career and how he overcame challenges. Wong also discussed what it means to be an Asian American and what legacy he wishes to leave to future generations. "Do the right thing," said Wong. "Don't defer, decide." Wong, who lives in Brookhaven, emigrated from Hong Kong when he was 14 years old. He was elected to the State Court of DeKalb County in 1998. According to the WWAAC announcement, Wong was the first Asian Pacific American to run for public office in metropolitan Atlanta and the first to be elected judge in the Southeast. Wong was elected in a county where Asians made up less than 2% of registered voters and has served continuously unopposed for over 20 years. The WWAAC Alliance Foundation behind the award is a nonprofit "to advance and benefit the lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders" and" to educate the public and bring about awareness, understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures and ethnic background of Asian Americans," according to its website. Click on the arrows to see photos from the reception. (Photos by John Disney.)