Congressman Jim McDermott presents Simon Khin with Spirit of Liberty award. (Photo by Tomo)
Burmese refugee Simon Khin was presented with the Spirit of Liberty Award. The award is given annually to a naturalized citizen who has made outstanding contributions to the United States, while maintaining his or her ethnic heritage. Congressman Jim McDermott presented Khin the award in front of a large crowd at the Fourth of July naturalization ceremony at the Seattle Center, where 525 people from 82 countries became citizens. Khin, a former engineer with Microsoft and Boeing, left his job to start the Coalition for Refugees from Burma, a nonprofit that helps Burmese refugees assimilate to American culture. (end)