Phoukhong Xamonthiene Mauck is a native of Vientiane, Laos, but was raised in Portland, Ore. Her family moved to Oregon when she was three years old.
"I have no recollection of Laos as a child, but I visited there in the summer of 1998," she said. "Laos is a tropical country bordering Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The culture there emphasizes close families and love for one another and friends. I would go back in a heartbeat."
Phoukhong is a 1998 graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University. "I love dental hygiene because it allows me to be a caring professional and an active person." Her favorite activities include hiking, camping, tennis, and snowboarding.
A recent newlywed, Phoukhong enjoys doing the aforementioned activities with family and church members.
"I spend most of my time with family and my church because of my love for them," she said. "We all love to go on weekend trips: camping, beach trips, snowboarding at Mt. Hood, and visiting out-of-town friends."
