Results for the competition for the 2005 Shiming Hu / Eli Seifman Chinese Studies Scholarship and the 2005 Shiming Hu Memorial Leadership Award

The selection committee this year consisted of the following:

• Sherry Chang, Associate Director of the Libraries, member of AAFSA (Asian American Faculty Staff Association)
• Eileen Otis, Assistant Professor, Sociology, affiliated faculty of China Studies
• Agnes He, Assistant Professor, AAAS Dept., Director of China Studies (Chair of the Committee)

This year we received ten applications (recommended by 5 different faculty members) for the Hu/Seifman Chinese Studies Scholarship. The qualities of this year's applicants are high and making a final decision was difficult. Members of the selection committee first independently ranked the applicants, then determined three finalists who received the highest total rankings. The committee subsequently discussed as a group the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three finalists. Finally, the committee members independently re-ranked the three finalists and selected the one who received the highest total ranking.

The recipient of the Chinese Studies Scholarship is Aileen Chou. Aileen has taken a broad range of coursework – and shown consistently excellent performance -- relating to China, covering not only language courses but also Asian studies, anthropology, theatre, and philosophy. The committee was much impressed with the dedication she has shown in her studies, as well as her enthusiasm and scholarly creativity. In one of her research projects, for example, Aileen examined how cultural continuity and change are embodied in one social/cultural practice by looking at how traditional Chinese recipes are adapted over the years in the U.S. to suit the tastes of the local people.

We received two applications for the Hu Leadership Award. The recipient is Guochiuan Wang. Guochiuan played the leadership role in establishing the Chinese Literature Club as well as creating the Club's website. Through the various cultural and literary events – the Lantern Festival celebration, reading groups, poetry writing, guest speaker series, publication of the first Chinese magazine on campus – the club (current membership over 50) has inspired and energized a large group of students to study, improve, and celebrate Chinese language and literature.