Activities
Greater China Scholarship Program
2011 marked the inaugural year of the Greater China Scholarship Program. The Greater China Scholarship is supported by the Li Ka Shing Foundation and generous alumni, parents, and friends of the University of Notre Dame. Scholarship winners are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to the betterment of society and a promising capacity for global leadership, in addition to outstanding academic excellence.
There were approximately 400 applicants to Notre Dame from Greater China this year. Of these, the top 20 were selected as finalists. From March 26 to 28, the Notre Dame Asia Office hosted a Greater China Scholarship weekend for the finalists. Over the course of the weekend, finalists participated in individual interviews, group activities, and other interactive events. A selection committee consisting of 8 ND faculty members and outstanding alums observed and evaluated the candidates. Some alumni, parents, and current students studying in Beijing also attended the event and interacted with the scholarship finalists. Dr. Tom Burish, Provost of Notre Dame was also present, representing the university’s commitment to the inaugural scholarship program..
Scholarship finalists with Provost Burish
After careful selection, three students, Ying Ying Mak, from Hong Kong, Nuohan Zhang, from Beijing, and Huili Chen, from Guizhou, were awarded full scholarships that cover the total cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and living expenses for all four years of attendance. The total value of each scholarship is approximately US $250,000. Ms. Ying Ying Mak, of Saint Paul's Secondary School has maintained an outstanding level of academic performance and was ranked first in form/class for a couple of times. She is active in a range of extra-curricular activities including choir, debate, and the Legion of Mary. This past year, she served as Editor-in-Chief of her school yearbook. Ms. Mak was among one of few receiving the 2009 Distinction Award in the China Outstanding Student (Hong Kong) Selection of the Da Vinci Foundation. She has also earned her the 2010 Platinum Award of the school's Paulinian Award Scheme. Ms. Nuohan Zhang, of The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, worked with the Hope Project to attain education equality for the children of Beijing’s migrant workers. As a Wings Project Scholar at Beijing Normal University, she studied soil respiration for two years and hopes to pursue her academic interests in business, sociology, and environmental protection at Notre Dame. Ms. Huili Chen of Guiyang No.6 High School worked extensively with underprivileged children in Guizhou—one of the poorer regions of China – teaching basics of hygiene, introducing music, and raising funds for recreational equipment, such as ping-pong tables and badminton nets. She is interested in studying accounting, philosophy, and economics.
Two Notre Dame current students, Ms. Jiayi Lou and Ms. Ruoqing Huang, have been helping this summer at the Notre Dame Asia Office in fund-raising efforts to support this program. In addition, thanks to the continued support from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, students applying to Notre Dame for admission in fall 2012 will also be eligible for the Greater China Scholarship.
