This spring, the Center for Asia Pacific Studies launched a new fellowship designed to promote the study of Asia among undergraduate students at the University of San Francisco. Expanding the center’s reach beyond our traditional promotion of graduate study through the MA in Asia Pacific Studies program, this year we partnered with the Asian Studies department to reward the hard work of outstanding students in their program. Current USF students majoring or minoring in Asian Studies were eligible for awards ranging from $1000 to $5000. 

The new undergraduate Merit Fellowships for Asian Studies provides additional financial support in the form of tuition assistance to three outstanding undergraduates this semester. These recipients have broad and deep interests in the Asia Pacific region via heritage, language study, and academic coursework. When asking these three promising undergraduate students about what sparked their interest in the Asia Pacific, what classes have deepened that interest, and their hopes for continued engagement with the Asia Pacific in both personal and professional capacities, we found the merit fellows’ enthusiasm to be infectious, and decided to share their stories with you. 

In the coming weeks, we look forward to introducing you to this year’s fellowship recipients:

• Priscilla Kim Ong ‘22: International Studies, with concentrations in Sustainable Development & Environmental Justice and minors in Chinese and Asian Studies
• Emma DeBow ‘22: International Studies with a concentration in Environment and Development and a minor in Asian Studies
• Evan Matthew Chan ‘23: International Studies and Asian Studies with a minor in Chinese Studies. Evan is also an Asia Bridge Junior Fellow with the center.

We are impressed by the resilience of our Merit fellows, and proud of their excellent academic performance and demonstrated potential to promote a greater understanding of the Asia Pacific. All are passionate about Asia Pacific Studies, and are continuing to prove their academic resolve in this remote semester. They exemplify the qualities we hope to promote within USF’s Asian Studies programs, and we are proud to provide additional support to these eager and engaged young scholars along their academic and professional journeys.   

We greatly appreciate the support from our donors who are helping us prepare the next generation of students to work and engage with the Asia Pacific region. To give today and help us support additional educational programming and student fellowships, please click here.