News
Outstanding Community Service Award
February 12, 2015
Yi Zhao, Associate Professor of Political Science, was awarded the Outstanding Community Service Award at the Faculty Awards Convocation.
The text that follows was shared at the Faculty Awards Convocation on February 5th and describes the reasons Professor Zhao was chosen for the award.
"Yi Zhao is being recognized for his extensive community work with the Grand Rapids Chinese Language School (GRCLS), which enrolls about 140 students in 14 Saturday classes of different levels. Zhao serves as vice principal of GRCLS in 2012-2013 and as principal in 2013-2014. In addition, he founded a Parent Teacher Organization and has been involved in a number of the school activities, including the Chinese Speech Contest, a 2014 Spring Culture Festival, and an Asian Gala held in March 2014 that received an Award for the West Michigan Asian American Association. In honor of his tireless involvement, he was named "Honorary Principal" in 2014 when his term as principal ended. Zhao's efforts have resulted in many changes at GRCLS; perhaps most impressive, according to one of the GRCLS board members, Zhao '[managed] to change the paradigms of the mindset of the Asian parents...' The board member continues, 'His tireless dedication, effort and time spent volunteering truly sets him apart from others'."