NAAAP Boston is proud to announce the five winners of the 2018 NAAAP Boston Future Leaders Scholarship Award.
Founded in 1987, the Future Leaders Scholarship Award is offered every year to high school seniors enrolling in college or university. By providing students additional financial need in their academic careers, NAAAP Boston hopes to further our mission of building leaders within the Asian American community, even at a young age.
This year, the scholarship committee reviewed over 80 applicants before choosing the final 5 winning scholars. Candidates were chosen based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service, leadership, and financial circumstances. A total of $20,000 was awarded with the gracious support of our scholarship sponsors and individual donors.
SONNY MEI, John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics & Science
Richard & Chou Lee Future Leaders Scholarship Award
Over the past few years, Sonny has developed a deep interest in advocacy work, especially in his Chinatown community where he works with various organizations that better the lives of those in the Asian American community. For example, his work with the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) and Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) ensures that Chinatown’s heritage and history continues to be preserved, has affordable housing, and serves as a space for minorities to strive both academically and without economic barriers. At the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK), Sonny advocates for gender equality and greater awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, having taken multiple STEM courses in school and cultivated a passion for technology, Sonny is sharing his knowledge with others as a coding mentor at the Castle Square Tenants Organization. Aside from coding, he teaches Excel, and programs in computer technologies to youth.
Sonny will be pursuing a degree in engineering that focuses on environmental conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
KATHY LEE, John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics & Science
TJX Future Leaders Scholarship Award
Born and raised in Boston, Kathy Lee has found a passion for volunteering especially around her Chinatown neighborhood. She has accumulated countless volunteering hours by partnering with non-profit organizations such as the Boston Asian Youth Essential Service where she helps advocate for violence and substance abuse prevention in Asian American communities. Additionally, Kathy volunteers at the Wang YMCA of Greater Boston Leaders Club by developing educational programs for kids ranging from ages 3 to 16. Overall, her community service work t has expanded her knowledge in public health issues facing Chinatown today.
Kathy will be attending Northeastern University this fall, pursuing a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
MATTHIAS LING, Hingham High School
Liberty Mutual Future Leaders Scholarship Award
As a resident of Hingham, Matthias has made a mark on his high school by being passionately involved in various extracurricular activities. He is the captain of the Fire Rescue Service, captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team, and founder of his school’s Stock Trading Club. In addition, he cultivated and self-published a photo journal on Chinese stereotypes called Faces of China which won him the Outstanding Global Portfolio award.
Matthias is currently studying abroad at the Mahindra United World College of India and will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall.
WENLE LIANG, Charlestown High School
Edwin K. & Mary G. Chin Future Leaders Scholarship Award
Having immigrated to the United States in 2015 from Guangdong, China, Wenle has cultivated a passion for public speaking and perseverance. She is currently the captain of her school’s debate team and is also a Varsity member of the Boston Debate League, having participated in six national debate tournaments. Under her leadership, the number of immigrant debaters on the team reached a record high. In addition to showing an interest in debate, Wenle is the community service coordinator at her school’s National Honor Society.
Wenle will be attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she hopes to continue challenging stereotypes related to Asian immigrants and Asian Americans.
RICHARD DAO, Braintree High School
Edwin K. & Mary G. Chin Future Leaders Scholarship Award
Richard has shown an immense amount of leadership when advocating for Asian communities in Boston and its surrounding cities. He hopes to foster and improve the social, cultural, economic, and civil lives of Asian Americans so they can thrive in their own communities. In addition, he plays volleyball for both his high school and his beloved Boston’s Chinatown club team, the Knights, a social and athletic organization that plays a different variation of volleyball called “9-man.” It is a special and cultural sport for Asians that sprouted from the heart of Boston’s Chinatown and is played throughout the world. Richard has devoted great passion to this organization and led his team to success in many tournaments nationwide. After graduating high school, Richard plans to be the first in his family to graduate from college and create an organization that empowers youth to create change in their communities.
Richard will be attending Northeastern University in the fall studying finance.
Donate to our Scholarship Fund for 2019 HERE.
You can also donate to the scholarship fund by shopping on Amazon Smile.
