2007 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The Jacksonville Asian American Alliance (JAAA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Jacksonville Asian American Alliance College Scholarship Award. Four senior high school students, who are in the International Baccalaureate program at their respective schools, were chosen based on academic achievements, leadership and community service. They are:

Alexander Chern attends Paxon School for Advanced Studies.  Alex is a National Merit scholarship finalist, an intern at the Museum of Science and History, captain of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, a school tutor, and Assistant Concertmaster of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Alex was also a semifinalist at the Siemens Westinghouse Science Math and Technology Competition by completing a research project on magnetic and structural properties of different compositions of cobalt/copper alloys. He plans to enroll at Yale University.

John Song is a senior at Stanton College Preparatory School.  A National Merit Scholarship finalist, John wrote a research paper concerning the role of synaptic degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases by spending two summers at Mayo Clinic’s Neurodegenerative Diseases Department.  During his internship at the Museum of Science and History, John was selected for the Earthwatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program in California as a research aid to studies on global warming in the Sierra Nevada. He is captain of the Stanton Brain Brawl team that won 1st place in the anual Duval County Brain Brawl tournament. John plans to attend Yale University.

Maura Turner attends Ridgeview High School in Orange Park.  Maura is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, English Honor Society, and the National Scholars of High School Society.  She is also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and placed third in districts for the Business Law test.  Her community service includes leading a drama camp, tutoring Spanish, choreographing a musical play and raising funds for Operation Smile and Breast Cancer. Maura plans to pursue event finance, planning & hospitality at the University of Central Florida.

Shan Wang attends Allen D. Nease High School.  She participated in the Governor’s Summer Program for Gifted for glass blowing, Burnett Honor’s College Summer Institute for JAVA computer programming, and the Marie Walsh Sharpe Summer Seminar.  She also placed first in a national physics video contest sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers.  Shan has volunteered at the Ponte Vedra Cultural Center and with the Young Curators Circle where she helped put together exhibits for the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art. Shan has chosen Massachusetts Institute of Technology for her undergraduate education.

“This year's scholarship recipients are equally impressive and have excellent academic achievements, outstanding leadership ability and strong record of community service,” commented Doreen Flippin, Chair of the Scholarship Committee.  “The scholarship program demonstrates JAAA’s commitment to education by assisting students who are bright and active in the community in their pursuit of higher education,” added JAAA President Anjna Chauhan.

We would like to thank the members of the Scholarship Review/Screening Committee for their assistance and enthusiastic support. They are: Dr. Yap Chua, Professor at the University of North Florida; Ms. Pam Kinevan, President of the Duval County Council PTA; and Ms. Rosemary Winbush, Director of the Children's Ministry at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church.

The 2007 Jacksonville Asian American College Scholarship Program is supported by the following sponsors: