March 13, 2018
91探花seniors Tobi Du and Caleb Huffman selected as China鈥檚 Yenching Academy scholars
91探花 seniors Tobi Du and Caleb Huffman will join approximately 125 scholars from around the world as part of the Yenching Academy of Peking University鈥檚 2018-19 cohort. A U.S. News & World Report poll ranked Peking University the fifth best global university in Asia, and second-best university in China. The opportunity to join is highly competitive. In 2017, only 4 out of 124 Yenching Academy Scholars from the states studied at public research universities in the United States.
Launched by China鈥檚 Peking University in 2014, the Academy aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world by educating the next generation of leaders and innovators. As Yenching Scholars, students design their own research in humanities or social sciences, take language classes and study China鈥檚 past, present and future. The 1-2 year program culminates with students earning a master鈥檚 degree in China studies. In addition to covering the costs of tuition, the award includes round trip air travel from the student鈥檚 home country, housing on campus and living costs.
“Undergraduate education at the 91探花aspires to prepare students for cross-cultural leadership, scholarship and impact in the world,鈥� explains Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淲e are so proud of Tobi and Caleb for this recognition of their accomplishments-to-date as well as the promise of their future work and impact in the world.鈥�
This opportunity for a focused look into China鈥檚 role in the world closely aligns with both Du鈥檚 and Huffman鈥檚 academic interests and future career goals.
Tobi Du
Major: Political science (departmental honors)
Expected graduation: June 鈥�18
A Taiwanese-American student studying political science with a focus on international security, Du plans to pursue a career in diplomacy and policymaking as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State. While at Yenching Academy, Du seeks to study the role of China in global politics, envisioning a close diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and China as critical to the international community. 鈥淸The Yenching Academy] will strengthen my personal and professional development by honing my cultural adaptability and personal resilience, and provide a basis for future intensive international assignments,鈥� says Du. 鈥淭he regional expertise that I will gain from this program is invaluable to my potential career as a diplomat.鈥�
To deepen her knowledge about East Asia, the Sammamish native served as a project leader in her Korean Peninsula and World Politics course and studied the construction of Japanese identity in Tokyo via an Honors Program study abroad class. She is currently writing her honors research thesis about how North Korean domestic political changes and Kim Jong-un鈥檚 external and internal threat perceptions have affected the country鈥檚 accelerating nuclear and ballistic missile agenda.
Beyond her studies, Du is focused on giving back to the community. She serves as volunteer director for the 91探花Foundation鈥檚 Senior Class Gift Council and is a lead of a local Family Readiness Group, connecting families of soldiers with information from their commanders.
Caleb Huffman
Majors: Political science, communication (college honors)
Expected graduation: June 2018
Originally from Onalaska, WA, Huffman鈥檚 eagerness to build bridges between cultures prompted him to take advantage of any and all foreign-service-related opportunities. As a freshman, he was selected as a Gilman Scholar to study human migration in Rome and Amsterdam. He next served as a Husky Presidential Ambassador, traveling to Tsinghua University in Beijing and went on to earn a fellowship with the U.S.-China Initiative Student Fellows program at Georgetown. There, he attended conferences with senior U.S. and Chinese diplomats in Washington D.C. and Beijing. Most recently, he served as a delegate as part of the Forum for American/Chinese Exchange at Stanford, attending conferences at Stanford and Peking University. Huffman believes that the U.S.-China relationship will be a critical, and perhaps, the most important bilateral relationship of his lifetime. He is eager to improve his Mandarin skills and gain a better understanding of Chinese law, history and culture.
鈥淪tudying China鈥檚 legal system at Yenching Academy will be my foundational study of a legal system (my master鈥檚 degree will be in Chinese law and society), the first of many ventures examining legal systems around the world. I aim to be a leader, one who sees a vision of what could be with an ability to understand what is, while always working to persuade others to change what is because of what could be.鈥�
Huffman鈥檚 interest in cross-cultural leadership and international policy led him to double major in political science and communication. His future plans include pursuing a degree in international law, with the aim of holding an influential role in American foreign relation鈥檚 peace-building efforts.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at UW
The Yenching Academy application process is supported by the聽聽(OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The聽聽(and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring for 2019-20 awards. Watch for updates about OMSFA鈥檚 Global Fellowships Prep program.