The Yat K. Tow Prize
Nominations for The Yat K. Tow Priz are due March 31, 2008
The Yat K. Tow Prize was established in 1991 by the family of Yat K. Tow '41, in his memory and funded by his family and friends. The prize is awarded to a junior undergraduate, graduating senior or graduate student in May of each year.
Born in Canton, China, Mr. Tow emigrated to the United States at the age of ten to join his father and grandfather who were pioneers in the Chinese restaurant business. Mr. Tow was, himself, a successful restaurant owner. Yat K. Tow was a prominent Rhode Island business and civic leader throughout his life, serving as a member of the corporations of both Rhode Island Hospital and the former People's Bank. Mr. Tow was a class marshal at the Brown University Bicentennial. He sponsored and hosted international students and families and was an official interpreter for the non-English speaking Chinese community in Rhode Island. Mr. Tow was a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Rhode Island.
2007 Tow Prize Recipients
Jehan Alladina ‘07: Jehan, a neuroscience concentrator, has participated in many Swearer Center programs as a volunteer and coordinator, including Providence Science Outreach (PSO), Dump and Run, and an English language and literacy program for immigrant adults at the William D'Abate Memorial School in the Olneyville section of Providence.
Giselle Castaño ‘07: Giselle has been involved in programs on and off campus throughout her time at Brown, contributing to the college and to the community in significant ways. Giselle, an ethnic studies concentrator, has been co-programmer of Latino History Month through Brown's Third World Center, coordinator of the Third World Transition Program, coordinator of the Swearer Center's Genesis Center Adult ESOL program, and co-coordinator of Olneyville ESOL adult literacy/language program, another Center initiative.
Rex Cheung ‘07: Rex, completing a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree in mathematics and philosophy, has tutored students in a variety of subjects in Providence high schools. As a C.V. Starr fellow, he developed and implemented a calculus course for high school students at Hope High School, opening doors to college for many of the participating students.
Madeline DiLorenzo ‘08: Madeline DiLorenzo, a junior premedical student at Brown, has contributed significantly to HIV/AIDS education initiatives both locally and abroad in Mali. Her work with the Global Alliance to Immunize Against AIDS (GAIA) led to an innovative program, Here Bolo, now an integral part of prevention initiatives in Mali. Additionally, her efforts on campus have led to World AIDS Week, free on-campus HIV testing, fundraising, and raised awareness of HIV/AIDS on campus.
Criteria
This $1500 prize is to be given once a year at commencement to a junior undergraduate, graduating senior, or graduate student who:
- shows great promise to continue his or her development as an outstanding citizen of the United States as evidenced by past or current community service activities and/or academic work. In pursuit of the advancement of a shared community vision, this student has worked in close collaboration with residents and/or community organizations, demonstrating a commitment to principles of partnership, shared leadership, self-reflection, and reciprocal learning and teaching. While this work might have taken place in any community, preference will be given to work done in the greater Providence or RI area.
- has maintained a consistently strong academic record with no less than a "B" average while at Brown University
Nominations
Nominations must include a letter of nomination from a member of the University faculty or staff and an essay by the nominated student. Both the nomination letter and student essay should address the criteria listed above. While faculty or administrators are the official nominators for the prizes, students are encouraged to approach faculty for nomination to this prize.
Nominations should be addressed to Claudia DeCesare, Assistant Director, Swearer Center for Public Service, Box 1974, 25 George Street. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2008.