Student Award

2019 WACA Outstanding Student Leadership and Community Service Award Winners

2017 Outstanding Student Leadership and Community Service Award Ceremony 

2023-2024 WACA Outstanding Student Leadership and Community Service Award Program

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The Purpose

For over three decades, the Westchester Association of Chinese Americans (WACA) has remained resolutely committed to serving the communities of Westchester County, New York. Since its inception in 2009, WACA has consistently taken the role of sponsor for the WACA Outstanding Student Leadership and Community Service Award Program. This esteemed initiative is designed to recognize students who have made exceptional contributions to the community, showcasing unwavering dedication to service while simultaneously becoming noteworthy exemplars of leadership for their peers.

Participating Schools

1. The Chinese School of Southern Westchester

2. Huaxia Chinese School of Greater New York

3. Huaxia New York Central Chinese School

4. HX Scarsdale Chinese School

5. Northern Westchester Chinese School

6. Other students who are high school seniors in the Westchester area and are learning Chinese and actively participating in community services

Eligibility

Qualified students include current high school seniors who are currently registered in/graduated from one of the Chinese schools listed above (or who are learning Chinese in another local school), and have demonstrated outstanding qualities in the following areas:

1.  Academics in English school and Chinese school

2.  Leadership and Extracurricular Activities

3.  Community Services

Application Submission Deadline

October 12, 2023 is the submission deadline for WACA Outstanding Student Leadership and Community Service Award Program Application

Candidates’ nomination and application process

1. Each Chinese school may nominate up to 4 candidates who meet the eligibility requirements.

2. Students who are eligible and interested in applying but are not attending a Chinese school must seek a nomination by their English school. Their application should be submitted through the English School.

3. Each school should submit the nomination letter with the candidate’s application and supporting materials.

4. All applications (including scanned materials) should be emailed to the following email address: nywaca@gmail.com, by the submission deadline of October 12, 2023.

5.  Each candidate’s application should include:

• •  WACA Outstanding Student Leadership and Community Service Award Application Form

  •  Nomination letter from the Chinese school or English school

  •  A transcript of grades, PSAT, SAT/ACT, and AP score reports, as well as any academic excellence certificates, etc.

  •  A record of grades from the current Chinese school, if applicable 

  •  A summary of extracurricular activities detailing leadership positions, achievements, and/or awards received for the student's involvement in school clubs, community service, science research, sports, art and the pursuit of other talents.

  •  A Written Personal Statement (in English of 200 words or less) of the candidate’s higher education and professional objectives.

Award Program Committee

A seven-member Award Committee chaired by a WACA Board Director will administer the Award Program. Each Chinese school is graciously asked to send one representative to participate as a member on the Award Committee. WACA Board appoints the rest of the Committee Members. Committee Members can be WACA Board Directors or any other independent individuals who boast high integrity and outstanding service records to the local community.

Winner Selection Procedure

1. The Award Committee will hold the adjudication meeting after the application deadline.

2.  Committee Members will review each application separately. They will rate the candidates on each subject area using a 100-point scale based on the WACA Student Award Score Guidelines. To guarantee fairness of the review process, the candidates’ names will be concealed before their applications reach the Committee Members. Their scores will also be recorded on the Candidate Score Sheet. The sum of these subject area scores will constitute the total score for the candidate.

3. Once the application review process is completed, the Candidate Score Sheets will be collected and grouped under each applicant.

4. To determine the final score awarded to each candidate, the Committee will drop the highest and lowest scores recorded on the Candidate Score Sheets, and calculate the average of the remaining scores.

5.  The candidates with the first three highest scores will be selected as the 1st place,  2nd place， and 3rd place winners .

6.  If two candidates tie for a winner position, the Committee will vote to select the final winner.

7. The Award Committee’s final decision on the winners will be submitted to the WACA Board of Directors for final approval.

Award Presentation

1.  The award winners will be announced prior to November 1st of every year.

2.  A cash award of $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place and $200 for 3rd place, together with a Certificate of Distinction, will be presented to the winners at the Chinese New Year  Celebration held in February 2024 at Performing Arts Center in Purchase College by the President of the Westchester Association of Chinese Americans.

3. The awardees need to attend the WACA Chinese New Year Festival in February 2024, to receive the awards. The 1st place winner will be asked to give a 1-2 minute speech at the award presentation ceremony.

WACA Board Awards Program Statement

1.  Children of the current WACA board members are not eligible to apply for WACA own Award program to avoid the possibilities of conflicts of interest.

2.  If you have any questions and suggestions about this Award, please contact:   nywaca@gmail.com

3.  The Board of WACA has the exclusive right to establish, explain, change, and cancel the rules and processes of this Award Program.