The Joseph P Reed Alumni Scholarship – 2021
Hui Qian “Jenny” Chen
Through her essay, Jenny shared with us how meeting a young mother & daughter on her first solo flight to China brought about an “uncertain familiarity”. On this flight Jenny came to terms with the experience of her own mother taking her back to China to live with her grandparents, while her parents worked to gain their economic stability here. It was a moment where her experiences growing up independent was confronted with her sudden awareness of the sacrifices of her parents. At this moment she found herself drafting a letter of apology to her parents, promising to help them more in their business, while acknowledging her independence and self-reliance as a strength.
While working on her education through Dekalb County schools, for 10-years Jenny also attended Chinese School on weekends – graduating in her 9th grade year at Lakeside. At Lakeside she has received recognition with the Principal’s List with Distinction since 9th grade, is an AP Scholar with Distinction. She is an active member of NHS, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta – Math Honor Society, Civic Engagement Club, DECA (Vice President), Tri-M Music Honors Society (Vice President), SAVE Promise Club (Co-student Outreach Coordinator & Co-Social Media Mgr.), and the Lakeside Interact Honors Club (President).
Jenny founded the Orchestra Coaching Committee at Lakeside, she worked with middle school orchestra teachers to facilitate and arrange free and paid private & group lessons between middle school students and high school orchestra members. And even though this organization has not been able to continue due to Covid-19, it was greatly appreciated by students and teachers at each of the schools.
In the summers she spent time advancing her interests by completing the CDC Museum Public Health Academy; three Coursera Courses (Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments by Duke University, The Strategy of Content Marketing by UC Davis, New Models of Business in Society by University of Virginia); and a 3-week entrepreneurship program hosted by Elevate the Future. She also worked through Learn to Be/Learning Lodge as a tutor in English/Writing and Math.
Outside of school Jenny served as a Mandarin Chinese Teacher’s Assistant/tutor with 2nd graders at Atlanta Chinese Christian Church in her 9th & 10th grade years. Since 2015 she has held the position of Online Platform Manager/ Director of Digital Marketing for her parents’ restaurant. Her many duties include overseeing the management of the online platforms with delivery service websites, negotiating commission fees and managing customer service with online orders. It is very apparent Jenny has kept her promise to her parents!
Jenny will be attending the University of Georgia’s Honors Program in the fall.
