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February 12, 2002

Dear Member of the Stony Brook University Community:

Dr. Shi Ming Hu was a petite modest woman with a large determined will to bring to Stony Brook University the cultural beauty of China in all of its forms. With her recent passing her students, friends, family, and colleagues hope to continue that legacy forever.

Hu Lao Shi, as her students called her, came to Stony Brook in 1967 as the first Director of Chinese Studies and remained until her retirement due to Lou Gehrig's disease in 2000. Chinese Studies was the first Asian studies program at the University and offered a multitude of language, culture, and history courses for both undergraduates and graduate students. As her Chancellor's Award for Teaching symbolized, Shi Ming was one of the best the University had to offer.

A former student, Maryjane Uhrlaub Rau, in nominating Shi Ming for the Alumni Association's Hugh Cleland Memorial Outstanding Professor Award, gave this eloquent testimony:

Professor Hu opened our minds to the depth and culture of the Chinese language in the particular strokes of the characters and their meaning within the culture…The textbooks from China were not adequate for…developments in the sciences and modern life… so Professor Hu designed textbooks that gave her students the skill of the language and understanding of modern society into which China had entered – all without sacrificing the wonderful Chinese folk tales and stories…Thus, the culture of China, old and new, was Professor Hu’s gift to us – her students.

When Chinese American students formed a cultural club, Professor Hu volunteered to become the faculty advisor and mentor for CASB, the Chinese Association at Stony Brook. For over twenty years now CASB has put on enjoyable and culturally enriching events that are especially rewarding for the many American born students experiencing their first opportunity to learn traditional Chinese dances and ceremonies.

Shi Ming began each China Night, CASB’s annual show, with one of her non-Asian students on stage speaking Mandarin while she spoke English, in part to motivate the Chinese American students into learning the language. In addition to inspiring them to learn their mother tongue, she became their 'mom away from home,' talking to many students, Asian and non-Asian, about things they would rarely dare talk to their real mothers about. Whether counseling on academics or life and love, her door was always open.

Over and above her university involvement, her community outreach was impressive. Not long after her arrival she was one of the founders and first principal of CCL, the Center for Chinese Learning. The Saturday morning school enabled community children to learn to speak, read, and write Chinese beginning at age five. CCL now offers 20 classes in language and culture for children and adults. After the Vietnam War ended, SBU had a community of Vietnamese boat people. Prof. Hu took them under her wing and had her students teach them English.

To continue in the tradition of nurturer, educator and leader that Shi Ming epitomized, the Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment will be established at Stony Brook University. The intent is to have an endowment capable of supporting three annual awards and scholarships:

Shi Ming Hu Memorial Student Leadership Award(s) to be presented to a graduating senior(s) who has played a significant role in an Asian interest club or organization.

Shi Ming Hu Memorial Entering Freshman Scholarship to be presented to an academically high and financially deserving high school senior(s), preferably Asian American, entering Stony Brook University.

Shi Ming Hu and Eli Seifman Chinese Studies Scholarship(s) to be presented to a superlative student(s) in Chinese Studies at Stony Brook University.

Each of these awards is a testament to Shi Ming Hu. We invite you to pay tribute to her memory by participating in the campaign to support the Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment. We are excited to report that a generous donation has been made this year providing us the opportunity to grant these awards and scholarships in 2002. In order to establish a self-sustaining scholarship endowment, however, one that will last in perpetuity, at least $30,000 will need to be raised. Your donation will significantly assist us in reaching that goal. Donor categories are listed below; please show your support by adding your name to our donor list.

The Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment will be a living tribute to Shi Ming and all that she exemplified. We ask that you please give generously in the same spirit that Shi Ming gave of herself to the university and local communities. This scholarship will be the first Chinese Studies scholarship in the department’s 35-year history. Your participation will not only pay tribute to her memory, you will also be making history by being part of the creation of an outstanding testimonial to Shi Ming Hu.

Donors will be listed on http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/educasia/ShiMingHu as

, Lingdao, or Leader; for donations of $5000;

, Juanzhu, or Benefactor, for $2500;

, Zanzhu, or Patron, for $1000;

, Zizhu, or Sponsor, for $500;

, Zhichi, or Supporter, for $250;

, Pengyou, or Friend, for $100; and

, Fongxian, or Contributor, for $50.

As we begin the year 4700 in the Chinese calendar, may the Year of the Horse be happy and healthy for you and all those you care about, and may humanity find success as it continues its struggle for world peace and justice.

Please make checks payable to: SBF / Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship, or charge your credit card using this linked form and return to:
Lois Mazer, Director for Special Programs and Scholarships
University Advancement, Admin Rm. 330
Stony Brook University, NY 11794-1601..


SHI MING HU MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Sherry Chang Past Principal, CCL Center for Chinese Learning Shauley Cheng Alumna; Daughter Fu-Pen Chiang Mechanical Engineering Benjamin Chu Distinguished Professor, Chemistry Titus Chung Past President, CASB, Chinese Association at Stony Brook Rhonda Cooper Director, University Art Gallery John Cordero Past President, CASB Yuefan Deng Applied Math and Statistics Inan Feng Past President, CAS, Chinese Association of Suffolk Georges Fouron Chair, SSI, Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Aaron W. (Bill) Godfrey Director, Classical Civilization Michelle Gong Past President, CASB Elizabeth Hwang Past President, CASB Stanley Liang Alumnus, Board, [AA] ²@SBU, Asian American Alumni Association Christine McCormick Assoc. Dir., Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education Tun-Hsu McCoy Alumna; Director, ISIS Maryjane Uhrlaub Rau Alumna Gregory Ruf Acting Director, Chinese Studies Eriko Sato Director, SB Japanese School Dong Ping Wang Marine Sciences Qin Wang Director, Tabler Quad; CASB Advisor C. N. Yang Nobel Laureate in Physics Riche Yao President, CASB JoAnne Young Alumna; Board, EducAsians	February 12, 2002 Dear Member of the Stony Brook University Community: Dr. Shi Ming Hu was a petite modest woman with a large determined will to bring to Stony Brook University the cultural beauty of China in all of its forms. With her recent passing her students, friends, family, and colleagues hope to continue that legacy forever. Hu Lao Shi, as her students called her, came to Stony Brook in 1967 as the first Director of Chinese Studies and remained until her retirement due to Lou Gehrig's disease in 2000. Chinese Studies was the first Asian studies program at the University and offered a multitude of language, culture, and history courses for both undergraduates and graduate students. As her Chancellor's Award for Teaching symbolized, Shi Ming was one of the best the University had to offer. A former student, Maryjane Uhrlaub Rau, in nominating Shi Ming for the Alumni Association's Hugh Cleland Memorial Outstanding Professor Award, gave this eloquent testimony: Professor Hu opened our minds to the depth and culture of the Chinese language in the particular strokes of the characters and their meaning within the culture…The textbooks from China were not adequate for…developments in the sciences and modern life… so Professor Hu designed textbooks that gave her students the skill of the language and understanding of modern society into which China had entered – all without sacrificing the wonderful Chinese folk tales and stories…Thus, the culture of China, old and new, was Professor Hu’s gift to us – her students. When Chinese American students formed a cultural club, Professor Hu volunteered to become the faculty advisor and mentor for CASB, the Chinese Association at Stony Brook. For over twenty years now CASB has put on enjoyable and culturally enriching events that are especially rewarding for the many American born students experiencing their first opportunity to learn traditional Chinese dances and ceremonies. Shi Ming began each China Night, CASB’s annual show, with one of her non-Asian students on stage speaking Mandarin while she spoke English, in part to motivate the Chinese American students into learning the language. In addition to inspiring them to learn their mother tongue, she became their 'mom away from home,' talking to many students, Asian and non-Asian, about things they would rarely dare talk to their real mothers about. Whether counseling on academics or life and love, her door was always open. Over and above her university involvement, her community outreach was impressive. Not long after her arrival she was one of the founders and first principal of CCL, the Center for Chinese Learning. The Saturday morning school enabled community children to learn to speak, read, and write Chinese beginning at age five. CCL now offers 20 classes in language and culture for children and adults. After the Vietnam War ended, SBU had a community of Vietnamese boat people. Prof. Hu took them under her wing and had her students teach them English. To continue in the tradition of nurturer, educator and leader that Shi Ming epitomized, the Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment will be established at Stony Brook University. The intent is to have an endowment capable of supporting three annual awards and scholarships: Shi Ming Hu Memorial Student Leadership Award(s) to be presented to a graduating senior(s) who has played a significant role in an Asian interest club or organization. Shi Ming Hu Memorial Entering Freshman Scholarship to be presented to an academically high and financially deserving high school senior(s), preferably Asian American, entering Stony Brook University. Shi Ming Hu and Eli Seifman Chinese Studies Scholarship(s) to be presented to a superlative student(s) in Chinese Studies at Stony Brook University. Each of these awards is a testament to Shi Ming Hu. We invite you to pay tribute to her memory by participating in the campaign to support the Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment. We are excited to report that a generous donation has been made this year providing us the opportunity to grant these awards and scholarships in 2002. In order to establish a self-sustaining scholarship endowment, however, one that will last in perpetuity, at least $30,000 will need to be raised. Your donation will significantly assist us in reaching that goal. Donor categories are listed below; please show your support by adding your name to our donor list. The Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment will be a living tribute to Shi Ming and all that she exemplified. We ask that you please give generously in the same spirit that Shi Ming gave of herself to the university and local communities. This scholarship will be the first Chinese Studies scholarship in the department’s 35-year history. Your participation will not only pay tribute to her memory, you will also be making history by being part of the creation of an outstanding testimonial to Shi Ming Hu. Donors will be listed on http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/educasia/ShiMingHu as , Lingdao, or Leader; for donations of $5000; , Juanzhu, or Benefactor, for $2500; , Zanzhu, or Patron, for $1000; , Zizhu, or Sponsor, for $500; , Zhichi, or Supporter, for $250; , Pengyou, or Friend, for $100; and , Fongxian, or Contributor, for $50. As we begin the year 4700 in the Chinese calendar, may the Year of the Horse be happy and healthy for you and all those you care about, and may humanity find success as it continues its struggle for world peace and justice. Sincerely, Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship Endowment Committee Please make checks payable to: SBF / Shi Ming Hu Memorial Scholarship, or charge your credit card using this linked form and return to: Lois Mazer, Director for Special Programs and Scholarships University Advancement, Admin Rm. 330 Stony Brook University, NY 11794-1601.. Donors will be posted online beginning March 1, 2002.

CASB RETIREMENT AWARD CASB RETIREMENT PRESENTATION
DONORS
Last updated March 2002 by educasia@ic.sunysb.edu