Jackie Hsieh is a recent graduate of Stuyvesant High School in New York City and will be attending Harvard University in the fall. Her academic achievements include Distinction as an AP Scholar and Commendation from the National Merit Scholars Program. She is a passionate member of the Stuyvesant Speech and Debate team, serving as novice director and also winning various awards on the state as well as the national level. She has won awards in writing, including the Scholastic Writing and Bertelsman World of Expression awards. She has also published a children's book in both English and Chinese. In school, she has participated in the National Honors Society and has served as the communications director of the Student Union. Jackie loves to read, write, dance, play volleyball and act. Outside of school, she has taken part in research at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center, enjoys tutoring both math and English, and is also extremely enthusiastic about community service. She plans to major in neuroscience and hopes to pursue a medical career after college.

Acceptance Speech

The Sino-American Pharmaceutical Association is an inspiring program that brings together science, technology, policymaking, education, and communications to work for a better tomorrow. I am so honored to be recognized by this program because I too believe in their cause: to extend scientific advances to various parts of the world. Science can only benefit humanity if it is viewed by its multifaceted nature, and with this scholarship I can now explore this intriguing field without having a financial burden. Thanks to SAPA, I can focus on my studies to further understand the public health and biotech issues that exist in the world. With a better understanding, I will, in the future, be able to work with companies like SAPA to promote and improve scientific discovery, development, and exchange. I am extremely grateful for this award.

Alice Tzeng -- A graduate of Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, Alice Tzeng will be heading to Harvard University this fall. Never the stereotypical teenage girl, she has been interested in math and science for as long as she can remember. As she was fortunate enough to test into the Louisiana Gifted Program in kindergarten, she has enjoyed accelerated classes in almost every academic discipline, taking college classes her senior year. Though she still clings to her original favorite subject, biology, she is also interested in fields ranging from chemistry to ancient history to Greek mythology. She has held several high school club offices (namely Science Olympiad Co-Captain, Mu Alpha Theta District Governor, and Quiz Bowl Founder/President), and in what free time she has, she enjoys reading fantasy and historical fiction novels. Besides winning a number of awards from school competitions and from her eleven years of piano, Alice has received such honors as National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholar. In 2005, she was one of fifty U.S. juniors to attend the intensive Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She plans to major in chemical and physical biology at Harvard and eventually wants to apply for an MD/PhD, entering the medical field as a doctor or researcher.

Acceptance speech:

Thank you all, members of SAPA, for honoring me with this scholarship. Now, I think I can worry a little less about paying for Harvard and a little more about pursuing research projects and academic studies. Although I only became acquainted with SAPA this spring, I wholeheartedly agree with the organization's goals. I realize that, especially nowadays, communication is essential for scientific progress and can think of no better mission than promoting the exchange of ideas between my two homes-the United States and East Asia. With a more relaxed mind, I therefore look forward to working with SAPA again in the future, exploring the vast potential of the biological realm together.