KINGSTON, R.I. – May 12 – The Chinese Section and Chinese Flagship Program within the Modern and Classical Languages and Literature Department held two events on April 30 to showcase the talent of its students. The first, “Voices Across Borders: A Bilingual Research Showcase,” highlighted the work of Chinese Flagship students. The second was the 2025 Chinese Program Award Ceremony.
Voices Across Borders is the culmination of a year-long research project, where Chinese Flagship students explore a topic that bridges their major and Chinese language studies. The Chinese Flagship program is one of eight unique programs in the United States where students can progress from a beginner level to professional fluency in Mandarin Chinese. With a community of expert faculty, fellow students of all levels, and staff providing support at every step, students will feel confident and prepared as they venture into the world.
Taught by Qingyu Yang and Yiping Zhang in Spring 2025, and Jiangping Cai and Yu (Joyce) Wu in Fall 2024, the course starts with students focusing on developing a research question and conducting a bilingual literature review using sources in both English and Chinese in the first semester. In the second semester, they collect data, analyze, and draw conclusions—working closely with faculty to refine their ideas and language use. Students then prepare posters in both languages and practice presenting their work to diverse audiences, including peers, faculty, and external guests.
“This process not only sharpens their academic research and intercultural communication skills but also builds confidence. It’s always rewarding to see how proud they are to share what they’ve accomplished,” said Zhang, Associate Teaching Professor of Chinese.
Topics ranged from Learning Languages with Artificial Intelligence by Gilda Gilbert, computer science and Chinese; to The Spread of Zoonotic Diseases in Western and Eastern Countries by Jayda Silva, animal science and Chinese; to Research on Taiwanese and American Stress by Aidan St. Jean, psychology and Chinese.
Later that evening, the 2025 Chinese Program Award Ceremony celebrated the hard work of faculty and students. The Flagship Director and Chinese Section Head, Dr. Yu (Joyce) Wu handed out several recognition awards, including a “Flagship Excellent Student Award” for Anashelly Herrera, “Most Improved Student Award” for Meadow Sherlock, and a “Service Award” for Annie Liang. Five students were also granted the prestigious $125,000 Boren Scholarship. Nineteen Students were selected as Star students; graduating seniors, eighteen students who will be studying in domestic intensive summer programs, and fourteen students who will be studying abroad in Taiwan were also recognized.
The Boren Scholarship is a highly competitive and nationally significant award that plays a vital role in strengthening U.S. national security through language and cultural expertise. By supporting students who study critical languages in strategic regions of the world, the scholarship helps build a pipeline of future leaders with deep global understanding and cross-cultural communication skills.
It provides generous financial support for immersive study abroad in Taiwan next year, and opens doors to meaningful public service careers in federal agencies. The scholarship underscores the importance of global engagement and the need for diverse perspectives in shaping U.S. foreign policy and national defense.