As a member of the Class of 1988, May Chen has found ways to give back to her alma mater over the years through giving, serving on a College Centered Foundation Board and attending events on campus. “The experiences from all these ways of involvement with the University continue to remain very meaningful,” says Chen.
When asked to help host three University of Akron students headed to Shanghai in March 2017 for the prestigious Hult Prize Regional Competition, Chen quickly agreed. She and her husband, Dr. Chun Fu Chen, a professor emeritus of electrical engineering in our College of Engineering, were in Shanghai for a three-month stay. “Even though I was very familiar with the city, I was becoming very bored from lack of community involvement,” says Chen. “I was so excited to help the students, Ariana Ćubela, SaiPranay Vellala and Kelsey Jones during their week in Shanghai.”
UA students Ariana Ćubela, left, SaiPranay Vellala and Kelsey Jones are seen here with Dr. Chun Fu Chen and his wife, May Chen.
“Meeting these three energetic and intelligent students was such a pleasure and inspiration,” adds Chen. “Dr. Chen and I really applaud their courage to leave home to compete in a country so different and new, linguistically and culturally. But they were young, motivated and ready to face the challenges ahead.”
Help in navigating a new city
To give the students “a positive and realistic experience in Shanghai,” The Chens introduced them to navigating their surroundings through long walks and subway rides. The students saw where the locals lived and worked. As the students prepared for their competition, the Chens provided support services — helping them get needed photocopying, photo printing and other supplies for their presentation. “At home they had their own cars and knew exactly how to navigate to meet their project needs,” explains Chen. “So with Dr. Chen and I knowing the language and the city, we felt we were of good use to them.”
As for the Hult Prize Competition itself, Chen says “it was very interesting that the theme was improving the quality of life for refugees. I had worked in the area of refugee resettlement and services for more than 20 years. Their project was addressing refugee mental health, with which I was also familiar as a clinical counselor for the immigrant and refugee community. I read their presentation and was able to help edit it to improve its content, organization and clarity.”
The Chens were on hand for the whole competition, and enjoyed watching the competing teams rehearse their pitches.
“Both Dr. Chen and I were greatly moved and inspired by such a magnificent and outstanding pool of talent, creativity and passion that this Hult Prize Competition was able to bring together on the world stage,” notes Chen. “It left us with great hope for the future and wellness of the global community.”
Sharing UA thousands of miles away
On their last day together, the Chens took the UA students to one of the most prestigious high schools in Shanghai — Jincai High School. They spoke to graduating juniors and seniors about the University and shared their pitch for the Hult Prize Competition. Dr. Chen also made a pitch of his own — talking about the College of Engineering and the “impressive job placement rate” of its graduates.
“Dr. Chen and I are 78 and 70,” says his wife. “We were so fulfilled and amazed that we can still have meaningful and purposeful roles in the lives of students at The University of Akron. We were deeply enriched by this experience and treasure the friendships formed. What was most endearing to me were the students themselves, who toward the end called me “Grandma.”