Local students to study in China

LAWRENCE -- Fifteen students at the University of Kansas who have been selected as 2010 Kansas Asia Scholars are preparing to study in China from May 20 to June 10.

KU's Center for East Asian Studies honored the newly named scholars with a reception and program for invited guests March 30, at the Adams Alumni Center.

Speakers included Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education; Sheree Willis, executive director of KU's Confucius Institute; and Bill Tsutsui, associate dean for international studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history. Tsutsui also is director of the Undergraduate Asia Studies Initiative, which includes the Kansas Asia Scholars program. Members of KU's Chinese Students and Scholars Friendship Association performed traditional Chinese music during the event.

The scholars will spend two weeks studying Chinese language, culture and history at Huazhong Normal University in Wuhan, China. A third week will be spent traveling and viewing sites such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing. They will be accompanied by Kevin Liu, associate director for programs at the Confucius Institute.

Funded by the Freeman Foundation of New York, N.Y. and Stowe, Vt., the program is designed for students who intend to become elementary or secondary school teachers through the undergraduate teacher education program in KU's School of Education. To be eligible, students must have a grade-point average of 2.75 and be enrolled in or preparing to enter a teacher education program for subject areas that can include teaching about China.

While they are in China, the scholars will complete two three-credit-hour undergraduate courses in elementary conversational Chinese and East Asian history taught at Huazhong Normal University. After returning to Kansas, the students will create service-learning projects to share their experiences in China with elementary and secondary school students.

A partner university of the Confucius Institute at KU, Huazhong Normal University is a comprehensive university with about 20,000 students with a teacher preparation program considered among the best in China. It is known for its top academic programs in education, physics and history and its national-level research centers in modern Chinese history and Chinese linguistics and language pedagogy.

Wuhan, with a population of more than 9 million, is China's fourth-largest city. Located on the Yangzi River in central China, Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province. The city includes three districts -- Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang. The Wuchang district has more than 20 colleges and universities including Huazhong Normal University. Hankou, one of China's oldest commercial centers, has stylish shopping centers and is considered the financial heart of central China. The Hanyang district houses some of China's most important Buddhist temples as well as an industrial center with major manufacturing facilities for Budweiser, Coca-Cola and Peugeot products.

Kansas Asia Scholars are listed below by hometown, major, level in school, parents' names and high school.

ALLEN COUNTY

Jenna Mittelmeier, senior in elementary education, daughter of Paul Mittelmeier and Tonya Brutchin, Iola Senior High School.

BOURBON COUNTY

Elizabeth Grantham, senior in secondary-level education, daughter of Herbert and Stephanie Grantham, Fort Scott High School.