On April 15, the Department of East Asian Studies came together to honour four exceptional graduate students at the 3rd Annual Graduate Excellence Awards Ceremony. Held in the EAS Lounge, the event was a warm and celebratory gathering of faculty, students, and staff, recognizing the remarkable achievements and contributions of our graduate community.
The awards were presented by Yurou Zhong, Associate Professor and Associate Chair (Graduate), alongside Linda Feng, Acting Chair of the Department. Both offered heartfelt remarks on the importance of graduate leadership and community building in East Asian Studies.
This year’s honourees included:
Mark Lush
Mark has demonstrated sustained commitment across academic programming, student mentorship, public outreach, and service. His leadership has created lasting opportunities for collaboration and learning within the department.
Sijin Paek
Sijin was celebrated for outstanding leadership during the department’s recent film series. Their ability to engage and connect diverse constituencies across the university highlighted their collaborative spirit and commitment to building inclusive academic spaces.
Sung Soo Lee
Sung Soo played a pivotal role in the success of the three-night film screening event. From securing films from overseas to facilitating post-screening discussions, Sung Soo helped bring together filmmakers, students, and faculty. Her efforts also led to securing one of the department’s largest sponsorships from partners including the David Chu Program, JHI, CSK, Cinema Studies, WGSI, and EAL.
Qidi Lin
Qidi was recognized for significant contributions to the Chinese language program. With consistent praise from students, Qidi’s professionalism, creativity, and thoughtful support have made a deep impact on the classroom experience.
Each of these students has made a meaningful contribution to the intellectual and community life of the department. Their work reflects the very best of what graduate leadership can achieve.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Mark, Sijin, Sung Soo, and Qidi, and thank everyone who attended the ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments!