Scholars in the Arts
"I am fascinated by the breadth of Art History and by how painting teaches a culture about itself."
Scholar in the News
Ahmad Ali Lewis isn't a typical Stanford undergrad - nor is he a typical rapper
Yiqing Dong
“Education and learning have always been important to me. I delight in the community college experience, but what I seek to accomplish in my educational career certainly does not end with an associate’s degree. I aspire to attain my bachelor’s and master’s degrees and perhaps given an opportunity in the future, a doctorate degree also.”
- Alumni of: 2009 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program
- Resides: Naperville , IL
- Hometown: Nanjing, China
- Age: 23
- Community College: College of DuPage
- Four-year College or University: Northwestern University
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Business, Media / Communications / Marketing, Nonprofits, Public Services
- Other Interests: Childcare, Church / Religious Organization, Foreign Languages / International Study, Honor Society, Leadership Development, Nonprofits, Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping, Public Services, Religion, Sports, Volunteer Work
Biography
PROFILE: Arriving in the United States from China in 1999 at age 10, Yiqing “Liz” Dong didn’t speak a word of English. A decade later, one would never know, as her favorite college classes were in English Composition and English honors, and she plans to major in Communications at a still to be determined four-year college. Overall she finished her two-year college career with a perfect 4.0 average. But that’s just part of the story. What Liz does when she’s not in the classroom is just as impressive. As president of Alpha Beta Gamma (ABG) business honor society, she helped initiate a $1000 transfer scholarship for all ABG members to a local college. As Student Body Vice President and former Service Committee Chair, she coordinated campus-wide fundraisers to benefit UNICEF and service projects to help relieve world hunger. Her efforts raised over $1000 for UNICEF and through a service organization called ”Feed My Starving Children”, the DuPage students packed enough food to feed over 100 impoverished children for one year.
INSPIRATION: Liz’s mother, Haiqing Wang, has been instrumental in “shaping me to be the person I am today.” Like her daughter, Haiqing had to overcome tremendous obstacles of her own. “Mom came to the US at the age of 31 knowing very little English. Without any family support here, she studied ESL on her own while working part time.” She eventually earned an MBA. “My mom lives by example and loves me unconditionally, assuming both the role of a mom and dad for me.”
ASPIRATION: Liz said she would like to eventually work for a non-profit organization that reaches out to children in poverty.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Every Sunday for the past six years, Liz has volunteered with the children’s program at her church. She devotes seven hours leading children’s activities or baby-sitting while parents meet for bible study or choir practice. Many of the youngsters she supervises have known her since they were born and several call her “jiejie” which is Chinese for “older sister.” She loves every minute of this service commitment. “As a result, although I am an only child by birth, I have many brothers and sisters to love and share my life with.”
ACCOLADES: Liz was named to the All-USA Community College Academic First Team and received the College of DuPage Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship. At her commencement she was also named the 2009 College of DuPage Outstanding Graduate.
INTERESTING FACT: She loves the outdoors and hiked to the top of Wheeler Peak in New Mexico, 13,000 feet above sea level, despite having a calf muscle cramp.
Other Scholars Like Yiqing
Qian Qian Tang
College Scholar
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Shawna Morgan
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
College of Saint Rose
Stacey Snodgrass
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Anna Corey
Graduate Scholar
University of Wisconsin