MSU STUDENTS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN DIVERSITY

4/2/2003

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Eleven Michigan State University students will be recognized for their contributions and efforts to promote diversity during the annual Excellence in Diversity Recognition and Awards (EIDA) Program.

It is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Kellogg Center Auditorium. A reception will follow the awards program. The three top student winners in the Students Making a Difference Through Artistic Expression competition each receive a $500 cash prize.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Affirmative Action, Compliance and Monitoring (AACM). A panel of judges composed of MSU faculty, support staff and students selected the students based on the quality of the composition, connection to diversity, equity, non-discrimination, social justice or human rights, and creativity/artistry.

Students Making a Difference Through Artistic Expression competition winners are:

• April Liu of Las Vegas, Nev., a third-year graduate student in studio art, focusing on sculpture. She is the daughter of Stephen and Shirley Liu and has a bachelor's degree in English and studio art from Whittier College in Whittier, Calif. In the future she plans to work on collaborative art projects, engage in community art activism and continue her education in Chinese art.
  
  Liu's project was an art documentary titled, "Requiem for a River: The Destruction of the Yangtze River," made in Sichuan, China. The film depicted sites that will be lost due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam and the resulting flooding of the Yangtze River. One of the villages that will be lost is where Liu's father was raised.
  
  "By weaving together my father's poetry, traditional Chinese music and live video footage of the areas that will be flooded, I have created an art documentary about the transformation of my homeland," Liu said. "I hope that my current work in sculpture and video will create more dialogue and understanding between Chinese and American cultures."
  
  At MSU, Liu is the founder of the Graduate Art Group, and a recipient of the Research Enhancement Award in 2001 and 2002. This summer she plans to go to Taiwan to set up a two-person exhibition with fellow award recipient Meng-Shu You, a Taiwanese ceramicist.
  
  "The idea of diversity is about embracing cultures and being willing to learn about other people's attitudes toward life," Liu said. "Diversity has inspired my art work and has motivated me to get involved in my community. I feel very honored to receive this award. I am proud to be a part of a larger community that values diversity and the arts."
  
  
• Robert Ortega of Ann Arbor, a senior majoring in film. He is the son of Michael and Rebecca Mullin of Ann Arbor and was born in New Haven, Conn. Ortega received the award for producing a short film titled, "Dialect RED."
  
  "In my opinion diversity is a necessity for future human existence, so I make films that are supposed to bring people together," Ortega said. "'Dialect RED' is about a person's relationship with the color red. It is about how trusting and depending on other people is not that easy, if even possible. It is also about emotions felt when in the presence of red or when wearing red."
  
  At MSU, Ortega has served as the president of the Omega Delta Phi Latino fraternity, a minority aide in the McDonel Residence Hall and internal president of the Native American and Hispanic Business Student group. He has studied film in Britain, documentary filmmaking in Mexico and participated in Alternative Spring Break programs twice in Merida, Mexico. After graduating he plans to attend graduate school to study film.
  
  "I make films that capture the simple things in life to help people with no dreams be able to escape into mine," Ortega said. "I hope to make films with good intentions that strive to heal social injustices. Film is my time to reflect on what I think reality is."
  
  
• Meng-shu You of Taiwan, a master's student in art and art history. She attended college in Taiwan before coming to MSU to start her graduate work. She holds a teaching certificate in ceramics and art, and has taught elementary art classes. In addition, she has been featured in three solo art exhibitions in Taiwan and participated in several group exhibitions.
  
  "To stay on such a small island like Taiwan would not be good for my work," You said. "I came to MSU to learn more about different cultures, art techniques and languages."

Students Making a Difference Through Artistic Expression honorable mention recipients are:

• Adam Goff of Gaylord, a freshman majoring in pre-optometry. He is the son of Dennis Goff of Gaylord and graduated from Lakeview High School in Battle Creek in 2002. At MSU, he is involved with Habitat for Humanity and multiple campus church groups. He also plays baritone saxophone in the MSU Campus Band.
  
  
• Jaime Lynn Hope of Lake Orion, a second-year graduate student studying human medicine. She is the daughter of Roger and Carol Hope of Lake Orion and graduated with honors with a degree in human biology from MSU in 2001. At MSU, she is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, Olin Health Advocates, is a volunteer and Phlebotomy Team member and trainer at Sparrow Hospital, and is a tutor. Hope also plays intramural volleyball, is the student wellness coordinator with the College of Human Medicine and is a Michigan Merit Scholar.
  
  
• Jason McGhee of Detroit, a senior majoring in graphic design. He is the son of Marcus Mathis and Donna Donaldson of Detroit and is a 1998 graduate of Detroit Mumford High School. At MSU, he was a racial ethnic aide for two years, a complex coordinator for the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, and a member of Men in Drew and Brothers Organized to Promote a Change. He also was a two-time finalist in the Mr. Black MSU contest and was awarded the Most Active Aide Award by the Black Student Alliance in 2000.
  
  
• Allison Reimus of Saginaw, a sophomore majoring in studio art and psychology. She is the daughter of Gregory and Deborah Reimus of Saginaw and graduated from Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy and Arthur Hill High School in 2000. At MSU, she owns a mural-painting business and volunteers at St. Mary's Hospital. In the future she plans to attend graduate school to study art therapy.
  
  
• Sharmin Sadequee of Roswell, Ga., a second-year graduate student studying cultural anthropology. Her parents live in Roswell, Ga., and she graduated from Roswell High School in 1993. Sadequee holds a degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta and received the Summer 2002 Acceleration Fellowship.
  
  
• Aarti Shah of India, a sophomore majoring in supply chain management. He is the son of Jitendra and Daksha Shah of India and graduated from Jai Hind College in 2001. At MSU, he is on the ASMSU Programming Board as the International Associations Council (IAC) Student Representative, is a member of the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students and is the choreographer for "Satrang" an Indian dance and cultural show.
  
  
• Okechukwu Umelo of Nigeria, a senior majoring in studio art with an emphasis on graphic design, with a cognate in journalism. He is the son of Clarkson Nwakanma and Ngozi Umelo of Nigeria and graduated from Peponi Secondary School in Kenya in 1999. At MSU, he is a member of and chief artist/designer for the African Student Union, has worked for The State News as a reporter and graphic/production artist and was the chief designer/publicist for the West Circle Residence Halls Black Caucus.
  
  
• Hilary-Joy Virtanen of Houghton, a senior majoring in English and anthropology. She is the daughter of Lynn Virtanen of Oscoda and graduated from Jeffers High School in Painesdale in 1996. At MSU, she is a member of Student Parents on a Mission and the MSU Anthropology Club. She recently received second prize in the Iwao Ishino Anthropology Research Paper Contest and is a member of the dean's list.

Implemented in 1990, the EIDA program recognizes individuals, teams, units and organizations that have made progress toward achieving and supporting diversity. The program recognizes those who work to develop a culture and environment in which diversity is valued and pluralism is achieved.

"MSU has so many talented and committed students who support diversity, not because they are obligated to do so, but because they recognize the value and benefits associated with diversity," said Paulette Granberry Russell, senior adviser to the president for diversity and director of AACM. "This awards program is one way to recognize those students who have done work that has contributed to MSU's mission of transforming lives."

For more information about the EIDA program visit the Web site at www.msu.edu/unit/aacm/diversity/index.html