In January 2023, the American Youth Leadership Foundation selected 5 high school senior members Alissa Wu, Alan Huang, Amber Yu, Kate Liu, and Harris Chen for winning the AYLUS Scholar Awards. The scholarship of $500 for each was approved by the AYLF Board of Directors after reviewing all applications.
All award winners along with their team members, look forward to working with AYLF Board and AYLUS advisors to lead on the building of AYLUS Scholar Network, a new platform to help students to continue growing after they are out of high school.
Congratulations to Alissa, Alan, Amber, Kate, and Harris!
AYLF Board of Directors
Below are essays of AYLUS 2023 Scholar Award Winners:
Alissa Wu-Greater Princeton
I first joined AYLUS in 9th grade through a friend, and through tree plantings, clothing donations, music performances, became a part of an empathetic community focused on making a positive impact. AYLUS soon became a place where I could devise socially helpful ideas and have a supportive platform to launch them from.
The impact of Covid-19 on local communities further motivated me to take initiative and implement projects such as running a winter clothing drive for disenfranchised families and writing cards for lonely seniors. As a junior, I joined the national board of AYLUS, where I made friends with similar goals of helping others. During the 2021 National Career Conference, I worked closely with the board to plan and execute the conference. Through my involvement, I had the opportunity to interview professionals and learn from their experiences. Hundreds of students attended to hear these informative dialogues; this experience solidified my belief that as a national board member of AYLUS, I had the potential to make a nationwide impact.
I had always been interested in computer science, and had experienced my own difficulties entering the field due to an demographically unsupportive environment. Emboldened by my experience with the Career Conference, I pitched my goal of running a hackathon to the board, and began mapping out a timeline, contacting sponsors, and bringing the idea to life. Over a hundred students from across America attended, the majority of whom had never done a hackathon before. We worked with them to create stellar projects they had initially found infeasible: an app reminding users to drink water, a website connecting volunteers with local projects, and more. After the event, we received many requests for more learning resources; though we couldn’t change any local cultures, we had given many students a community to belong in as they continued learning to code.
AYLUS had given me the opportunity to make a nationwide impact on a topic I was passionate about. In the future, I aim to mentor and guide future AYLUS members and promote AYLUS initiatives in the North Carolina area. I also plan to actively engage in community service efforts at Duke University and support the Durham community through programs such as the Connect Community program, where I will package meals for underprivileged families, tutor kids, organize book drives, and more, alongside old and new friends.
My experiences in AYLUS have taught me the importance and fulfillment of giving back to the community. I plan to continue this passion for community service at Duke University with the same enthusiasm as I had in Greater Princeton.
Alan Huang-Syosset
“I still feel the ash of the incense burn my hand when I pray for my family
and I still remember thinking my skin was what I was worth
and I still feel pride and I still feel heritage
and I still feel Chinese and I still Feel American
and I still Feel.” – Alex Dang, “What Kind of Asian Are You?”
Throughout my childhood, I never felt the weight of being Chinese in America. I would always keep to myself, not interacting with the world around me, and in turn, no would bother me either. However, as our struggles bubbled to the surface in recent years, I decided it was time for me not only to delve into my heritage, but also to make a lasting impact in the community that provides me with so much. Throughout my high school years, I have been heavily researching many aspects of the modern Asian-American experience, immersing myself in articles, novels, plays, poems, and anthologies regarding statistics about adolescent suicides, silenced mass incarcerations, model minority narratives, the cost of assimilation, and so much more. Throughout it all, one trend remains clear; Asian-Americans are never included in the grand scheme of American history. We may want to attribute that trend to acts of violence or racism against our people, but what I realize is that we, as a people, must stand up and serve our community to gain the mutual respect we need. I am invigorated by the idea of treading new waters, of uncovering long-forgotten history that has nevertheless shaped life for Asian-Americans today, and creating a new path in which our people can give back to the country, and to the planet.
Founding the Syosset branch of AYLUS with this key ideology in mind, building up the branch and beginning to organize events was only a matter of perseverance. With the help of my peers, we were able to quickly grow from setting up local composting stations and immersing new immigrants in American language and culture to organizing large scale rallies, donation drives, and benefit concerts. The AAPI rally we hosted during the height of anti-Asian hate crimes brought over 400 attendees together in a bid for love and unity, while the back to school donation drive we hosted for underprivileged children amassed over $6000 worth of school supplies. I am now better able to understand the gift of giving, use my knowledge to facilitate communication with other cultures, and appreciate what all those who came before me contributed to the fight for the common good. Each event’s success continues to inspire me to stay out of my shell, and I plan to keep supporting those who come after me through the AYLUS Scholar Network in finding their drive to leadership and philanthropy.
Amber Yu-Greater Princeton
The AYLUS Greater Princeton Branch has always accompanied me right from the beginning of high school. As a co-founder, much of my motivation then was to set a good example for the community. In total, I contributed more than 700 hours towards giving back to the community and promoting environmental protection. These were some of the most meaningful hours of my life. From my work with the Chief Horticulturist at Morven Museum & Garden to curating recycled artwork from AYLUS members, my rich experiences remind me daily of my journey as a passionate volunteer.
When I came across the opportunity to volunteer at Morven, I immediately jumped on it. From harvesting Idaho potatoes to propagating sprouts, the work wasn’t easy. But at the end of each Sunday shift, I returned home not only dirty and sun-drenched but also excited to have witnessed the coming of new life and eager to use my passion to inspire the community to action. Thus, I built an AYLUS student team that cultivated over 1000 pounds of fresh produce on Morven’s grounds using sustainable practices. I had learned in Biology that sustainable gardening can create carbon storages which slow climate change, and my experience at Morven drove this point home. By the end of the year, I had become friends with the other student volunteers, and we were proud to work as an AYLUS team.
Besides pursuing my environmental passion through fieldwork, I have integrated environmental activism into my artwork. I have organized two “Trashed Art” shows, curating works from artists who use recycled materials to make art. At last year’s show, over thirty national students joined me in educating viewers on topics relating to recycling and remaking. Pieces ranged from a portrait of Van Gogh made out of sunflower seeds, to a sculpture made with scrap paper, to a cardinal made from discarded plastic caps. I have come to embrace the idea that art inspires positive change in our relationship with nature. My third annual “Trashed Art” show was just initiated in January and is sure to be a great success. Through the shows and beautiful hand-made art, I seek to send a powerful message and offer an innovative solution to the environmental crisis.
From working at Morven to creating trashed art, my passion for the environment reflects an
essential part of who I am. My work as an activist and artist for AYLUS has helped me develop perseverance, responsibility, and collaboration skills—all useful traits that I will carry with me as I look to my future. With greater opportunities becoming available to me after graduation, I will have a lifetime of experiences that let me contribute to the protection of our natural world to benefit our communities. My volunteer projects will leave behind a legacy as unique tools to promote a sustainable future and unite the AYLUS community in cherishing the Earth.
Kate Liu-Pearland
I joined AYLUS seven years ago and the members have since become family to me. AYLUS has given me countless opportunities to organize annual events, meet new community members, and work closely with other community organizations, such as Keep Pearland Beautiful and Pearland Parks and Recreation. I have been an officer in the AYLUS Pearland branch since 8th grade and
am currently the president. As president of the AYLUS Pearland branch, I am committed to
uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds by creating opportunities for underrepresented
groups to share their unique perspectives. One of the ways I have pursued this initiative was by
supporting Pearland’s all-inclusive playground.
In the spring of 2022, residents gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the city’s first
all-inclusive playground. City officials and community volunteers spent two years developing this long-awaited project that gives children of all abilities a space to play together. After the ribbon cutting, a woman approached me and expressed her gratitude for the contributions that my volunteer organization, AYLUS Pearland, had made during the development stages of the park. She introduced her son, whose legs were paralyzed at a young age. Although he now requires a wheelchair for mobility, he didn’t let his disability define him and continued his passion for playing baseball. Hearing his inspiring story while seeing his warm smile and positive energy was incredibly moving. It made me reflect on the importance of creating inclusive spaces like these.
When organizing philanthropic events, such as tutoring economically disadvantaged students and organizing donation drives for shelters, I have always worked to create valuable communities that unite individuals from all backgrounds. I hope to not only continue the honorable legacy that the AYLUS Scholar Network has made but also create an environment that encourages different perspectives. New ideas are the key to innovating a future where diverse individuals can connect and interact while fostering imaginative projects.
Harris Chen-Greater Memphis
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, the need for support became more evident than ever. The desolate streets, once bustling with life, served as a constant reminder of the unprecedented times we were living in. With an idea in mind—a spark of inspiration I couldn’t shake off—I knew I wanted to create a community to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for students to come together, united in the pursuit of volunteerism. And so, after connecting with friends, I officially formed the Greater Memphis Branch.
We started with a small budget and limited resources, but we had big dreams. We worked
tirelessly to spread the word about our new organization, reaching out to local schools and
community centers to gather support and recruit members. Even with initial challenges, we were determined to make a positive impact.
Now, as the current president of AYLUS, I have the privilege of leading a talented and dedicated team of over 100 members as we work toward a brighter future. From managing social media to designing curricula, I’ve been constantly motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of others.
One of our most notable achievements has been hosting free summer camps offering classes in the humanities and STEM. I still remember one class on ancient civilizations, where we used interactive maps and videos to transport students back in time, bringing the past to life with vibrant detail. They were captivated by the lesson—their eyes aglow with wonder and curiosity as they delved into the rich, complex histories of past civilizations.
Seeing firsthand the transformative power of knowledge and the boundless potential of young minds, I became committed to spreading knowledge to those eager to learn. It’s the joy of being absorbed in the contagious enthusiasm of students, the thrill of inspiring them to reach new heights, and the satisfaction of seeing a smile on their faces that fuels my passion for service.
Forming the Greater Memphis Branch of AYLUS has been a journey of obstacles and triumphs. It has allowed me to not only make a difference, but also to gain a greater understanding of education’s potential. We began small, but today, we are an organization that reaches thousands of students by providing them with a platform to learn, grow, and excel. Now, I’m excited to further demonstrate my commitment to service.
As part of the AYLUS Scholar Network, I would use my platform to continue inspiring and mentoring students to become leaders and take on ambitious projects to make a more significant impact on society. I can envision hosting activities that bring together students from different backgrounds and disciplines to collaborate on addressing pressing social matters. I can picture students from various schools exchanging ideas and working toward meaningful change. And I can hear the excitement as they work to solve real-world issues. The AYLUS Scholar Network is
a catalyst for creating a brighter future, and I am eager to become part of it.