Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area (RMHC) today honored the six recipients of its 2013 RMHC/ASIA (Asian Students Increasing Achievement) Scholarship Program at a special awards ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Selected from a record-number of applicants from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, each winner was awarded a $17,000 scholarship in recognition of their service to the community and academic achievements. The awards ceremony was hosted by FOX 5 News anchor Christina Park and featured a keynote address delivered by newly-appointed NYPD Community Affairs Chief Thomas Chan.

Now in its 13th year, the RMHC/ASIA Scholarship Program annually grants six $17,000 scholarships to Asian high school students in the New York Tri-State Area, making it the largest program of its kind. The program seeks to identify and support students in financial need who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and community involvement. To date, the program has awarded over $1.3 million.

“The RMHC/ASIA Scholarship Program prides itself on awarding students that are not only academic leaders but also future community leaders,” said Christopher Perry, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area. “We are very proud to support these six incredible individuals who truly embody the spirit of our scholarship.”

The recipients of the 2013 RMHC/ASIA Scholarship Program are:

• Jacqueline Chou, 17, of Stuyvesant High School in New York, NY, volunteers at Charity a la Mode and tutors at her school club, the Chinese Language Society.
• Udisa Chowdhury, 17, of Hillcrest High School in Jamaica, NY, volunteered at the Neuro-Surgery Unit at New York Presbyterian. She is also a member of SHOROLIPI, a cultural and musical group.
• Lisa Lee, 18, of Stuyvesant High School in New York, NY, is a contributor to her school’s newspaper, The Spectator, and volunteered for the Chinese-American Planning Council.
• Eun Pyung Jeong, 17, of Bergen Academy of Hackensack, in Hackensack, NJ, volunteers at the Harvester for Inner City Missions and American Wheat Mission.
• Katherine Jung, 17, of Ridgefield Memorial High in Ridgefield, NJ, volunteered at St. James Nursery School. She is a member of the Women’s Choir and Academic Decathlon.
• Anita Wong, 18, of Bayside High School in Bayside, NY, volunteers at Smiles for Miles and has been a student council member for the past four years.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area
For over 20 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area has been creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Their signature programs include scholarships to help provide access to a college education for students who need and earn it, and community grants to support a variety of local children’s charities in the areas of medicine, crisis intervention, civic and social services, education, and the arts. The organization also provides needed support to 5 Ronald McDonald Houses, which are “homes away from home” allowing families to be with their hospitalized children for extended periods of time. For more information, please visit www.rmhcnytristate.org or contact 732-623-8639. ‘)}