This year’s Full Ride Winner is Zoua Pa Yang, a junior Art Therapy major at Mount Mary University. She will be studying abroad next Summer in Thailand on our 7-week program based in Chiang Mai.
About Zoua Pa
Zoua Pa is a first generation college student. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. after fleeing persecution in Laos. Her application addressed the challenges she has overcome as a second generation immigrant and Hmong woman raised in Milwaukee, including issues of racism, poverty and growing up in a household with ten siblings where sometimes extra support wasn’t always available.
Zoua Pa Yang pictured with former professors and mentors who came to support her, TEAN Program Manager Brynne Shannon and Nan Metzger, Director of International Studies at Mount Mary University | Photo by Mount Mary UniversityZoua Pa attributes her experiences being raised in poverty, as one of the factors that has gave her the desire get involved with the community. We were impressed with her resume and dedication to give back!
On campus, Zoua Pa is a member of the Grace Scholars Program, a competitive scholarship program for 30 incoming first generation students from Milwaukee. The program includes being a mentor for future incoming first year students on the program.
She is also involved in Promise Program, dedicated to supporting first generation college students who come from low income households.
Zoua Pa’s reaction to hearing exciting news she is receiving the Full Ride to study abroad | Photo by Mount Mary UniversityZoua Pa is a member of the Asian Student Organization (ASO) and is the club’s treasurer. This club is focused on strengthening leadership in the Asian community. They are currently volunteering to set up a clothing drive for a non-profit called the Hmong American Women’s Association (HAWA) that offers support for anyone in the Asian community struggling with finances. They also provide mentoring and tutoring for young children, and resources for women who have faced domestic violence or sexual assault.
She is a member of Student Art Therapy Association (SATA). The group focuses on teaching the community more about Art Therapy and mental health awareness through the beauty, creation and meaning of art.
Zoua Pa also worked as a Student Ambassador in the Mount Mary University Admissions Office, providing tours to prospective families and helping at recruitment events while representing Mount Mary. Off-campus, she is an active member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee (RCM).
Zoua Pa and TEAN’s Brynne Shannon who works with TEAN Thailand applicants | Photo by Mount Mary UniversityZoua Pa says that becoming an art therapist will allow her to give support to people in her community. One of her goals while abroad is to gain knowledge about Thai culture to enhance her understanding of cultural diversity, and apply this knowledge to her art therapy career.
This will be Zoua Pa’s first time studying abroad and traveling internationally. We can’t wait for her to study in Thailand with us this summer!
About the the Full Ride Scholarship
The TEAN Full Ride Scholarship began from our 20 for 20 scholarship campaign in 2016 to celebrate our 20th anniversary. The scholarship covers tuition, program fees and orientation. This scholarship is in addition to our regular pool of semester and summer scholarships awarded each year.
You can learn more about our programs, opt to receive updates from TEAN including future scholarship announcements by submitting your information here on our website.
