Music performance doctoral student Haobing Zhu performs a traditional Chinese piano piece after receiving an award during the Excellence in Diversity Recognitions and Awards program on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 at the Kellogg Center. Zhu received the Students Making a Difference through Artistic Expression Award for the performance.
—Graduate student Zhu Haobing, who has been away from her home in China for about five years, still tries to bridge the cultural gap between the U.S. and China through music because she said it is an universal language.
“Because I’m studying in a foreign country, diversity is something I experience everyday,” Zhu said. “Every day I meet different people and it makes my life really colorful and expands my view on the world.”
During the All-University Excellence in Diversity Recognition and Awards program last Friday at Kellogg Center, Zhu received the Students Making a Difference through Artistic Expression Award for piano performance. She presented a solo performance of Chinese traditional folk music as transcribed by Wang Jianzhong.
More than 20 students and faculty were recognized with Zhu, receiving awards related to a range of diversity programs at MSU, including the 2012 Multicultural Heroes Hall of Fame and the 2012 International Student Essay Competition. The awards were given to students and faculty who have gone above and beyond to promote diversity at MSU.
Apparel and textiles sophomore Capelle Gabriel also was honored with the Students Making a Difference through Artistic Expression Award.
Gabriel created a 3-D wire representation of a two-headed calf. The calf was a metaphor for diversity at MSU. She used different colors to emphasize the difference between one side of the calf and the other, although it was all made from the same wire. Gabriel said bright colors dominated one side of the calf, which represented MSU’s varied cultural perspectives, while the other side was dominated by black paint, a symbol of the stereotypes that prevent people from exploring beyond society’s confinements.
“I think that even listening to people at the ceremony has given me ideas on how to promote diversity,” Gabriel said. “Just extending out to people and attending more events (to get) involved in the community is an easy way to start. I’m realizing that there are more opportunities than I originally thought to learn about different cultures.”
The Native American and Hispanic Business Students, or NAHBS, was given the Organization Award: Excellent Progress toward Advancing Diversity within Community. NAHBS created the Native American Outreach Program, where members go to different Native American tribes and try to motivate and inspire students to pursue higher education. They hope to help students see there is value in going away from their community to get an education and bring that education back to their tribe.
“Our organization (was started) in order to increase the representation of both Native Americans and Hispanics within the business college, because right now they are extremely under-represented,” NAHBS President Kim Rizzo said. “We try to create a home away from home for any students within our organization while also giving them professional development opportunities.”
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