Katherine Tsai: WRC Leadership and Civic Engagement Award

By Russel Altamirano

 

On March 6, 2014, the Women’s Resource Center honored three undergraduate and three graduate women students who have demonstrated exemplary work in leadership, civic engagement, and social justice, in addition to overcoming adversity. This sixth annual Celebration for a Day of Appreciation and Recognition of Women Students commemorated Women’s History Month and The Leadership Community for Women Initiative by awarding UCR women students for their remarkable impact in the community and greater society. University Honors is pleased to have one of our students selected for this admirable award. Katherine Tsai, a third year Biology major and Donald Strauss Foundation Scholarship recipient, has been awarded the undergraduate Leadership and Civic Engagement Award for her outstanding academic and community engagement.

 

Katherine has devoted extraordinary efforts to community leadership and civic engagement projects while achieving academic excellence to pursue an M.D. She is President of Flying Samaritans, an organization that provides free medical care and support to the rural community of El Hongo, Mexico. She has also been awarded a $10,000 Donald Strauss Scholarship to fund her Mini-Medical School public service program. These projects serve underrepresented communities in an effort to prevent chronic illnesses and provide valuable medical information to the local community. Katherine’s exceptional dedication towards these projects has strongly impacted and benefited underprivileged communities.

 

In order to positively influence fellow students as well, Katherine Tsai works with many on-campus academic support organizations. As a Supplementary Instructor at the Academic Resource Center, Tsai assists fellow students in subjects including Chemistry and Biology. She also supports and guides students in their pursuits of a medical related profession as a Health Professions Advising Center Peer Mentor. Katherine has wholeheartedly devoted countless hours and put in an immense effort to help others through her passion for the health field. Thus, Katherine’s experiences and achievements exemplify a strong female voice that continues to inspire many UCR students and community members.