May 28, 2024
Wen Eckelberg selected as scholar for China’s Yenching Academy
Wen Eckelberg, ’24, an undergraduate at the University of Washington, was recently chosen for the competitive Yenching Academy Scholars program at Peking University.
Eckelberg’s English honors thesis explores Chinese American history from the 1850s to now, connecting her family history to the general story of the Chinese American experience, with inclusions of her original poetry. Her American Ethnic Studies honors thesis examines the necessity of poetry in times of struggle.
Eckelberg, who majors in American Ethnic Studies and English Creative Writing with honors distinctions in both disciplines, and is earning a minor in diversity, will join current UW Yenching Scholars (selected in the previous two cycles) Katie Chua, Collin Chung and Casper Suen in the fully-funded interdisciplinary master’s program. This results in the current group being the largest cohort of UW alumni at the Yenching Academy to date. Eckelberg will be part of the 2024 cohort, joining 107 scholars hailing from 38 countries. The scholarship covers tuition costs, round-trip air travel from the student’s home country, on-campus housing and living expenses.
The Yenching Academy is dedicated to fostering a nuanced understanding of China and pushing the boundaries of traditional academic study. The Academy’s focus on examining China’s past, present and future aligns with the research interests of Wen, who has worked closely with Professors Shawn Wong and Connie So, delving into the Chinese American experience.
Studying the deep imprints of historical Chinese activity, Eckelberg’s English honors thesis explores Chinese American history from the 1850s to now, from San Francisco to Seattle, connecting her personal family history to the general story of the Chinese American experience, with inclusions of her original poetry. Her American Ethnic Studies honors thesis examines the necessity of poetry in times of struggle. This thesis uses Angel Island Detention Center poetry that was carved into the walls by Chinese people detained from 1910-1940 and the book “Songs of Gold Mountain,” as case studies for this claim. Both theses reflect on Chinese American identity, the need to recognize one’s past and the lingering impacts of Chinese activity in America.
Eckelberg is looking forward to her time at Yenching to further explore literature as a lens to view history, culture and philosophy, while also improving her Chinese language literacy. She plans to examine literature written by both the Chinese in America and those still in China to paint a more complete picture of the Chinese American experience.
“I’m excited about my time at The Yenching Academy and the program’s commitment to understanding China’s multifaceted global role,” Eckelberg said.
Eckelberg has a passion for poetry, often writing about her Chinese American community, and experiences with chronic illness. Within American Ethnic Studies, she is a research assistant for Dr. Oliver Rollins, assisting with projects involving science, racism, social justice and the law. She was an assistant coordinator for the Women’s Center’s Summer Bridge program, helping secondary students of color. Since elementary school, Wen has served as a volunteer, then as an intern, for OCA, formerly Organization of Chinese Americans, Asian Pacific American Advocates of Greater Seattle. She combined all her interests by working as a primary writer on two City of Seattle-financed comic novellas, “ In a Yellow Tone,” and later, “KingDOOM: How Protesters Saved Seattle’s Chinatown International District,” to be published June 2024.
Eckelberg aspires to pursue her Ph.D. and foster improved understanding between different communities — academia and communities of color, as well as the United States and China. She believes that gaining a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and histories will empower her to effectively represent her communities and people whose perspectives are vitally important.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Yenching Academy of Peking University application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The UW campus application process for students interested in Yenching Academy (and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) is available at OMSFA. Watch for updates about OMSFA’s Global Fellowships Prep program.