YCAR is pleased to announce that Athena So is the 2020 recipient of the YCAR Undergraduate Asia Award. Athena wrote the winning paper—The Woman Question with Minister of Women’s Affairs, QIU JIN—for Opium, Rebellion, Woman: China 1800–1911 (HIST 3773). She was nominated by her course director, Noa Nahmias (History).

Ms. Nahmias said that while many students in history struggle to imagine historical figures as real people, Athena’s paper thoughtfully engaged with the material and were able to bring to life the controversial historical figure that her essay is centred on.

Athena is a sixth-year student studying in the Music and Concurrent Education programs. She is a Piano Major who focuses on classical music, popular music and conducting. She holds a secondary teachable subject in History and hopes to further delve into the world of European and Asian history in her future studies.

YCAR invites York faculty members or teaching assistants to nominate exceptional undergraduate student papers for the YCAR Undergraduate Asia and Asian Diaspora Essay Awards. Applications for the 2020–21 academic year will be accepted until 30 April 2021.