Written by Hsiulien Chu
Translated By H.B. Qin
From a talented diabolo performer, to an aspiring diplomat, future educators, and a fire protection engineering major, each student at Tzu Chi USA’s 2025 Scholarship Award Ceremony in Texas has taken on the seeds of kindness sown by Tzu Chi. Now, they’ve vowed to cultivate them throughout their lives to create something new and abounding with hope.
Since Tzu Chi first launched its New Sprout Scholarship in Hualien, Taiwan, in 2007 to support disadvantaged students, the program has gradually expanded throughout Taiwan and abroad. As Tzu Chi’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, has expressed, “Parents’ hope is their children, and children’s hope lies in education; society’s hope is talent, and talent’s hope also lies in education. Therefore, education is truly a project of hope.” And indeed, education can not only transform an individual’s future, but also lift up one’s family and their community as well.
Joining Hands for the Future
On July 12, Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region held its 2025 Scholarship Award Ceremony in Texas. Scholarship recipients receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $ 1,500. Although not a large amount, the scholarship can go a long way in helping supplement expenses, allowing students more time to study, engage with campus clubs, or volunteer.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, UTHealth Houston had collaborated with Tzu Chi to hold free medical outreach clinics. As part of this partnership, Tzu Chi offered scholarships to MD-PhD students to help ease their academic and living expenses. “Because the cost of studying medicine is quite high, the scholarship is a subsidy to cover part of their academic expenses… It’s actually a huge help for them,” explained Penny Liu, Deputy Executive Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region.
What’s more, as Tzu Chi helps students, they in turn make strides to help their community. Even on the day of the ceremony, as Tzu Chi’s Southern Region held a joint food distribution with the Houston Food Bank, award recipients stayed to help, which deeply touched the volunteers.
Scholarship recipient Chu-Huan Wang is the captain of the diabolo team founded by the Houston Branch of the Formosa Association for Student Cultural Ambassadors (FASCA). Last July, he led his team to the 2nd National Diabolo Championship for the first time, winning second place in the U18 division and first place in the ages 14-17 division.
Wang started practicing diabolo when he was very young — just eight or nine years old, he shared. Now, as a young adult, he feels that experience has been crucial in strengthening his interpersonal relationships. Moreover, because Tzu Chi invited him to be a diabolo teacher at the local Tzu Chi Academy, more people have seen his talent, and it has become a bridge for him to further connect with others.
“I feel that Tzu Chi held a very important meaning in my life during my senior year of high school,” Wang reflected. “Without Tzu Chi, I probably wouldn’t be who I am today. Honestly, my thinking and personality wouldn’t have changed in the ways they have if I hadn’t come into contact with Tzu Chi.” Wang also hopes to continue nurturing an altruistic heart, and welcomes opportunities to volunteer at Tzu Chi or perform diabolo elsewhere. “Especially since I’ve received so much help, I want to give back to society in the future,” he said.
Celeste Molina, a two-time Tzu Chi USA Scholarship winner who is currently studying Arabic and aspires to pursue a career in diplomacy, believes this scholarship program has provided not only financial assistance, but many opportunities as well.
I feel like it’s a good investment in my future, and it allows me to go study abroad, and things like that. It really helps me take advantage of opportunities at my university.
Receiving the award has also allowed Molina to gain a deeper understanding of Tzu Chi — even becoming a volunteer. She additionally attributes a more peaceful daily mindset to Tzu Chi’s direction. “I feel like that’s what is probably one of the greatest things that Tzu Chi has taught me, and if anything, I really hope to try and involve myself with it more,” said Molina. “In my university, there is a senior organization about Tzu Chi, like it’s an affiliate here, so I really hope to try and involve myself more through volunteering.”
Ryan Xue lives with his father, Bin Xue, who immigrated to the United States from mainland China in 1999. Xue will soon enroll at Oklahoma State University, majoring in fire protection engineering. He also shared his appreciation for opportunities to contribute to his community, having participated in service clubs in high school, including beach cleanups, street cleanups, and assisting elementary school students.
“Every time Tzu Chi holds a food bank distribution, I always come to help,” said Xue. “I feel that helping people will definitely bring me joy. It’s the same at school. Helping these children, and making them happy through what I do, brings me joy, too.”
Scholarship recipient Quyen Van aspires to become an educator who can leave a lasting positive impact on her students.
“Thank you, Tzu Chi, for not only the scholarship opportunity, but also the opportunity for me to help out the future generations of students with their financial needs and their career goals,” said Van. “This opportunity has been great for funding my tuition, and not only that, but also helping me with my goal of becoming a teacher and striving to make the best of students’ futures.”
Striding Onward Together
A total of 12 students were awarded the Tzu Chi USA Scholarship this year in Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region, ranging from high school graduates to college students. Due to the large area covered by the program, some of the scholarship students were unable to attend in person. For this reason, the Southern Region helped them share their excitement through video. Seeing the scholarship recipients’ dedication, Sean Lo, Executive Director of the Southern Region, expressed his delight. “Seeing the students like this makes us very happy,” he said. “We feel that, at the very least, we have done our part to pass on these values. Of course, we also hope that the students will always keep them in their hearts. Not only that, but they should be able to put these values into practice when they have the opportunity. I believe that the ability to execute those teachings is very important.”
Each scholarship recipient is like a seed, sprouting and growing stronger with care and encouragement. They have not only received help, but have given back, and aspire to continue doing so as they connect with their communities and put their dreams into action. This cycle of service and compassion will shine throughout their lives — a legacy that Tzu Chi hopes to pass on from generation to generation, indeed.
