Click here for a link to the Scholarship Application

Click here for the link to the Scholarship Donation Form

The Davis Chinese Association (DCA) was formed in 1965, with many new faculty and staff coming to the University of California, Davis from all over the United States and abroad to settle in the very small town of Davis. The DCA became a warm and friendly group, where we could share cultures and talk in our native languages. Over the years, our organization has grown to welcome newcomers to Davis and through our activities, we’ve become more active participants in the Davis community.

The scholarships honor and award graduating high school seniors of Chinese descent who attend school in Davis or live in Davis and have demonstrated academic excellence and distinguished themselves in school and community activities. Along with their applications, students submit an essay about how their lives have been influenced growing up as Chinese Americans in the United States. The DCA Scholarship Committee determines the amount and number of scholarships given annually on the basis of merit.

Traditionally each year in May, the Davis Chinese Association holds its annual Scholarship Reception to honor its scholarship recipients. Since 2005, the Davis Chinese Association has awarded over $70,000 to remarkable graduating seniors.

Thanks to the continuing generous donations of our members, friends, community and local businesses, we have been able to continue this wonderful scholarship program.

If you are looking to giving back to the community, please consider helping us continue to recognize these outstanding students. Your valuable contribution will help fund the annual DCA Scholarships and DCA Memorial Scholarships. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for the link to the Scholarship donation form

Here are descriptions of scholarships we have awarded and continue to award to our scholarship recipients.

Davis Chinese Association Ronald F. Soohoo Memorial Scholarship
Created by Rosie M. Soohoo, wife of Ronald F. Soohoo
Professor Ronald F. Soohoo was a world-renowned scientist, educator, executive, consultant and leader who was the founding Chairman of the UC Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Notably, he was the first department chairman of Asian descent in the 100-year history of the University of California.

He did not lead by power but by the power of his intellect and leading-edge ideas. When he came to Davis in 1964, he was attracted by the potential that the campus held to become a world-class institution in multiple areas including engineering. In the intervening years he and his colleagues built one of the leading electrical engineering programs in the nation. Many of his students are now leaders in industry and academia.

Dr. Soohoo was honored with many distinguished awards, including a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the National Academy of Sciences, Who’s Who in America, a NATO Fellowship to the National Research Labs in France, a National Science Foundation Research Fellow at IBM, an Outstanding Educator of America, and named a Top Innovator by Science Digest Magazine.

Dr. Soohoo always believed strongly that high potential students of Chinese descent should be provided opportunities to advance and make contributions to society as far as their potential could take them without limit. This Memorial Scholarship was created to provide a similar potential that he was able to benefit from through hard-work and scholarship.

Davis Chinese Association Ying Yung Tsao Memorial Scholarship
Created by Linda Tsao Yang, daughter of Ying Yung Tsao.
My father Mr. Ying-Yung Tsao first visited Davis in 1967. He was so impressed with this university town that he made more visits to Davis in the 1970's and 80's. The last time he saw Davis was in 1985-1986. By then, four of his grandchildren had graduated from Davis Senior High School. He was pleased to see an increasing enrollment of ethnic Chinese in the school. The scholarship in his name is to honor his wish to encourage them to understand and appreciate their Chinese heritage. This is one reason scholarship applicants are asked to write an essay on what it means to be a Chinese American. My father was born in Shanghai, China. He loved his Chinese heritage and humanistic values that guided his life. He was always ready to help others. I remember in the late summer of 1937, he paid the tuition for twenty-two boys and girls, all refugees from the outskirts of Shanghai who were forced to flee their homes after Japan attacked the city on August 13th of that year. He continued to help them for many months until their own families got settled. My father passed away in 1990. But in many ways, his heritage and his values continue to live within us.

Davis Chinese Association Annie Tsao Van Memorial Scholarship
Created by Linda Tsao Yang, sister of Annie Tsao Van.
Mrs. Annie Tsao Van was born in Shanghai and attended St. John's University before moving to Hong Kong in the late 1940's. A successful entrepreneur and a devoted mother, she cared deeply and contributed generously to the education of young people. The award is donated by Ambassador Linda Tsao Yang to honor Mrs. Van.

Davis Chinese Association George Chin Memorial Scholarship
Created by Simon Chin, Catherine Cheah, and Grace Osborne, children of George Chin
George Chin was a Chinese immigrant who came to the United States, in pursuit of a better life. He understood the value of family and worked hard to provide for his wife and children. Though he was not academically inclined, he was wise beyond his years. He developed practical skills and knowledge. Over the years, through his perseverance and diligence, he was able to provide more opportunities for his family. His surviving children sponsored this scholarship to honor his intelligence, work ethic, and devotion to his family.

Davis Chinese Association Richard Chin Memorial Scholarship
Created by Simon Chin, Catherine Cheah, and Grace Osborne, siblings of Richard Chin
Richard Chin had an entrepreneurial spirit. He studied hard in school and fulfilled his desire to go into business for himself. He was always thinking outside the box and finding ways to make a difference in this world. His incredible ambitions helped him to start multiple businesses. Though the first few were not as successful, he kept pursuing his dreams until he achieved his goals for a prosperous business. It was just taking off when his life was cut short and he was unable to fully realize his vision. His surviving siblings sponsored this scholarship to honor his determination, dedication, creative thinking and his accomplishments.

Davis Chinese Association Leslie and Gregory Chin Memorial Scholarship
Created by Anita Leung, sister of Leslie and Gregory Chin
Brothers Leslie and Gregory Chin were hard working, self-made men. Leslie was a free-lance writer for a Hong Kong newspaper. Gregory was an engineer at the Australian Broadcasting Company. Both had very few opportunities growing up in Hong Kong. In spite of their circumstances, both earned a place in society.
As neither Leslie nor Gregory had children of their own, their Memorial Scholarship allows them to be remembered, while helping students on their way to college. They always wanted to help other hard working students, like themselves.


Davis Chinese Association Shang Fa Yang Memorial Scholarship
Created by Albert and Bryant Yang, sons of Shang Fa Yang. Biography written by Albert and Bryant Yang.
As proud graduates of Davis Senior High School, it is our privilege to continue its tradition of academic excellence by sponsoring this scholarship in honor of our late father and long-time resident of Davis, Professor Shang Fa Yang.
Professor Shang Fa Yang was an internationally acclaimed plant scientist at the University of California, Davis. His four decades of research focused on how plants produce the chemical ethylene. Ethylene is a plant hormone important in controlling a range of functions, including fruit ripening. Those studies helped unlock the key to prolonging the quality and shelf life of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Consequently, the practical results of his research can be seen in every produce section throughout the world.

As a result of his groundbreaking research, Professor Yang was the recipient of many awards and honors. In 1992, he was chosen as UC Davis' Faculty Research Lecturer, the highest honor that UC Davis bestows upon its faculty. In 1990 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (one of the highest honors for scientists in the United States), and in 1991 he received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture, an award widely regarded to be second in prestige only to the Nobel Prize.

Davis Chinese Association Wen-Tze Hwang Memorial Scholarship
Created by Ralph Hwang, son of Wen-Tze Hwang. Biography written by Ralph Hwang.
Dr. Wen-Tze Hwang was born in 1914 and raised in Taiwan. He attended elementary school in Taiwan. Then he moved to Japan to attend Hida Engineering Vocational High School in Oida prefecture. He graduated after four years from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University in Japan and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1937. Afterwards, he went back to Taiwan to serve various governmental agencies related to animal health and husbandry. In 1957, he was appointed Director of the Taiwan Provincial Animal Health Research Institute and served as director for nine years. During this time, he also served as the Chief Commissioner of KMT party in Tamsui district. In 1966, he was further promoted to the position of Chief of the Animal Husbandry Division of the Taiwan Provincial Agricultural Bureau until his retirement in 1979. During this time, he also served as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine for 13 years at the Taiwan National Chung Shing University and the Taiwan Provincial Ping Tung Agriculture College.

After his retirement, Dr. Hwang and his wife Pai-Yeu Hwang lived in Davis to be close to the families of their children: Ralph, Freda, Jessie and Calvin Hwang; Chao, Lee, Jamie and Jay Hwang; and Walter and Barbara Hwang Baltagalia. He married Pai Yeu (age 92 and current Davis resident) in 1937 after receiving his DVM degree. They were married for 63 years and raised four sons and two daughters. All their children were educated with professions such as ambassador, professor, medical doctor, architect, and pharmaceutical researcher. The Hwang family would like to help further the education of bright and promising students, as they continue on to college.

Davis Chinese Association Lee-Jing Chen Memorial Scholarship
Created by daughters, Sumei Chen Yee and Cammy Chen Reiger.
Our father was born April 1, 1939 in Taipei, Taiwan. He was one of five children. When our father was in the fourth grade, his life took a turn that led him to his academic drive and thirst for education. At this time, our father forced himself to study. He had no friends, no family, or distractions. Studying became his main focus. As a result of his hard work, he attended the best high school in Taipei and then continued at National Taiwan University. He was the first from his family to immigrate to America on a fellowship. He received his master’s degree from North Dakota and then received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Research opportunities brought him to UC Davis. He spent the next 20 years at the University teaching and doing research. He continued his love for educating pre-med students at Sacramento State for another 10 years. His love was in the classroom and he frequently commented he felt most rewarded from his student’s positive evaluations. Our father would agree with the Confucious saying, “If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.”

Davis Chinese Association Tjwan Bie Tan Memorial Scholarship
Created by Dr. Alan C. Tan, son of Tjwan Bie Tan
My father recently passed away in March 2011. He was key in my pursuit of higher education. He enjoyed his studies and school in Indonesia where he was born. Our ancestors left the Fujian province of China in the early 1800’s. During World War II, his schooling was interrupted by the Japanese occupation and he then attended Chinese school for two years where he learned Mandarin. Even though it was never his primary language, he loved his tie to China into his later years.

My father received his Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering at Delft University of Technology in 1956 and became an assistant professor at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. Our family moved to the United States in 1960, where my father eventually settled into the Silicon Valley.

He attended some DCA functions some years ago when he was well, and appreciated the Chinese community that you have formed. The purpose of the DCA Memorial Scholarships is an endeavor he would have strongly supported.

Davis Chinese Association Kwang Ching Liu Memorial Scholarship
Created by Edith Liu, wife of the late Kwang Ching Liu
Professor Kwang Ching Liu was a professor emeritus of history at the University of California, Davis. He was one of the foremost historians of 19th century China. Professor Liu was born in Beijing, China. He attended Harvard in 1943, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1945. He received his doctoral degree from Harvard under the direction of his mentor and later colleague, Professor John K. Fairbank. Professor Liu was the author of numerous scholarly works and contributed three chapters to the authoritative "Cambridge History of China."

After an already distinguished career, he came to UC Davis in l963. He led in the building up of the Chinese and East Asian Studies departments, developing the faculty in Chinese and Japanese history as well as in the language programs and other disciplines. He is remembered by colleagues and students alike as a "wise, patient, generous and kind man, unparalleled as a mentor."

In 1976, Professor Liu was elected to membership in the Academia Sinica, a prestigious research institution based in Taiwan and served as chair of the advisory committee of its Institute of Modern History. He also served as a member of the Joint Committee on Sino-American Cooperation in Humanities and Social Sciences of the American Council of Learned Societies and the Social Science Research Council. He was associate editor of the Journal of Asian Studies and member of the edition board of The Tsinghua journal of Chinese Studies and of the editorial committee of the University of California Press.