Connie Chen Shao of Midland receives John B. Ervin Scholarship to attend Washington University in St. Louis

2010 Oct 29

Connie Chen Shao, daughter of Yao Chen and Jian-dong Shao of Midland, Mich. (48640), was recently named an Ervin Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis. Shao, a 2010 graduate of Herbert Henry Dow High School, entered Washington University as a freshman this fall.

In high school, Shao was president of her school's DECA chapter and served as executive chair on Student Union.

The Ervin scholarship is awarded to incoming first-year students who demonstrate exceptional intellectual and leadership achievements, and who have engaged in or shown a commitment to community service, can demonstrate their commitment to bringing diverse people together, have demonstrated a commitment of serving historically underprivileged populations, and/or can demonstrate achievement and determination in the face of personal challenges.

The scholarship, which is renewable for all four years of undergraduate study, is named after the late John B. Ervin, a nationally renowned black educator, scholar and author. Ervin was dean of the School of Continuing Education (now University College in Arts & Sciences) at Washington University from 1968 to 1977.

Ervin, who published numerous articles on education in professional journals, was the first African-American to hold a dean's position at the university. Presidents Ford and Carter appointed him to the National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing Education. He also served as vice president of the Danforth Foundation from 1977 until his retirement in 1986. He was a life member of the NAACP.

Washington University is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research, and it draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 125 countries. The total student body is more than 13,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

The approximately 3,290 faculty teach in seven schools: Arts & Sciences, Olin Business School, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, School of Engineering & Applied Science, School of Law, School of Medicine and George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Twenty-two Nobel laureates have been associated with Washington University, with nine doing the major portion of their pioneering research here.

The university offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.

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