Students Cara Lew and Alice Niu were recognized with Dr. David Chu Leadership Awards in Asia-Pacific Studies for their activities in the 2014–15 academic year.

Cara, who graduated in June 2015 with a degree in Economics and Contemporary Asian Studies, was recognized for her leadership and vision in taking the International Course Module (ICM) to Burma in February 2015 from concept to reality. Cara was among the group of students who came up with the idea for the ICM, and was instrumental in rallying her peers to discuss, plan, write and submit the successful proposal.

But she didn’t stop there. Cara remained a leading force in organizing and planning the trip, and its related fundraising events and research presentations. She showcased her remarkable ability to delegate tasks by capitalizing on the strengths of her fellow students. The trip was a huge success, and many students benefited thanks to Cara’s leadership.

“I am so honoured to be recognized for this prestigious award.  Having your support this year has allowed me to accomplish so much more than I ever imagined after my accident last year.  I truly believe that joining the AI community was the best decision I ever made during my undergraduate degree at UofT,” said Cara Lew.

Alice Niu, who studies Contemporary Asian Studies and Ethics, Society, and Law, served as Co-President of the Contemporary Asian Studies Student Union (CASSU). In this role, Alice used her outstanding leadership skills to foster a supportive and engaging environment of extracurricular events to complement the academic focus of the Contemporary Asian Studies program. She organized several academic panels and social events throughout the 2014–15 year, including the inaugural Work + Asia Conference.

Like Cara, Alice also contributed to the planning and execution of the ICM to Burma. Upon completion of the Module, Alice participated in a panel showcasing her research on the institutionalization of democracy in Burma.

Both students demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities, dedication, and commitment to the Contemporary Asian Studies community at the University of Toronto and are each well-deserving of these awards.

Cara is currently working at TD Securities in a 2-year rotational program as a Global Operations Leadership Associate, and plans on attending graduate school in the near future.

Alice is currently finishing her last year of undergraduate studies. As she just recently returned from her summer internship at the Embassy of Canada to Burma, she is now seeking more opportunities abroad to pursue her discovered academic interest in Southeast Asia.