On August 20, 2022, the announcement of the “Star of Self-improvement of Chinese University Students” scholarship recipients brought pride to SCMZU as Yu Ning, a 2020 graduate from the School of Literature, Journalism and Communication, and Jia Yize, a 2022 graduate from the School of Management, were among the awardees. This achievement follows a rigorous selection process involving recommendations from universities, preliminary provincial evaluations, and a national review.

Yu Ning’s journey is marked by her transition from the Rocket Force to academia. As a former service member, her distinctions include being named an excellent conscript, an outstanding non-commissioned officer, and one of the top ten engineers, reflecting her dedication to military strength. At SCMZU, she has continued to excel, serving on the organizational committee of her college’s student party branch and actively participating in university events. Her voluntary service in Xizang in July 2022, recognized by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Communist Youth League of Xizang, is a testament to her commitment to social service. Her achievements and spirit have been featured in the Xizang Daily and Yangtze River Daily.

Jia Yize has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the head of SCMZU’s 24th Graduate Student Teaching Team. With nearly 2,000 hours dedicated to voluntary public service, Jia has earned over 40 honors at national, provincial, and university levels. His impactful teaching stint in Xizang in August 2022 led to his class achieving the highest grades in the school. Beyond teaching, Jia also actively promoted educational exchanges between Hubei and Xizang students during weekends. His efforts have been acknowledged by China Youth Net among other media outlets.

The 2022 “Star of Self-improvement” scholarship, aligned with the theme “Excitement and Courage”, is overseen by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the All-China Federation of Students, and is jointly organized by China Youth Daily, New Oriental Education and Technology Group, and the China Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Foundation. This prestigious award celebrates college students who exhibit love for the country, exemplary conduct, resilience, and continuous self-improvement. From a national pool, 1,850 individuals were honored.

Edited by Liu Qiong ；Reviewed by Lei Changsheng