The Commission for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Student Community Building Award recognizes the contributions of an undergraduate or graduate student who has demonstrated commitment to fostering inclusivity, building connections, raising awareness for, and/or advancing the diverse interests of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville AAPI community.
Chang Gao
Chang Gao joined the CSSA (Chinese Students and Scholars Association) in 2020, served as Vice Chairman of CSSA in 2021, Chairman of CSSA in 2022, and is responsible for Chinese media promotion work in CGE from 2022 to 2023.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Becoming a Volunteer means a sense of belonging and responsibility to me. As an international student, I feel the same sense of belonging as home at UT. I believe it is also my responsibility to contribute my efforts to this larger community and encourage more students from across the ocean to join us.”
What are your plans for after graduation?
“After graduation, I plan to recommend more Chinese students who want to study in the United States to choose UT while completing my own work.”