“Thanks to the generosity of Penn State alumnus Ernie Janssen, the Janssen Family Prize in Asian Studies is awarded each Spring to the top graduate in each of our three majors: Asian Studies, Chinese, and Japanese.  Awardees receive a medal to wear at graduation and a prize of $500.”

Janssen Awardees:

 2018

 Asian Studies: Benjamin Black.  Benjamin Black also received the Center for Global Studies Thesis Prize for his thesis, "Incidents in the South China Sea: Exploring the Chinese Perspective of the Disputes.”  He also received Honorable Mention in the 2018 Paterno Fellows Best Thesis Awards.”

Chinese: Sarah Bastian.  Sarah Bastian also received the Center for Global Studies Thesis Prize for her thesis "'Let the World to Hear our Voice': Investment in Spoken English for English Majors in China.”

Japanese: Richard Gardner

 2017

Asian Studies: Eben Eleazer

Chinese: Bolanie Ajibola

Japanese: Gena Aiello

2016

Asian Studies: Kayla de Stefano

Chinese: Elyse Mark

Japanese: Yi Yu Kwai

 2015

Asian Studies: Jason Klanderman

Chinese: Charles Higgs

Japanese: Ashley Schoonover

Other Awards:

Ashlyn McKee - awarded the Center for Global Studies Thesis Prize for her thesis "Taiwan and the Catalysts of National Identity Formation.”