UNC student wins prestigious Davis Projects for Peace award

Yu Zhou

Yu Zhou, a UNC sophomore accepted into the Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program next fall, has been named a winner in the 2011 Davis Projects for Peace initiative.

Zhou, who will study biostatistics at the public health school, developed Young Scholars International, a program that will allow UNC undergraduates studying abroad to enrich their experience by leading high school seminars in the countries they visit. Zhou will receive $10,000 to implement the project.

This summer, Young Scholars International will work with students who are going to China.

“Each UNC participant will have an opportunity to facilitate a discussion about an area of knowledge they have studied and are passionate about with Chinese high school students in Beijing this summer,” Zhou said. “The seminars aim to help Chinese youth critically think about the world and explore their academic interests. UNC participants will learn more about the Beijing community and practice cross-cultural communication skills.”

Zhou, the project’s director, will work with sophomore Shuaiqing Liu, who has been admitted into the public health school’s BSPH program in health policy and management; sophomore Yukai Ni, from the Kenan-Flagler Business School; McKay Roozen, a junior in international studies and political science; and senior Chinese major Tucker Mills.

The Davis Projects for Peace awards, sponsored by philanthropist Kathryn W. Davis, will provide more than $1 million in summer 2011 to fund projects developed by university students from more than 90 campuses. Collectively, the projects have impact in all regions of the world.

Kathryn Davis

Davis, now more than 103 years old, launched the initiative on her 100th birthday in 2007, with the hope of building peace throughout the world in the 21st century. Each year, she renews her challenge to motivated students, offering funding for projects that use innovative techniques focused on conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding and breaking down barriers that cause conflict.

“Kathryn Davis was motivated to establish Davis Projects for Peace because she felt a great sense of urgency about an elusive goal – peace in the world,” said Philip O. Geier, executive director of the Davis United World College (UWC) Scholars Program. “She felt frustrated that older generations had failed in that great quest. Kathryn’s vision has motivated young people, and they have drawn inspiration from [her].”

The UWC Scholars Program is the largest privately funded international scholarship program, supporting more than 2,000 undergraduates from 133 nations.

“I want to use my birthday to once again help young people launch some initiatives that will bring new energy and ideas to the prospect of peace in the world,” Davis said. “My many years have taught me that there will always be conflict. It’s part of human nature. But love, kindness and support are also part of human nature, and my challenge to these young people is to bring about a mindset of preparing for peace instead of preparing for war.”

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.