College Scholarship Money Available 2013-2014

The Foundation awarded more than $10,000 in college scholarships in 2012-13! For details, click here. The print version of the 2013-14 application is now available. An application file that can be filled out electronically should be available soon.

There is a scholarship money available for students who have studied martial arts. Please read below for eligibility.

Applicants to the Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation Scholarship Program must:

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Plan to enroll full-time as an undergraduate at an accredited U.S. four-year college or university for the entire 2013-14 academic year;
• Have studied one or more of the Chinese Martial Arts – Kung Fu, Wu Shu, or Tai Chi – for a minimum of 5 [five] years; and
• Have a “B” average grade or better.

Award Criteria:

• Martial arts achievement (e.g., tournament medals, contribution to the martial arts);
• Academic achievement;
• An essay explaining what the study of martial arts has meant to the applicant;
• Recommendations; and
• Participation and leadership in community and school activities, work experience, educational and career goals, and unusual circumstances.

Selection of recipients is made by the Trustees of the Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation. Family members of the Trustees are ineligible for the award.

Award Amount:

Awards are for undergraduate study and pertain to a single academic year.

For the 2013-2014 academic year, the Helen GeeChin Scholarship Foundation will make awards of $2500 to two or more students.

To read about the previous winners, http://www.hgcscholarshipfoundation.org/home/Previous_Winners

A Total of $11,000 in awards.

Three college scholarships of $2500 each were awarded to:
- Shannen Murphy, student of Green Cloud Kung Fu Academy in NY
- Jennifer Surane, student of Shaolin Kung Fu School in NC
- Eric Tran, student of Wah Lum Kung Fu and Tai Chi in MA

In addition, three Honorable Mention awards went to:
- Bryan Cheng, student of Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy in MA
- Dylan Chung, student of Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy in MA
- Daniel Taylor, student of Foothills Kung-Fu

Helen had a gift for doing everything and doing it with ease. Everything she did always looked beautiful. Helen was an avid cook, baker, fashionista, writer and a role model instructor to martial art students. One of the things she always instilled in the younger students was the importance of education. Helen was a huge advocate of education. Many of the students respected her as much as Calvin.

She was 16 years old when she caught Calvin's eye in a mandarin class. Calvin was 21. They dated for several years, got married and had two kids. Their kids are grown with one in college.

Calvin was a a black belt by the time he was 15. Calvin has always been a devoted martial art student and instructor. He has always wanted his own Martial Arts school ever since he was a kid. After many years of working for himself as bean-sprout entrepreneur, he decided it was time to pursue his dream.

The Calvin Chin Academy of Martial Arts opened in the late 90's. Helen and Calvin worked together daily and built the academy from scratch. She did all the logistics, the marketing and office work in the beginning. Later she taught tai-chi and ribbon classes. This allowed Calvin to focus on teaching. Everything was just perfect until the spring of 2010.

Helen developed a cough and did not feel well. She went to her doctor and was told she had an allergy. After weeks of medication, this cough would not go away and eventually it diminished her capacity to breath. She was always tired, but thought it was because she was so busy with work. Helen never got sick, so this seemed unusal. Helen NEVER SMOKED. She exercised daily and ate healthy foods. She never let anything get in the way of the things she had to do. Helen was not a complainer.

One of their favorite things to do was travel. Calvin and Helen went out west with her parents. She also organized a 60th birthday bash of 200 people for Calvin in May 2010. The chinese refer to this party as a longevity celebration. It was most amazing event with all their students, friends, and families. Afterwards, Helen went for more tests because she was really out of breath. It never occurred to the doctor to test her lungs. Her test in July showed stage 4 lung cancer. It was a huge shock to Calvin, Helen, all their friends and family. Helen was diagnosed in July 2010 and passed away in Dec 2010. I had the privilege of seeing her on Thanksgiving last year before she passed. It was and still is so tragic.

Calvin started up a scholarship fund for students in memory and honor of Helen. If you would like to donate to the education fund. Please go to The Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy Home page. Then look to your right, and click on the Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation, this will then open up a page, at the very top of page you will see the word, " donate." There you will find all the information about the scholarship and its tax exempt status.

Let's plan a vacation, lets do something fun.

We hike, we run, it feels so good to be in the sun.

One kid in college and one graduated and done. Grand Canyon here we come!

I huff, then I puff. I am usually very tough. Wow, this hike is enough!

Never had a cigarette & never smoked, This has got to be a joke.

Four months later, still short of breath, No one imagined I was this close to death.

My heart just sank. My God is this a prank?

Healthy food, tai chi, kung -fu and yoga were my mantra and now my lungs are full of cancer.

Everyone is in shock!

Chemo & radiation, this was no celebration, a shoe-box full of meds, my poor husband and kids.

Bones, fried to a crisp, it crumbles. Pain so unbearable, no one can imagine

Emotions are frozen in time, eyes a fixed gaze.

I never complained, I saw my fate, it was hard for my family. This was too much on their plate.

My job is complete, as mother and wife. I lived a pretty full life!

No more dancing and laughter with my my husband. No more baking and cooking for my kids,

I will miss them dearly, none of us expected or prepared.

Fighting for air, fighting to stay,

My spirit is preparing to go.

I wait for my kids, husband and family to arrive, all is well at my bedside.

The moment finally arrives, gaunt and grey in my daughter's arms, gasping for air, life can be so unfair.

by Mae Williams

It seems asian women are carriers of this particular squamous cell that attacks the lungs. It was news to all of us. Helen had the best Boston doctors overseeing her. What happened? What about all the cancer research? No one could provide answers. It is difficult for closure especially when you want to believe ion modern medicine.

If you are wondering where to study traditional, Chinese martial arts called (Kung Fu) this is the place to go. This is not karate or jujitsu. You and your family will really enjoy this style of teaching. This particular style is Tai Hay Morn - Tiger Crane is the English translation. The school is different in that it is like a huge, extended family. Many of the member are cerebral, earthy, educated- professionals, who study at the Calvin Chin Academy of Chinese Martial Arts. If I lived in Boson I would defintely join the academy.

Calvin Chin, Sifu is funny, extremely humble, well respected and liked in community of Boston and around the world. You will know what I mean, once you meet him. Just ask some of his students.

I just want to Thank everyone who has stopped by to read this hub on Dec 23, 2011. It means an awful lot for me and The Calvin Chin family (Sifu).