Seow Dun & Alice Li Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the Seow Dun & Alice Li Scholarship sponsored by the Chinese Center on Long Island. The annual $500 scholarship is to honor the late friends and contributors to the Center for whom it was named.
In loving memory of Dun and Alice, and as expressed by the Li family, the scholarship is awarded each year “ to a Chinese American high school senior who exhibits a deep interest in the future success of CCLI, shares Dun’s original vision, and has an exemplary academic record."
The Chinese Center scholarship committee will choose the winner. The selection criteria include academic records, references, career goals, an autobiographic essay, and other factors deemed appropriate by the scholarship committee. The scholarship is granted independent of financial need.
Seow Dun Li was one of the four founders of the Chinese Center on Long Island in 1960. He served as President (1986-1987) and member of the Board of Directors for several continuous terms. Dun graduated from the Academy of Aeronautics in Long Island. He loved flying so much he received his pilot license before he knew how to drive an automobile. During WW II he was stationed in North Africa and Southeast Asia with the U.S. Air Transport Division. After the war, he worked for Pan American Airlines where he became head of the technical division. He was a consultant with Grumman for many years until his retirement. In spite of his demanding work schedule Dun and his wife Alice contributed their time to the Center’s activities during its earliest stages. Dun and Alice promoted the Center’s “Dine Around Series” which entailed having members get together for dinner at various Chinese restaurants. That experience cemented a strong friendship among many members. In addition he promoted and participated in the Chinese Musical Instrument classes, which performed at the Center as well as at outreach programs. The instruments played were ‘erhus’ and ‘yang qins.’ Dun and Alice will always be remembered for their dedication and devotion to the mission of our organization, and their lasting friendship to many of the members. Dun and Alice are survived by their daughter Terry, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.