10 WCC CAMPUS VOICE - APRIL 25. 2001
Kwai Chun Chan relates her Chicago experience
On April 3, 2001, at 9 a.m.
Kam, my husband; Keith, my
son; and I met Dr. Wilson and
Mrs. Wilson at the airport in
Raleigh.
The flight left Raleigh at
10:00 and arrived in Chicago
at 11:00.
We ate lunch at Midway
Airport in Chicago and waited
for my parents to arrive from
New York.
When they arrived, the 7 of
us traveled by limo (the
cheapest mode of transport!)
to the Hyatt Hotel mid-town.
Dr. Wilson and I went to the
AACC (American
Association of Community
College) counter to register.
An AACC faculty member
gave me my name card that
had “Centennial Scholar,
ALL USA First Team
Member, Kwai Chun Chan,
and Wayne Community
College, NC.”
After we had registered, my
family invited Dr. Wilson and
Mrs. Wilsofl for dinner that
night. We had a really
traditional Chinese dinner that
night including Pi King duck,
lobster, and other traditional
Chinese food.
We met each other fi*om 50
states, and I met the other two
first team ALL-USA
members from North
Carolina, April Layne from
Durham Technical
Community College and
Karen Rippy from Cleveland
Community College.
On Wednesday, April 4,
at 10:00 a.m. all the
Centennial Scholars met at the
Grand Room inside the Hyatt
Hotel.
At 12:30 the 50 Centennial
Scholars were practicing how
to hold the state flags and face
the camera.
The Centennial Ceremony
started at 4:30. At the
opening, we kicked-off with a
parade of state flags into the
Grand Room, where almost
1000 guests were. Big screens
at the back of the stage and 2
big 100 orange designs were
on the stage.
When I held the North
Carolina state flag and walked
into the Grand Room with
other scholars, I took a deep
breath and made myself calm
down and not to cry. From my
heart, I appreciated the equal
opportunity in USA as well
the Community College
System and Wayne
Community College which
gave me this chance to study.
I am thankful for the
faculty and the instructors at
WCC, especially Kathryn
Spicer and Miriam Wessell;
they not only helped me
study, but also watched my
steps, and gave direction.
After the parade the entire
scholars stood beside the
stage and received the
standing ovation from the
guests.
The ceremony was finished
at 6:00, and we 50 scholars
left the room with a candle,
which symbolized a bright
future.
At dinner that night, George
Boggs, President of AACC,
introduced each scholar.
One by one we went to the
stage and got the check from
the Coca-Cola representatives
and the pin of Centennial
Scholar.
Kwai Chan, fourth from left/stands with Dr. Ed Wilson, Jr., WCC
President and her family: (1 to r) Wilson, Sang Chan, father; Chu
Kwok, mother; Kwai; Kam Nin Lee, husband; and Ming Him, Kwai
and Kam's son.
I was excited and frightened
when it was my time to go
onto the stage. Dr. Wilson
said to me kindly, “Kwai,
breathe deeply and relax.”
Bob Dubill, the executive
editor of US A TODAY,
called my name, and Dr.
Wilson and I went up to the
stage. I received the medal
and the trophy from George
Boggs and the check from the
representative of USA
TODAY
On the way home on the
flight, my husband asked me
what I was thinking now.
When I was watching the
infinite sky, the beautiful
clouds with various shapes
wandering upon the mainland
of the USA, Isaid
emotionally, “ Kam, thank
you for bringing me here.”
mmm.
Kwai holds the medal and medallion she received.
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) ■ Free Air Show June 2,2001
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Kwai and Dr. Wilson stand amongst an array of state flags at the
H3ratt HoteL