2026 CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship
The Tam Scholarship is awarded annually to a qualified CUNY undergraduate student (Asian or non-Asian) who demonstrates creativity in raising awareness about issues facing the Asian American community.
advocacy
2025 CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship Recipient
For their project, Jiale Lin, a sophomore at LaGuardia Community College, addresses a critical but often overlooked public health crisis: chronic noise pollution in New York City’s Asian American community hubs.
After fatal attack, Japanese American photographer remembered for his art and advocacy
Yasuomi Hashimura, who died after being fatally pushed in New York, was known for his innovations in photography and helping other Japanese immigrants.
2024 CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship Recipient
Cynthia Leung, a recent graduate in American Studies from Brooklyn College, explored the complex relationship between Asian American communities and public safety, particularly focusing on the experiences and perspectives of Chinese Americans regarding the police and criminal justice system.
2023 CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship Recipient
Vicki Zheng (Baruch College) aims to support Asian American commuter students’ transitions to college by addressing mental health and cultural challenges. She partnered with Apex for Youth to launch a Discord channel for academic and social support, with plans to expand to more campuses in 2023-2024.
CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship 2022 Recipient
Kaitlyn Chan, a sophomore at Brooklyn College double-majoring in biology and psychology, interviewed AAPI activists and supporters about the actions that they were taking to combat the recent rise in anti-Asian hate; their experiences with discrimination, racism, and prejudice in school and the workplace; and their thoughts on the lack of Asian American representation in politics and media.