"I am currently working on a Senior Honors Thesis on Chinese immigrants in San Francisco, with a particular focus on the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, also known as the Chinese Six Companies. Established in the 1860s, the Six Companies became one of the most important institutions in the United States for Chinese immigrants. My research asks how the organization functioned, how it represented and supported Chinese immigrants, and what responsibilities it took on within the Chinese American community. 

With the support of the Asian American Studies Summer Research Award, I was able to spend five weeks conducting research in San Francisco. I visited Chinatown organizations, spoke with community members, and conducted archival research. These experiences gave me a much deeper understanding of Chinatown’s community structure, how Chinatown politics operate in everyday life, and the historical and continuing role of the Six Companies."    -Vincy Zhou

Asian American Studies Summer Research Award annually funds, up to $1000 per student, for undergraduate AAS minors to pursue summer research. Students are invited to submit proposals for funding to assist with their research and travel costs, museum fees, and other related expenses.

Deadline each year:  April 15th