New Kao Memorial Scholarship Announced

Chi-Kun and Fu-Mei Kao

The Department of East Asian Studies is delighted to announce a new scholarship that celebrates the legacy of one of our founding teachers of Japanese, Chi-Kun Kao, and his wife, Fu-Mei. Endowed through the generosity of the Kao family, the Fu-Mei and Chi-Kun Kao Memorial Scholarship will be awarded each year to a second-year graduate student who demonstrates excellence in Japanese studies.

Born in Taiwan during the period of Japanese colonial rule, Chi-Kun Kao (1928-2023) taught Japanese language at the University from 1978 until his retirement in 1992, and was a founding member of the Department of East Asian Studies when it was established as an independent unit in 1982. He was a pedagogical leader in developing Japanese-language education in Canada, and set many of the standards for language education that still influence the way we teach today. His wife, Fu Mei (1929-2021), also was a partner in Japanese-language education for our department, assisting students, and participated in study-abroad programs in Japan together with her husband.

This Memorial Scholarship in honor of Fu-Mei and Chi-Kun Kao is offered to recognize and support students who demonstrate the qualities these two dedicated teachers valued - the pursuit of education, attaining high academic achievement, and cherishing Japanese culture. The Department is deeply grateful to the Kao family, who have chosen to honor their parents in a way that will help keep their memory alive in our department, while continuing to assist our students who build upon their legacy in Japanese studies.