MEDIA RELEASE

Cal State Northridge Grads Headed for Study in China

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., July 31, 2008) — It has been a stressful summer for recent Cal State Northridge grads Dara DiGerolamo and Matthew Myers, who have been anxiously waiting to hear if they were going to spend the next academic year in China.

The suspense is over. The pair learned earlier this month that, thanks to the Chinese Scholarship Council, they will spend the 2008-2009 academic year in Shanghai.

DiGerolamo, a broadcast journalism major, plans to continue studying journalism at Shanghai Fudan University, and also will take courses in other areas such as language, history and dance classes to gain knowledge about China’s culture. Myers, who received his degree in business finance, is interested in commodities as well as currency exchange and valuation. He will study Mandarin while concentrating in international finance and economics research at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

"The Chinese government has once again awarded two full scholarships covering both tuition and living expenses to CSUN students," said Justine Su, head of Cal State Northridge’s China Institute. "This will make a total of 14 full Chinese government scholarships for CSUN students in the past nine years, thanks to the continuing strong support from the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles."

DiGerolamo received her bachelor’s degree in May but, instead of enjoying her achievement, she spent her summer studying Mandarin five days a week for seven weeks, just in case she got some good news. She even quit her job as a script coordinator for the "Dr. Phil Show" to prepare. "I spent three hours a day in class. We had a vocabulary test every day," she explained.

Matthew Myers, who also earned his bachelor’s degree this May, began studying Chinese characters in October, and spent the spring semester immersed in a Chinese language class. "I did everything I possibly could with whatever time I had," Myers said.

As the summer progressed, the question lingered: Would either get a chance to use their new skills?

Myers, 24, plans to stay in China indefinitely.

"I am fascinated with Chinese culture and history," he said, a fascination that began when his grandmother, an anthropology and sociology professor, took him to China when he was 8 years old.

While at CSUN, he considered returning to China to teach English and sought advice a year ago from his international finance class professor Yanbo Jin. "Because she’s from China, I asked if she knew of any way to make the move in a more educational manner," Myers said.

He mentioned the scholarship program, and "literally the next day" she introduced Myers to three visiting scholars from China who were studying at CSUN. Jin, an assistant professor in finance, real estate and insurance, encouraged the scholars to organize their schedules so Myers could "help them with their English and they could help me with my Chinese," he said.

DiGerolamo, 27, found out about the opportunity while seeking a subject for a journalism class assignment. Because she was interested in studying abroad, she contacted Su, who coordinates international programs at CSUN in addition to heading the China Institute.

"She told me about the China government scholarship and that you needed to have good grades. They wanted mature students so graduating seniors could apply," DiGerolamo said. "I never had a chance to do a study abroad like a lot of my friends have because I always had to work."

After studying in China, DiGerolamo wants to work in television news. "I really have a strong interest," she said, "in doing international stories."

The pair expect to leave for China early this fall.

Cal State Northridge established the China Institute in 1982. The institute aims to promote better understanding of the Chinese culture and to strengthen friendship between the American and Chinese people. In more than 20 years its has played host to hundreds of Chinese scholars and has been influential in arranging dozens of education and cultural exchange programs between China and the United States. For more information about the institute, visit its Web site at www.csunchinainstitute.org.