Finalist
Vincent Lau Chan
Miami-Dade Community College-
North Campus
Sophomore in Biomedical Engineering
3.69 GPA

It’s commonplace to meet international students upset with the climbing costs of international fees, tuition, and books at Miami-Dade Community College—North, but it’s a rarity to run into a student such as Vincent Lau Chan, 19, who’s made major strides to decrease college costs for his fellow international students.

A biomedical engineering major originally from Colombia, Lau Chan noticed the lack of an organization catering to the needs of international students on campus. With the help of the Student Life department, he founded the International Student Organization at MDCC—North and was elected president.

“At the end of the fall 2001 term, I realized that there wasn’t an organization for international students and that these students needed guidance,” Lau Chan says. “For this reason, I decided to contact my international director and student life directors. It was with the help of them and other international students that the organization was formed.”

Through ISO, international students can interact with American students and learn more about the United States. “It helps them be more aware of immigration laws and feel more comfortable while studying in the United States,” Lau Chan says. “During the spring of 2002, we gathered around 30 members at each of our meetings and distributed information about events and activities in our campus and community and about issues regarding international students and scholarship opportunities. Additionally, I recorded each of our activities with pictures and created a web community where our members can share ideas and comments with everyone.”

Recognized for his involvement in one of the most active organizations on campus, Lau Chan served as a leader to ISO’s 35 active members, making sure their needs and concerns were his first priority. Lau Chan has coordinated numerous events and service projects through ISO, benefiting the Special Olympics and the ESL/Foreign Language department.

“Vincent’s an advocate for international students whom he mentors, especially in their pursuit for scholarship opportunities,” says Susan Lero, director of international student services. “He provides information at each ISO meeting to help students who excel academically and who face financial difficulties in their country.” In addition to being the former president of ISO, Lau Chan provides and encourages members to apply to different scholarships through his role as the club’s scholarship director.

“He’s proven to be an excellent student who demonstrates dedication and determination and is very enthusiastic about his future,” Lero says. “He’s established educational and career goals that I have no doubt he’ll reach.”

“I’ve been here for a long time; I’ve had lots of kids come and go, and there’s some kids you’ll just remember for a long time. Vincent would be one of those kids,” says Dr. Carter Burrus, honors program director.

In only his second semester at MDCC—North, Lau Chan sought a solution to a problem plaguing many college campuses. “I found that the cost of textbooks was exorbitant,” Lau Chan says. “Some students aren’t able to purchase all their books, and relief from the stress of textbook prices was needed.”

His first plan was to create a web site where students could exchange textbooks with other students. The web site, sponsored by MDCC—North’s Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and the ISO, was a success with 25 exchanges made through e-mail the first semester and nearly 50 exchanges this spring. However, Lau Chan felt he needed to do more. He found a federal tax law, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which allowed community college students a tax credit of up to $1,500 to spend on tuition and fees. Unfortunately, the law excluded textbooks, so in fall 2002, Lau Chan initiated a petition drive to add textbooks to the act as the Hope Tax Credit and collected over 1,000 signatures through the support of MDCC—North and the local community.

“I don’t know whether we’ll be successful in our petition drive, but I know that I’ve been successful,” Lau Chan says. “I’ve tested my abilities and know that I can meet whatever comes before me. I’ve seen the unity of purpose that a chapter can have and know that I’ve contributed to their unity.”

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla, is sponsoring Lau Chan’s bill, House Bill 442, and Lau Chan is meeting with the legislature to gain more support. “The petition drive has been successful not only in thousands of signatures that we have received, but also in the fact that it has expanded to churches, unions, organizations, and national caucuses,” Lau Chan says.

In addition to his extensive work in ISO and aiding international students, Lau Chan is the only student to be re-elected as the president of the Mu Epsilon chapter of PTK. “As a provisional member, Vincent’s enthusiasm and outstanding participation, led to his being awarded the Outstanding Provisional Member Award,” says Maria Mari, PTK adviser. “I knew that he would leave a substantial mark on the history of the Mu Epsilon chapter. I was right.”

Lau Chan continues to let his outstanding leadership style shine through during his term as president. “Leadership is a trait that can be inherited or learned,” Mari says. “Vincent is a natural leader. He listens to the students concerns and finds a solution. He works well with faculty and administrators on a variety of projects. His natural leadership style has brought him to the attention of the college president.”

“He just has this demeanor about himself where he is able to walk in to a room and make himself liked,” Burrus says.

Lau Chan’s excellence in achieving the four hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship earned him the PTK Marvin & Meira Langsam award given to an officer of the chapter who’s initiated a project or contributed significantly to its advancement. “He’s a quiet leader. He listens to the kids then leads by consensus by listening to what they want and what they need,” Mari says. “Everybody loves him, so when he asks them to support him in something, they’re all there.”

“He’s an all around nice guy,” Lero says. “I recently had surgery and he sent me flowers.”

Lau Chan has been an active member of Waves Campus Ministries since fall 2001. “Through this organization, I’m able to learn more about our Lord and be able to spread his word to the students in our campus,” Lau Chan says.

As a student ambassador at the Center for Community Involvement, Lau Chan is in charge of the service-learning program at MDCC—North and encourages students to get involved in community service and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom.

His community service work includes dressing up as cartoon characters for MDCC—North’s book fair, volunteering in events such as track and field, bowling, and basketball at the Special Olympics, greeting patients at the Palmetto General Hospital, and consistently donating blood at his local blood bank.

Mari says Lau Chan eventually will be a national leader. “He’s a brilliant man,” she says. “He’s well liked and admired by his peers. They see Vincent as someone to rely on, someone that listens to them. He’s one of those leaders who does it without screaming, ranting, raving, but they still get the job done.”

“He follows through, he takes on an assignment and follows it to its completion,” Lero says. “He’s somebody who gets an idea and runs with it.”

Unlike many students who join a club specifically made for students of their own culture, Lau Chan’s background allows him to bring his Hispanic and Asian cultures to the table. Burrus finds it interesting how Lau Chan looks Asian, but he thinks of himself and presents himself as Hispanic. “He’s ethnically Chinese, but he’s Hispanic. He thinks Hispanic. He is Hispanic, but if you looked at him, you would say, ‘Well, here’s an Asian kid.’” His ability to relate to numerous student groups is one of the unique qualities that make him a great leader.

“I’m Chinese born in Colombia, South America,” Lau Chan says. “In other words, I come from Chinese materials but made in Colombia.”

The USA Today Third Team All American winner currently works part time in the Access Services department for students with disabilities as a note taker and tutor at MDCC—North. He also has worked as a clerk, proctor, and math tutor in the testing department. Lau Chan plans to attend a university to further his studies in biomedical engineering and eventually work toward a doctorate.

“The starting of a new stage in my life made me realize that going to school, in this case a community college, was not only it,” Lau Chan says. “I learned through my years in high school that by involvement in school and community activities, a person learns more and becomes a better citizen.”

Mari says she’s positive Lau Chan will continue his leadership once he leaves MDCC—North. “I don’t even know if he knows how not to,” Mari says. “He wants things to be better and he’s come to the realization that sometimes you can’t sit back and wait for them to happen; you just have to do it yourself.”

Lau Chan has funded his college expenses through an honors program scholarship, a Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers scholarship, a grant from the Center for Community Involvement and Civic Literacy, a middle income grant from MDCC—North, a Miami Association of Food Trades scholarship, his parents, and various part-time jobs as a party store clerk, proctor, math tutor, and note taker. -AS

Contact Lau Chan at vincent.lauchan@ptk.org