Congratulations to Yuan Cheng, the 2023-2024 recipient of the Michelson Memorial Award for her essay about serving 600 meals since 2021 at The Union Rescue Mission in DTLA and as a result created with other students a slide presentation to raise awareness and funds for URM.

Yuan’s essay captivates the reader from the first sentence. “The first thing I see about the people in line is always their hands. There are large hands, enveloped in wrinkles and laid open in front of me like books. There are small ones, fluttering restlessly about their young owners’ sides like birds waiting to fly.”  

Comments from the readers included:

  • “Fantastic opening which really grabs the reader. This student really seemed to have a strong impact on an immediate problem in their local community.”
  • “Beautiful writing… making a difference!”
  • “Incredibly creative and captivated me. The writer covered all of the requirements (and) did a spectacular job at explaining the relevance and impact of the community service experience.”

Her service in the community and lovely writing makes Yuan and her essay a winner.