NY student wins Arctic-study scholarship

Angela Zeng of Brooklyn is the first Chinese American from New York to win a scholarship to the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition.

The 2016 expedition will take 120 high school and university students from around the world on a two-week journey (July 21-Aug 5) to explore the eastern Canadian Arctic and Western Greenland.

The students will be guided by a team of scientists and artists and will engage in hands-on research about the environment and culture of the area. They will learn about climate change and ocean conservation.

Students on Ice was founded in 2000 and is funded by the Beatrice Snyder Foundation.

Among the highlights of the trip are a visit to the Illulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greenland, and polar-bear watching and kayak-paddling in the Arctic.

On Tuesday, US Congresswoman Nydia M. Velzquez congratulated Zeng, who lives in her district, at the office of the Chinese-American Planning Council in Brooklyn.

Velzquez said Zeng could raise public awareness on climate change in the Chinese community. She also highlighted Zeng's academic excellence and past involvement in volunteering and community service.

"We select students who really care about the community," Velzquez said. "What matters is how they translate the information and knowledge they get from the experience to the community."

"I want to get a job concerning the environment in the future," said Zeng, 18, a senior at Brooklyn Technology High School. "And for now my job is to educate people about what is actually happening.

"I will take in every single (thing), so when I come back to my community, I can tell people about it, and they can pass that on to their families and really make a difference in the world," she said.

"This is the first time I am traveling by myself, so I'm a little nervous," she said. "I'm stocking up with warm clothes and getting prepared. I expect to learn a lot from this trip, especially about what I can do to create impact for the community on environment-related topics."

Nancy Kong and Judy Zhu in New York contributed to this story.