Skip to main content

Persistence Pays Off for Poole College Accounting Student

For the past three years, Crystal Tsang, a junior in accounting in the NC State Poole College of Management, has been entering NC State’s Family of the Year essay contest.

This year, her essay, in which she honors her father, mother and brother, was one of two selected for first place honors presented during the Parents and Families Weekend football game on Oct. 1, 2011. Sharing the first place spotlight was Caroline Funkhouser, a junior in the College of Humanities and Social Studies.

In the essay competition, a part of Parent’s and Family weekend for the past 13 years, students write about why they feel their family is a great NC State family. The 2011 essay contest received over 25 submissions. Typically, only one is selected for the honor but this year the selection committee chose two.

In her essay, Tsang writes about her father, John Tsang; mother, Candy Yung; and brother, William Tsang.

“My dad was so proud of me when I received my acceptance letter to State,” she wrote in her essay. “The person who made the decision to move to America and find a better education for me and my brother was speechless upon learning his sacrifices had finally paid off. My dad later told me in Cantonese, ‘Daughter, I know that NC State will definitely take good care of you. I am truly happy knowing that my wish of seeing my daughter going to college has finally come true.’”

She continued: “My mom was in tears and my brother, who is only a year younger than me, would be influenced to join me here in the Wolfpack. My family celebrated again when we found out that my brother was also accepted to NC State the following year. Our entire house was soon filled with NC State memorabilia; last winter, every gift under our Christmas tree proudly bore the Block S.”

Tsang and Funkhouser each received an honorary plaque and a $500 book scholarship.

Laci Weeden, assistant director of Parents and Families Services, says that, “[t]he stories that students share, as well as many others, are special examples of what Parents and Families Weekend is all about. Families, and the role they play in their students’ lives, are essential values at NC State University.”

Read more

Family of the Year Essay Contest

Photo

In the photo are, left to right, John Tsang, William Tsang, Crystal Tsang and Candy Yung.