Scott Yao - Gold Award

School: Lincoln High School
Category: Teens (11-15)
Hours: 135

Scott is a sophomore at Lincoln High School. He is part of the Lincoln Go Club, where he helps to promote Chinese Culture by playing the ancient Chinese board game Go. He has always had a passion for learning about the world, including its diverse cultures and amazing geological features. In middle school, he developed a passion for learning languages when he was exposed to the beautiful French language and the traditions that come with it. It was very different from English and Mandarin, his first and second languages. His newfound love for languages led him to learn another language, Spanish, in high school. In addition to exploring the world, Scott has always been passionate about medicine. He enjoys science and loves helping others in meaningful ways. Consequently, he volunteers as a guide at OHSU, where he helps patients and visitors navigate the labyrinthine hospital campus. On several occasions, Scott also utilized his language skills to effectively communicate with visitors and patients who speak little English. Furthermore, as the son of Chinese immigrants, Scott is passionate about promoting Chinese culture and the language, so he volunteers at the Portland Lan Su Chinese Garden, where he chats with visitors who want to learn Mandarin or more about Chinese culture. Through volunteering, he hopes to create a lasting impact on people’s lives, making the world a more multicultural and positive place.

Oregon Chinese Coalition is proud to join the President of the United States in recognizing the volunteers who consistently take the time to make a difference in the lives of others. Therefore, it is a great honor to present the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to Scott Yao.