Winner of the Alumni Merit Award

Assistant chair of the Alumni Council Cheryl (Clemens) Peterman ’82 (left) presents Kay See Tan with the 2008 Alumni Merit Award.

Kay See Tan ’08

Majors: Mathematics and Economics with a minor in statistics

Hometown: Hong Kong, China

For Kay See Tan, moving from her home in Hong Kong to attend Messiah College was a big step, but one she says she will never regret. “I will never trade the past four years of my life with anyone,” says Tan. During her time at Messiah, Tan was recognized for her student leadership. She served from 2005–2006 as vice-president of the College’s International Student Association, and from 2005–2008 as vice-president of the Asian Student Association. She was also a Boyer Scholar for the 2007–2008 academic year, and qualified for the Dean’s List all eight of her semesters at Messiah.

In addition to her involvement on campus, Tan traveled to Mali during the summer of 2007 with the Mali Water and Disabilities Studies team, a component of Messiah’s Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research. “It is a rare experience to work with someone with such a high degree of technical competence and practicality who is also so deeply compassionate,” says Evie Telfer, associate College pastor and member of the Mali team. Telfer says, “Perhaps this is the source of her energy. Her dedication seems to flow out of a deep personal identification with people in need. Scientific detachment is not an option for Kay See, but rather than becoming incapacitated in emotion, Kay See seems to allow this pain to become the energy that powers her work.” 

“After spending a summer in Mali,” says Tan, “I decided I want to use my mathematics background to benefit those in need.” Upon graduating, Tan began an internship in biostatistics at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. After her internship, Tan hopes to pursue graduate studies in statistics.

Adapted excerpt from Tan’s award citation

"Throughout her academic pursuit at Messiah, Kay See has impressed her professors and peers with her intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm for learning, and eagerness to pursue significant academic challenges. She has earned a double major in mathematics and economics, along with a minor in statistics. She completed internships in biostatistics and statistics, made professional and scholarly presentations, and was selected as a Boyer scholar in 2007.

Those who know Kay See recognize her as a woman of prayer who is highly sensitive to the needs of others, which leads her to respond compassionately and selflessly. She is strongly committed to developing and using her many God-given gifts.”