Los Alamitos woman wins AWE Scholarship

Meiqin Li of Los Alamitos has been selected as a 2012 recipient of a $1,000 Asian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Scholarship for her service and leadership in the community.

Meiqin Li of Los Alamitos has been selected as a 2012 recipient of a $1,000 Asian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Scholarship for her service and leadership in the community.

Each year, AWE awards several $1,000 scholarships to students who are matriculating at a college or university toward earning their bachelor’s degree in business/management. AWE awards scholarships based upon an applicant’s service and leadership in the community, and on the applicant’s commitment to continue providing such service and leadership.

Li will be recognized and presented with the scholarship at the group’s annual luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Grand Event Center in Long Beach.

“I was surprised when I found out I was selected for a scholarship. I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Li, a junior business administration—accounting major at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB). “The money will help pay some of my educational expenses and help relieve some of the stress of paying for school.”

Born in China, Li came to the United States just six years ago at the age of 34. For the past several years, she has attended college full time and worked part time. She recently received an associate of arts degree with honors from Golden West College.

Li was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the White House for her volunteer work with Orange County Food Bank. She said would like to contribute more to serve the community and hopes to use her education and skills to build a better community.

One of four siblings, Li has three sisters and a brother. Her dad worked in a coal mine before he was promoted to head the Human Resources Department, and her mom is a home maker.

Asian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a nonprofit public-benefit corporation that advocates for and on behalf of Asian and Asian-American women entrepreneurs educating and strengthening their potentials as business owners. Asian Women Entrepreneurs seeks to fulfill the unmet need among Asian American business women seeking entrepreneurial support and cultural camaraderie to be themselves free from the stereotype associated with Asian women.

AWE’s mission is to help Asian Pacific women realize their entrepreneurial potential, promoting their entrepreneurial skills in a dynamic business environment; identifying specific needs of Asian Pacific women, providing available resources through entrepreneurial networking opportunities to assist members in growing their businesses to the next level.