Uni is pleased to announce the Yang Family Modern Media fund, established by Alan Yang, Diane Hatcher, Elaine Pan, and Eric Yang in honor of their parents, Kwang-Shi and Randy Yang.
The family believes that in today’s world, effective communication is a superpower, and that journalism has evolved beyond print and broadcast channels. They hope the fund is used to support student efforts to develop strong journalistic storytelling skills, particularly in the areas of social media and podcasting.
“Our hope is that the fund is used to enable Uni students to develop strong voices and critical thinking, combined with the practice of storytelling, and that through well-researched storytelling, students learn to see multiple perspectives and find the common ground that unites us instead of the rhetoric that often divides us,” the family writes. Elaine, who spent her early career in journalism, writes, “It is a great sorrow to see the state of newspaper journalism today. My personal hope is that somehow the world figures a way out from spin, fake news, and worst of all, AI. Uni students, if you’re listening, take advantage of the Modern Media Fund and get to solving this scourge of our lifetime!”
The fund is in honor of their parents, Kwang-Shi and Randy. Kwang-Shi spent his career in the U. of I.’s Electrical Engineering Department supporting various research and teaching programs, and Randy was a special education teacher in Urbana. All four children attended Uni, ultimately pursuing careers in medicine, technology, communications, and biotech.
They recall their time at Uni as a formative time, with the camaraderie of their schoolmates, the non-traditional teaching methods, and the inclusive nature all playing important roles in their development.
“Our parents prioritized the importance of family and working together, and we have passed that legacy onto our children,” they write. “We are continuing this legacy by working together to provide a program that can make a significant and impactful contribution. Uni provides the perfect opportunity to build impact from the future leaders of the world.”
The family hopes this gift inspires other “legacy families/siblings” to give together as a group to multiply the impact of their donations.