Stanford Undergraduate Awarded National Newman Civic Fellowship for Service

Tha Zin, ’15, a third-year undergraduate student, has been selected for the prestigious Newman Civic Fellowship, awarded to next generation public problem solvers and civic leaders by Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. She is one of 197 community-engaged college students from across the nation to be chosen for the 2014 fellowship.

Through service, research and advocacy, Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

During her time at Stanford, Tha Zin has increasingly taken on public service leadership roles, both on campus and in communities. She became a member of Engineers for a Sustainable World, an organization that addresses global poverty and sustainability by harnessing the creativity of young engineers, as a freshman; served as the group’s secretary during her sophomore year; and is currently serving as co-president. As one of two theme associates for Branner Hall, Stanford’s public service-themed dorm, she is responsible for developing and implementing dorm-based activities that expose 42 peers to various public service pathways and build a strong community. In addition, Tha Zin has made a sustained commitment to mentoring young people in East Palo Alto.

A native of Myanmar, Tha Zin is majoring in electrical engineering with a concentration in energy and the environment. Over the last three years, she has become increasingly focused on sustainable rural electrification and development.

In addition to the Newman Civic Fellowship, Tha Zin has just been selected by the Haas Center for Public Service as a 2014 recipient of the Alexander Tung Memorial Fellowship, which honors the life and work of Alexander Tung, BS '00, MS '02, and PhD '10, by providing students with the opportunity to explore the use of science and technology for the benefit of society at large. As a Tung Fellow this summer, Tha Zin will work on standalone solar panel systems with Sunlabob, a Laos-based company specializing in renewable energy and clean water solutions throughout the developing world. Tha Zin hopes one day to return to Myanmar to improve the quality of life for young people who have limited access to clean water and energy.

“Tha Zin is the perfect choice for Stanford's Newman Civic Fellow acknowledgement," said Haas Center Executive Director Tom Schnaubelt. "While she is tirelessly committed to using her academic skills to bring clean energy and water to developing economies, she also inspires, supports and leads her peers in public service.”