An inspiring student from Duke Kunshan University has received an illustrious international award for the tireless support she gave to fellow undergraduates as a peer mentor.
June Lin is the 2023 recipient of the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) IPTPC Outstanding Peer Educator Award, which collects worldwide nominations and is only given to one student annually.
“I am deeply grateful to the CRLA for bestowing upon me this remarkable recognition and overwhelmed with gratitude for the invaluable support I’ve received from family, friends, professors, mentors and mentees,” said the Class of 2025 molecular bioscience major.
The selection committee described her as a “true representative of what an outstanding peer educator should be”, while faculty, staff and mentees praised her as a rare academic talent and inspirational leader who is relentlessly committed to supporting other students to reach new heights.
As a DKU peer mentor, June directly helped 10 first-year students transition into the Duke Kunshan community, serving as a role model and resource in learning and life to ensure they thrived in the university environment.
Beyond her outstanding academic achievements, June has led several successful student-centered clubs and initiatives, not least the award-winning Medic Mindset, an organization she founded to spread health awareness and support students looking to pursue medicine and related fields.
After graduating next year, June, who is currently on the DKU GO-FLEX study away program at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, plans to pursue a medical degree (M.D.) and embark on a career as a physician.
In his letter of recommendation for June, Dr. Ferdinand Kappes, an associate professor of biology at DKU, said that she left him with “lasting and stellar impressions of a student with endless dedication, passion and thirst for knowledge and understanding” as well as a “highly devoted sense of community and caring for others”.
He added that her “highly developed intellect humbled me utterly”, describing it as “rare to witness such an outstanding student”.
Established by the CRLA, a global association of student-oriented professionals, the Outstanding Peer Educator Award honors individuals who “contribute much to the success of their peers and motivate and inspire others through their dedication and passion for their work”.
Under the Duke Kunshan Peer Mentor Program — the first in China to be CRLA-accredited — each mentor is assigned at least 10 first-year students from diverse cultural backgrounds who they keep in close contact with over the year.
The program is managed by the Office of Undergraduate Advising, which provides tailored guidance and academic strategies for students to get the most out of Duke Kunshan’s research-oriented liberal arts and sciences education. Working closely with the Office of Student Affairs, which focuses on overall well-being and personal development, academic advisors from Undergraduate Advising support students toward their academic and career goals.
Academic Advisor Haoyuan Qu, who oversees the Peer Mentor Program at DKU, said the team is “super thrilled” that June has received the recognition she deserves.
“June has really demonstrated a strong sense of empathy and responsibility towards her mentees, and her projects on Pre-Med related resources have really benefited other students who share the same interests. She has left a lasting impact on her mentees as well as our Peer Mentor Program.”
In her acceptance speech to the CLRA awards ceremony, June said her time as a peer mentor “completely transformed” her approach to education.
“Mentorship was no longer just a role, but a life-long commitment towards guiding, supporting and uplifting others,” she said.
“The peer mentor position is an umbrella role in a sense, I was a confidant, an advocate and a role model.
“I also became a detective, finding clues in conversations, texts and calls, trying to piece bits and bobs of information to better understand each student’s unique needs and use a holistic perspective to care for the individual as a whole.
“By actively listening and expressing genuine curiosity, I saw my students grow and flourish using techniques we devised together in our frequent discussions, which became stepping stones to success in finding the right path forward.”
