Michelle Yang ('99) was selected by the Tucson chapter of the YWCA to receive its Women on the Move award.

Yang was the youngest of the 13 women who received the honor. The award is given to women leaders in the community who carry out the YWCA's mission of "Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women."

Yang graduated from University of Arizona in 2002, and has since been working as the public relations coordinator for Commonwealth Adoptions International, a Tucson adoption agency that specializes in international adoptions.

She helped write the new policy for "waiting children," those who are hard to place in homes. She also served as the Taiwan Waiting Children coordinator.

In her free time, Yang set up a Tucson chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans and started a mentoring program for adopted children in Asia.

For Yang, service has always been an important part of her life. While at UA, she organized a big-sister-style mentor organization for Asian girls adopted by white parents, interned at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, and worked at the Arizona State Senate.

Other recipients of the YWCA award included: Gabrielle Giffords, who is running for Congress, and Vicki Chandler, director of the Bio5 Institute at UA.

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More information:

"13 honored with Women on the Move awards," Arizona Daily Star, 12/05/2005

YWCA website