Humanities Student Spotlight

Graduate Student Wins Chinese Bridge Competition

The Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, held in Changchun, Jilin, is the ultimate forum for displaying advanced level skills in Chinese language and culture. Ohio State's own Joshua Lotz, who is working on a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a master's degree in Chinese, earned a first place award in this competition. The annual contest, also known as the "Chinese Bridge" competition, is supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education and is broadcast to millions across China where it attracts the attention of both an academic and non-academic audience. More than 100 competitors from 52 countries participated in this event.

In order to win the competition, Lotz was required to stand before a live audience and give a rehearsed speech; a spontaneous response to a discussion question; answer questions on Chinese history, geography, and culture; and give an inspired performance type of his choosing. Lotz chose to perform "Wu Sung Fights the Tiger," a story from one of the four most famous classical works of Chinese literature. Lotz was coached in the Chinese Bridge competition by Chinese Pedagogical Specialist Huanzhen Zhao and Lecturer Eric Shepherd in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

As a first place winner, Lotz received a three-year scholarship to study at any Chinese university, which will assist him in his research on Chinese and Tibetan medicine. The Newark, Delaware native has already spent two years in Beijing and Tibet. He is the founder of the Do-Kham Foundation, a non-governmental organization that manages rural health development projects in Tibet.

In 2006, he joined the Ohio State Chinese Flagship Program which allowed him to combine his interests in medicine and Chinese language. In the long term, Lotz plans to pursue degrees in medicine with a focus on international public health. His ultimate goal is to "one day, work in helping develop sustainable community health programs in resource-poor areas such as where I lived in Tibet."

A truly exceptional student, Lotz was also recently named a Harry S. Truman scholar which recognizes students with exceptional leadership potential and are committed to making a difference through public service.