Brender wins Confucius Institute Excellence Award

John Brender, director of the Confucius Institute at Wayne State University is now John Brender, award-winning director of the Confucius Institute at Wayne State University! On December 6, 2015, Brender received an "Individual Performance Excellence Award" from the Confucius Institute World Headquarters at the 10th Annual Confucius Institute World Conference in Shanghai. The silver medal was presented to Brender and 29 other delegates from around the world by Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China, Madam Yandong Liu (pictured).

"The word 'Individual' is an absolute misnomer," commented Brender. "This award represents eight years of enthusiastic effort and dedication put forth by a lot of different staff members, volunteers and participants. I can't look at the medal and think anything otherwise--nor would I want to. For me, it represents a lot of really good people and a lot of really good memories!"

Although Wayne State's Confucius Institute offers at least 20 different programs and events centered on Chinese language and culture for K-12, university, and professional communities, Brender's nomination was predicated largely on his innovative approaches in creating the Institute's "Learn a Chinese Phrase" video series and mobile application; his founding of CLAM: Chinese Language Association of Michigan and its eight annual conferences for Chinese language educators; and his founding of the Michigan China Quiz Bowl for middle and high school students beginning in 2009.

"While my gratitude could go on endlessly," said Brender, "I am especially grateful to Dean Robert Thomas, former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, who founded the Wayne State Confucius Institute in January 2008, and to Dean Wayne Raskind, for his continued support of our institute and its endeavors. I would also be remiss iif I did not mention my Vice Director, Li Liang, who has been instrumental in helping execute all of our programs for the past four years and who put forth considerable effort in the rigorous nomination process that led to this award."

There are approximately 500 Confucius Institutes in over 130 countries and over 100 in the United States, including four in Michigan. Each institute offers its own variety of programs, events, and/or research agendas pertaining to Chinese language and culture.