WASHINGTON—The NABE Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), and Americans for the Arts, the leading organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America, jointly announced today that Xiangyu “Lucy” Wang has won the seventh annual NABE Foundation/Americans for the Arts Scholarship Award. Wang was presented with the scholarship yesterday at the 2015 NABE Economic Policy Conference in Washington, DC. 

 

Wang will receive the $5,000 scholarship to further the integration of the arts into the study and application of economics in her undergraduate career and professional development. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics at Yale University.

 

“Even though economics and arts are two very distinct fields, I feel that they are best understood in combination with one another. Art inspires but can’t reveal the quantitative foundations of modern life. Economics allows me to understand the underlying influences of the world but I synthesize and process the things I learn through art…The training I’ve received through art has allowed me to approach economics in a different way than my classmates,” said Wang. 

 

Last summer, Wang interned at Artchange Inc., where she used photography as a tool to discuss local and sustainable food choices, hunger, subsistence, as well as the challenges of eating well on an island (Sitka, Alaska). Wang’s particular interests lie in the power of art to transform communities on a small scale. For her senior thesis, she plans to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of using art as a tool for community building and economic development. 

 

“I am delighted that Lucy will have the opportunity to continue pursuing her passion for both the arts and economics with the help of this scholarship award,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “This award reflects the fundamental belief that the arts are a key component in helping to prepare students to succeed, and it’s a pleasure to partner with the NABE Foundation for the seventh year to recognize student achievement in both the arts and economics.” 

 

“Lucy embodies all that is to be hopeful about among the next generation of economic leaders,” added Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial and a NABE Foundation Board member. 

 

To find out more about Wang’s perspective on the intersection of economics and the arts, read her blog post.

 

The NABE Foundation Americans for the Arts Scholarship Award was established in 2008 to encourage the integration of the arts into the economic education process. Recipients of the scholarship must come from economically disadvantaged households and have attended public school. Successful candidates demonstrate long-term participation in the study of, creation in and/or performance in one or more art forms, including dance, music, theater, literary, visual/media arts; excel academically; and have formally declared the intent to study economics for policy purposes, or in applications in the private and public sectors. The scholarship recipients are selected following a competitive review process which begins with a pre-screening of applicants by Americans for the Arts, followed by a review of finalists by a sub-committee, and ratification of recipients by the NABE Foundation Board.

 

The National Association for Business Economics is the largest international association of applied economists, strategists, academics, and policy-makers committed to the application of economics in decision-making in the world. The NABE Foundation is supported by NABE members to provide scholarships, education, and other efforts to build the economic profession. 

 

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.