Troy Times | Published January 11, 2024
Troy public library opens new study area
The Troy Public Library announced that it is opening a new study space in the northwest corner of its adult services area.
A ribbon cutting for the new quiet study area took place Dec. 7, with Troy Mayor Ethan Baker and City Manager Mark Miller, among others, present.
“We recently passed a library millage and Troy voters have been eager for building improvements,” Library Director Emily Dumas said in an email. “I am proud to offer this new study space to our patrons. I am glad we could finally fulfill this need for our community.”
The area includes flexible furniture with USB-friendly outlets. There are different seating options for group and individual studying with varying levels of privacy.
“Library staff worked with OHM Advisors to plan and design the area,” Library Assistant Director Phillip Kwik said in an email. “We wanted to create an experience for today’s library user that is both comfortable and functional.”
The quiet study area was made possible by a donation from Ram Misra in honor of library supporter JoAnn K. Misra.
Troy alumnus honored with scholarship
A Troy Athens alumnus, 24-year-old Angela Yuan, is being recognized after earning a Schwarzman Scholarship.
Yuan graduated from Troy Athens High School in 2018 and graduated summa cum laude from Michigan State University’s Honors College in 2021 with a bachelor’s in environmental studies and sustainability.
The scholarship provides a fully funded master’s degree at Tsinghua University in China. The organizers say it emphasizes “future change agents committed to leadership, academic excellence, and cross-cultural collaboration to solve the world’s most pressing issues.”
“Throughout my academic tenure, I’ve been involved in various initiatives focusing on environmental health and justice policy solutions, including roles at the US Forest Service, engagement with the Flint Water Crisis lawsuits, a US Environmental Protection Agency award-winning watershed master plan, living in DC for the Demmer Scholars Program, and spearheading a clean water project in Kenya that brought clean water to up to 5,000 people a day, providing access to the Mfangano Island community of 30,000 residents for 20 years,” Yuan said in an email. “I’ve been honored with the Schwarzman Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, furthering my dedication to safeguarding watersheds and empowering environmental justice communities globally.”
She added that for the last two years, she has been at the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators as a project manager for Sustainable Agriculture and Water.
Out of 4,200 applicants, 150 are accepted, approximately 40% of whom are from the United States.
Troy LTU professor honored
CJ Chung, a Troy resident since 1999 and a professor of computer science at Lawrence Technological University, was recently named as the 2023 recipient of the Hsu Family Distinguished Award in Creativity, which includes a $1,000 honorarium and commemorative award.
The award was given to Chung in recognition of his 25 years of service as the founder and creative director of Robofest, the co-founder of the LTU Robotics program, a leader of LTU’s autonomous vehicle research program funded by the U.S. Army and National Science Foundation, and his impact on LTU’s computer science programs.
The Hsu Family Distinguished Award was established by Hsiao-Ping Hsu Moore, a former LTU dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and her siblings, Shi-Ping Hsu, Chi-Ping Hsu and Yei-Ping Hsu Wang.
Troy Community Center to host blood drive
The Troy Community Center will host blood drives to help benefit the Red Cross 1-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16; 1-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29. The Troy Community Center is located at 3179 Livernois Road.
Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling (313) 300-9617 or (248) 524-1147, or visiting www.redcrossblood.org. Photo ID or a Red Cross Donor Card will be required at the time of donation. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds, and be in good general health.
Troy Community Affairs Director Cindy Stewart said in an email that 84% of blood donations are given at blood drives.