Stanford University
Overview
Stanford University is one of the world’s most prestigious universities, located in Stanford, California (San Francisco Bay Area). For the Chan family, Stanford represents the spectacular success of Jesse and Betty’s educational investment - two of their four children attended with scholarships, validating the family’s 22-year Taiwan chapter and the sacrifices made for education.
Family Connections
Rose Loui (née Chan)
- Attended: 1978-1982 (approximate)
- Degree: Undergraduate degree (major to be documented)
- Scholarship: Received scholarship
- After Stanford: NYU Law School
- Career: Attorney
- Family: Married Warren Loui, three children
Meg Chan
- Attended: 1981-1985 (approximate)
- Degree: Economics (undergraduate)
- Scholarship: Received scholarship
- Career: To be documented
Significance
Educational Investment Success
Jesse and Betty’s Sacrifice:
- Worked very hard in Taiwan for 22 years
- Paid $10,000/year for Taipei American School (by 1986)
- Jesse sacrificed his own college education (worked so brothers could attend)
- Both parents worked (Jesse: nightclub, real estate, import/export; Betty: bakery, teaching)
- All earnings invested in children’s education
Result:
- Rose → Stanford → NYU Law
- Meg → Stanford, Economics
- Louis → University of Houston → Cranbrook Academy
- Michelle → Whittier College
- All four received scholarships
Breaking Generational Patterns
Jesse’s Education:
- Sacrificed college so brothers could attend
- Never received university degree
- Self-educated in business
- Determined his children would have opportunities he lacked
Jesse’s Children:
- All four to university
- Two to Stanford (one of world’s best)
- All with scholarships
- Professional success across the board
Immigrant Success Story
Three Generations:
- Generation 0: Jesse & Betty - WWII survivors, displaced, entrepreneurs
- Generation 1: Rose & Meg - Stanford graduates, professional careers
- Generation 2: Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha + cousins - American-born stability
From:
- Wartime Philippines and China
- Factory employees in Manila
- Entrepreneurs in Taiwan
To:
- Stanford University
- Professional careers
- American success
Both Sisters to Stanford
Remarkable Achievement:
- Having one child at Stanford is exceptional
- Two children at Stanford is extraordinary
- Both received scholarships
- Three years overlap (1981-1982: both at Stanford simultaneously)
Family Pride:
- Jesse and Betty’s greatest accomplishment
- All hard work validated
- Educational emphasis proven right
- Siblings following each other’s path
Added to Family Genealogy Book
Rose’s Achievement:
- Rose added to Zheng family genealogy book after graduating Stanford
- Book published in Taiwan, in 12+ libraries worldwide
- Traditional genealogy only included boys initially
- Girls added only after marriage and accomplishments
- Stanford degree qualified as major accomplishment
- Late 1970s/early 1980s addition
Significance:
- First female in this branch added for education (vs. only marriage)
- Stanford degree recognized by traditional Chinese family structure
- Shows prestige of Stanford even in Chinese genealogical terms
Stanford in Family Narrative
Why Stanford Mattered:
- Validation of immigrant sacrifice
- Proof of Taiwan chapter’s success
- Educational mobility across generations
- Opening doors to professional careers
- Network and credentials for life
Jesse and Betty’s Perspective:
- Worked until 1 AM (nightclub years)
- Built real estate empire
- Managed bakery
- Taught in schools
- All worth it when children succeeded
Research Questions
- Rose’s major at Stanford?
- Exact graduation years for both?
- Did they live on campus or commute?
- How did they get scholarships - merit, need-based, or both?
- Did they know each other’s friends/overlap socially during 1981-1982?
- What were their experiences as Asian-American students in late 1970s/early 1980s?
- Did parents visit campus?
- Did Stanford connections lead to later opportunities?
- Are they still connected to Stanford alumni network?