The Hefners stated, "This fund will allow us, through the Kennedy School, to participate in the building of long-term positive relations between America and China, a relationship we believe to be the defining global relationship of the 21st century".

• The first Hefner Fellow, Chen Chunmei, sponsored by the Hefner China Fund, attended the 2005/06 Mason Program. She graduated in June 2006.
• The Hefner Awardees for 2005/06 were:
  Ada Ho • Alene Tchourumoff • Cheng Zhu • Erick Nielsen
  Jiming Cai • Nolan Miller • Phillipp Silas Kruger
  Wei Chen • Wei Ha • Yi Sun
• The 2006/07 Hefner Fellows of the Mason Program sponsored by the Hefner China Fund were Li Zhang and Lin Yang. They graduated in June 2007.

(to view the Hefner Tribute Page click here)

We thank our Chinese visitors for participating. Thank you, Hefner Awardees:

Chu Shulong, Director, lnstitute of Strategic Studies; Professor of Political Science, School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University.
Cui Liru, President, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations
Huang Ping, Director General, Bureau of International Cooperation & Exchanges; Professor of Sociology, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Ma Jun, Director, Institute of Public Environment
Ruan Zongze, Vice President, China Institute of International Studies
Wang Jisi, Dean, School of International Studies, Peking University

The two awards are based on the following qualifications:

* High School Seniors from Cheyenne High School, Oklahoma
* ACT Score (College Entrance Exam)
* GPA (Grade Point Average) for High school years
* Resume submitted by the student
* Essay on their view in regard to "US/China relationship"

A committee of teachers will review the entries and submit the semi-finalists for the Hefners to assess and announce the two winners.

Each award consists of a 10-day trip to China (i.e., a package tour with return air tickets and accommodation paid for by the Hefner China Fund) and the Hefners will announce the destinations of the award at a later date.

On their return, the two winners are required to write about their trip and a follow up essay on their view in regard to "US/China relationship", whether their views remained or changed. The Hefners also encourage the winners to give talks to their community and share their experiences with family, friends and fellow students.

• The "Hefner Initiative-Cheyenne" Award for Year 2007/08 winners were Jordan Lindberg and Shannon Collins.
• The "Hefner Initiative-Cheyenne" Award for Year 2006/07 winners were Katrina Schroeder and Jonathan Walker.
• The "Hefner Initiative-Cheyenne" Award for Year 2005/06 winners were Ashton Musick and Patrick VerSteeg. 

The two awards are based on the following qualifications:

* Seniors from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Oklahoma
* ACT or SAT Score 
* A solid performance at OSSM (academic and citizenship)
* Resume submitted by the student
* An essay on the applicant's view in regard to "US/China relations"

The OSSM committee for the "Hefner Initiative-OSSM" Award will review the applications and essays and submit the semi-finalists to Mr. & Mrs. Hefner to select the winners.  The winners will be known as "Hefner Awardees".

The award consists of a 10-day trip to China/Asia (i.e. comprising of return air tickets and accommodation paid for by the Hefner China Fund) and the Hefners will announce the cities of the destinations of the award at a later date.

On their return, the two "Hefner Awardees" are required to write about their trip and a follow up essay on how they now view "US/China relations".  The "Hefner Awardees" are encouraged to give talks to their community and share their experiences with family, friends and fellow students.

• The "Hefner Initiative-OSSM" Awardees for Year 2007/08 were Tara Sarathi and Marina Kravtsova.
• The "Hefner Initiative-OSSM" Awardees for Year 2006/07 were Sebastain Gould and Alex Speir.