The Allen and Maria Quin Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to assist a Chinese American student that may be facing hardships in pursuit of a college education.

 

Allen Quin, a WWII veteran, passed away on November 8, 2021 at 96 years of age.  His grandfather, Ah Quin, was a prominent Chinese leader in the San Diego community during the late 1880s.  He was known as the father of San Diego’s Chinatown.   Allen’s wife, Maria, preceded Allen on September 12, 2012, at the age of 81.  Because of financial adversities, Allen and Maria were never able to attain higher education much to their regret.  Allen’s father died when Allen was only five years old.  His family struggled financially which eventually led to Allen dropping out of high school to help support his family.  Maria’s family also faced difficulties.  Her parents did not have enough money to put their children through college, so Maria and her sister, as the eldest two, worked to pay for their brothers’ tuitions as was the cultural custom of the time.  Although never having completed college themselves, Allen and Maria always valued the importance of education and encouraged their children, grandchildren, and friends to get ahead by staying in school.  All of their children and older grandchildren have earned tertiary or high levels of education and are leading successful and thriving lives.

 

To honor Allen and Maria’s memory and to continue their mission of promoting education, we thank you for your donation to their Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Details of scholarship eligibility requirements will be provided at a later date through the San Diego State University Chinese Cultural Center.