Five undergraduate students from the Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI) were named Winners of the UIUC Rhetoric Student Essay Contest, recognizing their excellence in academic writing, research, and critical thinking.
The winners included Li Jiayi, class of 2029 in Computer Engineering at ZJUI, Wu Yinan, class of 2029 in Electrical Engineering at ZJUI, Yu Feiyang, class of 2029 in Civil Engineering at ZJUI, Yu Yue, class of 2029 in Computer Engineering at ZJUI, and Zhang Zhenci, class of 2029 in Computer Engineering at ZJUI.
The students distinguished themselves among participants, including native English speakers, with guidance from UIUC Adjunct Faculty Lecturers Ashley Barr and Madeline Furlong, and ZJUI Lecturer Yang Min. Their winning essays addressed contemporary social issues ranging from Gen Z career anxiety and vocational education to the future of cinemas, student well-being, and sustainable tourism.
Li Jiayi received recognition for “Mitigating Social Media Employment Anxiety Marketing’s Distortion of Gen Z Career Decisions: From Mechanism to Effective Solutions.” The essay examined how social media employment anxiety influenced Gen Z career decisions through social comparison, cognitive bias, and peer-driven conformity. It proposed solutions including improved career guidance, transparent employment data, and collaboration between universities and digital platforms.
Wu Yinan was recognized for “The Dilemma of Credentials: Research on China’s Educational Hierarchy and Social Resistance to Vocational Paths.” The essay explored challenges facing vocational education in China by examining social perceptions, educational structures, and barriers to career development.
Yu Feiyang earned recognition for “It’s High Time Cinemas Made Some Changes.” The essay analyzed challenges faced by traditional cinemas in the streaming era and suggested that cinemas could adapt through differentiated experiences, flexible pricing strategies, and collaboration with streaming platforms.
Yu Yue was recognized for “User-Led Positive Use of Food Delivery to Benefit University Students’ Mental Health.” The essay explored how students could use food delivery services more intentionally to support emotional well-being, healthier routines, and social interaction.
Zhang Zhenci's article, “Beyond Rigid Quotas: A Three-Level Framework to Sustainably Manage Over-Tourism” proposed a comprehensive approach to managing overcrowding at historical attractions through digital technology, visitor distribution strategies, and behavioral guidance.
The achievements of these five students reflected ZJUI’s commitment to developing students’ academic communication skills and encouraging them to engage with complex global issues through research-based writing. Through the Rhetoric course, students strengthened their abilities in research, argumentation, and effective English communication.
