Di Zhang, 2009 Matsui Writing Competition Winner

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund (AEF) announces that Di Zhang, a recent graduate of the George Washington University Law School, has won the 2009 Robert T. Matsui Writing Competition. Di’s article, “Intercountry Adoption: Better Viewed in Black and White or Technicolor,” examines the unique struggles the adoptees face during intercountry adoptions. Di advocates that a mandatory post-adoptive counseling program be established for adoptive parents who adopt a child of a different race and from a country outside of the U.S. This program would help parents in identifying and dealing with unique issues stemming from the intercountry transracial adoptions and help better uphold the best interest of the child standard.

AEF President Christopher Y. Chan stated, “AEF congratulates Di on winning this year’s Matsui Writing Competition. Di raises a very unique issue with regard to race relations among intercountry adoptive parents, children and the immediate community. We had many insightful submissions this year. but the judges were most impressed with his submission.” As the winner of this year’s competition, Di will receive a monetary award of $1,500 and his article will be published by UCLA School of Law’s Asian Pacific American Law Journal.  For more information regarding the Matsui Writing Competition and the 2009 Winner, please visit Matsui Writing Competition.