Duluth HRA Public Housing Resident Awarded a Scholarship by the Minnesota Chapter of NAHRO

Choua Jessica Xiong, who resides with her mother and siblings in a scattered-site public housing property owned and managed by the Duluth Housing & Redevelopment Authority’s (HRA), has been selected as one of four winners of a $1,000 Post-Secondary Educational Scholarship award by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). The organization provides a limited number of awards each year under a state-wide competitive process. Nominations for the awards are made by Minnesota NAHRO member agencies and the nominees must be residents of a member’s publically owned housing or a participant in a rental assistance program administered by a member agency. The Duluth HRA nominated Xiong for the award and was notified of her selection on May 17th at the Chapter’s Spring Conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Duluth HRA Executive Director Rick Ball presented Xiong with the scholarship award at the HRA’s Board of Commissioners meeting on May 28, 2013.

Chou Jessica Xiong recently completed her freshman year at the University of Wisconsin – Superior with great academic success. She has not yet decided upon her major field of study. She volunteers at both the Boys & Girls Club and her school, and also works parttime at Old Navy. Additionally, she is a two-year past participant in the Douglas County Youth Leadership Program.