Hsieh Ming-chau, this year’s graduate from the Master Program at the Department of Information Management was awarded a “Light of Tamkang” Outstanding Academic Achievement Award at the 2004 commencement ceremony on June 5. He received his certificate from the President Chang personally.

Hsieh suffers from a hereditary muscle disease, which entails a gradual loss of nerves in all his muscles since the onset of the symptoms. Currently, he relies heavily on a Made-in-Taiwan electric wheel chair and he can only move his muscles from the neck up, namely his head. When he first entered Tamkang he was still able to use his right hand to write; however, without any warning, he lost that ability when he was a senior in his undergraduate studies. Right now he has to hold a stick in his mouth to tap on a computer keyboard if he needs to write. A skill he could, in fact, command very well through regular chatting on MSN, he jokingly pointed out. Furthermore, he added that as the learning and studying style at the graduate school differs from that of the undergraduate studies, no being able to write properly did not bother him that much. In other words, he explained that with the help of teachers and fellow students, he has managed to overcome most difficulties in his learning and day-to-day campus living. “Everything is under control,” he smiled optimistically.

He lives in Shih-lin and has been commuting to Tamsui for six years with the help of his mother. These six years include his four years as an undergraduate and 2 years post grad. He rarely missed any classes and was always one of the top students. His good grades actually won him a place at the graduate school automatically.

He is also positive about TKU’s facilities and willingness in aiding those with physical challenges. TKU always took his ideas and suggestions seriously when he attended the yearly forum for the disabled in TKU each year in the past. Some of them were immediately implemented which gave him ample confidence in TKU as a caring organization.

After the graduation, he will not consider any further studies. Instead, he will concentrate on securing an employment in the consulting field. He sees it as a perfect field where only his ‘mouth’ and brain, not his hands, are required to do his job well.

UPDATE： 2010/09/27 CLICKS： 1241 DOWNLOADS：