WSU Currents •
Winter 2012
7
This year’s Distinguished Young
Alumna, Echo Huang
’95
,
shines
in the financial world
Rewarded
W
hen
Echo Huang ’95
arrived alone
in the United States from China, she was
more excited than scared. Just 20 years
old, Huang had already been through
plenty of adversity and was ready to em-
bark on her American dream. Little did
she know that her journey would take
her through the halls of Winona State
University and on to a successful career
in financial services.
Even as a child, Huang was aware that
education was the key to a better life.
Her parents were both college edu-
cated teachers, sent to work in China’s
rural villages without running water or
electricity. For the first eight years of her
life, Huang lived with her mother and
two sisters, while her father worked in a
neighboring village.
“
It was very unusual to have both parents
college educated,” says Huang. “Even
though we lived apart, I recognized that
I was a fortunate kid in a very
poor place.”
Eventually, the family moved to Shenzhen,
a major city in southern China located in
a designated “Special Economic Zone”
with modern day conveniences and
more educational opportunities. Rather
than attending high school, Huang
earned an accounting diploma at the
age of 17.
Shortly thereafter, she secured a coveted
job with the Bank of China, earning
more than her parents did as teachers.
Despite her success, Huang dreamed of
coming to the United States to further
her education, and patiently awaited the
opportunity.
By Margaret Cox
Steve Woit Photography