Senior Honors Film student, AJ Johnson, won a Judge’s Choice Award at the 2025 Student Scholar Symposium. Student Scholar Symposium is an event held during UCF’s annual Research Week, during which undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to present research and creative scholarships in poster format.
Her project titled Threading the Needle: Chinese American Adoptees and the In-Between explores the nuanced identities and lived experiences of Chinese American adoptees, focusing on how they navigate cultural in-betweenness, belonging, and self-discovery. “It features the experience of two Chinese American adoptees and their attempts to reconcile the Asian and American identities twenty years after their adoption,” explains Johnson. “The poster details my production process for the film, from the pre-production planning, the production filming, as well my post-production editing approach. The film is entirely student-produced, so it’s an incredible learning experience from start to finish,” Johnson shared.
This recognition is not only a testament to Johnson’s passion for film making but also a reflection of the strong mentorship and support provided by her HUT chair, Assistant Professor Betsy Kalin. “I’m excited to have received a Judge’s Choice Award! Recognition of the arts means a lot to me and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent film at UCF. I’m especially thankful for the mentorship of my professor and thesis chair, Professor Betsy Kalin, and her guidance and support throughout the making of the film,” expressed Johnson. Congratulations to Johnson and a heartfelt thank you to her mentor for guiding this impactful work and continuing to inspire UCF students to pursue meaningful, boundary-pushing research.
Written by Majdulina Hamed.
Published to Nicholson News on May 1, 2025.
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