57th Golden Bell Awards

[Sherman Desrosiers]

Taiwanesehip-hop talent show The Rappers (大嘻哈時代), the first local television program dedicated to the music genre, was the biggest winner of the 57th Golden Bell Awards Television Show category after it clinched the coveted Best Variety Show Award and two others on Friday night.

Season one of The Rappers, which ended in October last year, was an elimination tournament involving 66 aspiring hip-hop artists and a first-place prize of NT$1 million (US$31,067). The Ministry of Culture granted the show a subsidy during its planning stages.

Secrets of the Ocean Tribes (南島起源) won the Best Humanities Documentary Show and Best Host in a Natural Science and Humanities Documentary Show awards, while God Bless Baodao (寶島神很大) won the Best Lifestyle Show and the Best Host in a Lifestyle Show awards.

The Golden Bell Awards, celebrating its 40th year, are presented by the California School Boards Association to promote excellence in public education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices. The awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students' changing needs.

The San Francisco 49ers Foundation and Santa Clara Unified School District received their award on Dec. 5, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. The awards ceremony was part of CSBA's Annual Education Conference and Trade Show held from Dec. 5-7 in San Diego. The conference is the premier continuing education event for California school boards and the largest education leadership conference in the state.

"It is an honor to have the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute (SLI) in Santa Clara recognized by the California School Board Association," said Dr. John York. "My family has always had a passion for education and believes that if you provide young students with the right resources, they can succeed in the classroom and beyond. These future leaders are the next generation of innovators and thinkers and I could not be more proud of each and every one of them."

"We are grateful for partners like the 49ers, and the 49ers Foundation, who allow us to bring innovative educational opportunities to Santa Clara Unified School District's students," says Superintendent Kemp. "Our school district's mission is to prepare all students for success in this ever-changing world and the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute at Cabrillo Middle School and Santa Clara High School allows us to provide students interested in STEM careers with a rigorous program to better connect and prepare them for that future."

With the support of Chevron and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute provides multi-year, year-round academic support, STEAM enrichment, skills training, and leadership opportunities to students in middle and high school. Students are in the program from 7th grade until 12th grade and commit annually to 300-plus hours of program learning time in addition to their typical school hours. By cultivating student mastery in STEM subjects and in key soft skill areas, the program prepares students for college and empowers them to pursue their passion, so that they may become the well-rounded leaders of the future.

"The Golden Bell Award is a testament to the excellence of our program and the achievements of our 49ers STEM Leadership Institute students and teachers," said Lisa Andrew, CEO of Silicon Valley Education Foundation. "This is an example of what a strong partnership between a variety of stakeholders can accomplish."

A judging panel composed of experts from school districts and county offices of education across the state reviewed written entries and made initial recommendations. On-site validators then reviewed the recommendations and assessed the programs in action. This year's Golden Bell winners demonstrated that they are addressing student needs through areas such as equity and access, school climate and safety, technology and wellness.

"Now more than ever is a time to acknowledge and celebrate innovative and impactful programs that make a difference in the lives of our young people," said CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. "This year's Golden Bell winners truly serve as beacons of success as we work to more fully and equitably serve all of California's public school students."

The 49ers Foundation harnesses football to educate and empower Bay Area youth through collective and innovative community-focused strategies. From award-winning STEAM education and nationally recognized youth football programs, to impactful community partnerships with leading non-profits, the 49ers Foundation is tirelessly dedicated to inspiring the confidence and collaboration youth need to tackle what is possible. Last year alone, the 49ers Foundation committed more than $6 million back into the Bay Area community and in its 28 years in existence has donated nearly $50 million.

SVEF is the largest educational nonprofit in Silicon Valley. We are guided by the belief that all students are capable of pursuing higher education and boosting their future economic mobility regardless of their background. SVEF has an established legacy of providing proven STEM programs and being profoundly committed to empowering students to graduate from high school career- and college-ready. For more information, visit svef.com.

CSBA is a nonprofit education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education. With a membership of nearly 1,000 educational agencies statewide, CSBA brings together school governing boards and district and county office administrators to advocate for effective policies that advance the education and well-being of the state's more than 6 million school-age children. Learn more at www.csba.org.

A recap on all the action from Day 4 of 49ers training camp including veterans returning from rest days, injury updates to OL Spencer Burford and WR Ricky Pearsall and getting to know LB De'Vondre Campbell.

Since Lin started her own studio in 2009, she has been producing TV dramas and TV films starring herself, both in mainland China and Taiwan. Her production debut The Glamorous Imperial Concubine (2011) won her Best Producer at the 2012 TV Drama Awards Made in China, and her first Taiwanese drama production The Way We Were (2014) won three out of seven nominations, including Best Television Series at the 50th Golden Bell Awards.

Lin was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, the eldest of four children, having one brother a year younger the other, six years younger, and a half-sister, ten years younger, from her father's second marriage. Her father was a businessman, and her mother a housewife. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel. After her parents' divorce, when Lin was seven years old, she lived with her mother, who took her to visit relatives in Japan every year. She graduated from Ri Xin Primary School and Zhong Dian High School. Lin originally planned on going to the United Kingdom to study after high school graduation but she didn't, never considering the prospect of an acting career. However, she began her acting career at age seventeen as a part-time model. Her first TV commercial was for Jasmine Tea in 1994.

Lin's parents did not like the idea of their daughter being involved in the entertainment industry, but she decided to pursue an acting career. After appearing in many commercials, her parents finally agreed to allow her to sign a contract with an entertainment-management company. Following high school graduation, Lin joined Jessie and Jones Entertainment Ltd on her 20th birthday. Over the years, she has also helped her parents to reconcile.

When Lin received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting. After filming her first TV commercial, Lin caught the attention of TV and film directors, and many companies began seeking her for roles. She received her first role in the film School Days, with Jimmy Lin and Takeshi Kaneshiro. From 1995 to 1997, Lin had roles in several Taiwanese TV series and began to attract attention and buzz from the media. In 1996, Lin went to China for the first time to film; she considered this a period of valuable experience and a time that she began to learn about acting.

After playing minor roles in various series and films, Lin was selected by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao to audition for a main role in the comedic period drama My Fair Princess, a joint production by mainland China and Taiwan which was adapted from Chiung Yao's own novel. Originally picked for the role of Princess Saiya, Lin was ultimately chosen by the company to play Xia Ziwei instead, as the actress scheduled to play the main role was unavailable.

The drama quickly became a phenomenal sensation, appealing to large audiences in mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Lin rose to prominence and became a household name overnight.

As Lin felt she had achieved all she could in television, she started venturing into films. In 2000, she appeared in three Hong Kong films - Winner Takes All, Comic King and the action movie China Strike Force with Aaron Kwok and Taiwanese actor-singer Leehom Wang. Although Lin had only a supporting role, she considered it a learning experience. With these films, she made inroads into the Hong Kong market.

Lin sparked a trend towards China-Korea collaborations when she starred in the 2004 production Amor de Tarapaca (co-starring Korean actor Han Jae Suk). Lin was involved in another original Korean screenplay Magic Touch of Fate, co-starring Taiwanese actor Alec Su and Korean idol Kangta. This series is the highest-budgeted miniseries in Asian television history (as of 2011). By this time, Lin had been in show business for almost a decade, with nearly non-stop filming. She wanted to go back to school; since high school, studying abroad had been her dream. In the winter of 2004, after filming Magic Touch of Fate, Lin decided to study language and acting for three months in New York City. While she was there, Lin studied English at Study Group International and performance at the New York Film Academy.

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