Now in its second year, the Dr. Tai R. Shin and Mrs. You H. Shin Humanitarian Award allows the honoree to award $50,000 to a department or program in the University of Illinois System. 

The Shin Humanitarian Award recognizes those who promote the betterment of society; exhibit courage and integrity to better lives; improve environmental sustainability; take action on equality issues; or strive in other ways to protect and promote human rights. Honoree nominations based on award criteria are due April 12. 

Renowned crop breeder Bir Bahadur (B.B.) Singh received the inaugural Shin Humanitarian Award in recognition of his impact on humanity by working to address global food security. Singh presented the $50,000 gift that accompanies the award to the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Tai (Terry) Shin and Singh are both ACES alumni.

Tai R. (Terry) Shin and You H. (Catherine) Shin pledged $2 million in 2022 to establish the award. Catherine passed away in early 2023.

Terry Shin, who has a master’s and a doctorate in food science and human nutrition from the College of ACES, founded Swagger Foods Corporation in 1978. He grew the business to supply a wide range of spices and dry foods to industrial and retail customers. Dr. and Mrs. Shin’s other notable philanthropic contributions include scholarships and a gift to UIUC for its Food Science & Human Nutrition Pilot Processing Plant renovation.

Shin Humanitarian Award honorees will be invited to present a lecture or a program at one of the universities and will be encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue with students, faculty, and staff during their visit.

For more information, learn about making a nomination and more, or contact Gretchen Lohman, chair of the Shin Award Committee, at glohm2@uillinois.edu.