CHICAGO -- Twenty-nine Chinese students studying in the US Midwest have received "2018 national awards for outstanding self-financed students abroad," which were delivered on Sunday by Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian.

Han Jingjing, currently a doctoral candidate at the Media School of Indiana University Bloomington with a minor in Cognitive Science, received the highest award of 10,000 US dollars.

"I feel excited and grateful to receive this award," Han said at the award-granting ceremony. "I am proud of my country for its increased support on social science."

"I hope I could push the development of communication science forward and contribute my own effort in leading Chinese communication scholars to international stages," she added.

Addressing the awardees, Zhao said the government award program has been held for many years, showing the country's great support for the overseas Chinese students. "I hope all of you can play an active role in the exchanges between China and the United States, and make great contribution for the prosperity of our country."

Wang Xun, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and also the chairman of the evaluation committee for the scholarship, also congratulated the winning students.

"We hold the award-granting ceremony to celebrate your academic achievements and also remind you of keeping in mind the expectations of our country," Wang said. "We hope you can make bigger progress in scientific research to better serve our society and the whole world."

Lin Wenbin, a professor in the chemistry department at the University of Chicago and also the doctoral supervisor of one of the awardees, called on the overseas Chinese students to always bear in mind their social responsibilities.

The Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad is a scholarship set up by the China Scholarship Council in 2003 to honor overseas Chinese students with outstanding academic accomplishments.

According to official statistics, 500 Chinese students studying abroad received the scholarship in 2018.