July 2, 2026
Dear Class of 2026,
Another graduation season has arrived.
As the July sunshine fills the campus of Renmin University of China, graduation caps soar into the sky, and the familiar campus begins to become a cherished memory, you are also embarking on a new chapter of life. The group photos in front of the library, the moments spent beneath the Mingde Building, the applause in the Century Hall, and the heartfelt farewells along the tree-lined paths will, in the years to come, remain among the most treasured memories of your youth.
On behalf of the RUC North America Alumni Association, as well as the alumni organizations in New York, Boston, the Greater Washington, D.C. area, Michigan, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, I extend my warmest congratulations to the Class of 2026!
From this day forward, you carry a new identity that will stay with you for life: an RUC alumnus or alumna.
Graduation is not an ending, but the beginning of another journey. Some of you will enter the workforce, seeking your place amid the currents of a changing world. Some will continue your studies, exploring broader horizons in the world of knowledge. Others will cross oceans and embark on a new journey of study abroad.
Wherever life takes you, the spirit of our motto, “Seek Truth from Facts,” the commitment embodied in “Learning for the People, Scholarship for the Nation,” and the distinctive sense of responsibility and dedication that define RUC students and alumni will continue to be a source of strength as you move forward.
Years from now, when you look back on your time at RUC, you may come to realize that the university’s most precious gifts were not simply the knowledge gained in the classroom or the diploma in your hands. The moments of intellectual exchange, the guidance and example of your teachers and mentors, the genuine friendships forged with classmates, and the independent thinking and sense of responsibility to society and country that you developed at RUC have already become part of who you are—the foundation upon which you will build your lives.
And alumni are the enduring continuation of that spirit.
For eleven years, the RUC North America Alumni Association has remained committed to bringing together and serving RUC alumni across North America. Through the Mingde Forum, Mingde Lecture Hall, Mingde salons and talks, the “Mentor and Friend” program, career development programs, cultural exchanges, and alumni gatherings, we have sought to build a community where alumni can support one another and grow together, while carrying forward the friendship and legacy of RUC.
To those of you who will be coming to North America to pursue your studies in 2026, we would like to say sincerely: Welcome to the RUC alumni family in North America!
Starting life in a new country inevitably comes with unfamiliarity and challenges. But please know that across this vast continent, there is always a community of RUC alumni ready to lend a hand. Whether you need guidance on academic choices, career planning, internships and job searches, or simply adjusting to life and becoming part of a new community, we are here to share our experiences, offer support, and accompany you as you begin this new stage of your journey.
The RUC North America Alumni Association is more than an alumni organization. It is a shared intellectual and emotional home for RUC alumni abroad.
Today, you set out from RUC. Tomorrow, wherever you may be in the world, the shared name of “RUC alumni” will allow us to recognize one another, connect with one another, and support one another.
Because being an alumnus means more than having once shared a classroom. It means being part of a legacy that transcends time and distance.
We look forward to seeing you in North America.
My heartfelt wishes to the Class of 2026 for a bright future and the perseverance to keep moving forward. And to all those preparing to set sail for new horizons, I wish you success in your studies, clarity in your aspirations, and the courage to write your own stories in the wider world.
RUC North America Alumni Association
Yafeng Wu
President