On January 20, New York local time, the RUC North America Alumni Association (RUC-NAAA), together with the New York Alumni Association of Central University of Finance and Economics, the Greater New York Alumni Association of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, the New York Alumni Association of the University of International Business and Economics, the New York Alumni Association of Tsinghua University, the New York Alumni Association of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and the East Coast Alumni Association of Sun Yat-sen University, jointly hosted a Lunar New Year cruise celebration in Manhattan, New York.
More than 100 alumni and guests from the seven universities boarded the cruise together, enjoying the evening and welcoming the arrival of the Year of the Dragon.
Although the New York area had just experienced a major snowfall, the weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm for the event. The auspicious scene of fresh snow — traditionally associated with hopes for a bountiful year — added an extra touch of festive spirit, making it an especially memorable evening for alumni from all seven universities.
At 4:40 p.m., the sound of a long, resonant horn signaled the beginning of the journey as the cruise slowly departed from its home port and began sailing around Manhattan Island. Alumni gathered on deck to celebrate the start of the evening.
The event was co-hosted by Xi Yang, an alumnus of Central University of Finance and Economics, and Xuechun Zhang, an alumna of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
Representatives of the seven participating alumni associations delivered New Year greetings in turn: Yafeng Wu, President of RUC-NAAA; Rui Huo, President of the New York Alumni Association of Central University of Finance and Economics; Xi Chen, President of the Greater New York Alumni Association of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics; Muting Ren, President of the New York Alumni Association of the University of International Business and Economics; Hao Li, President of the New York Alumni Association of Tsinghua University; Yanlin Li and Enda Peng, Co-Presidents of the New York Federation of Alumni Associations of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications; and Zutao Zhu, Vice President of the East Coast Alumni Association of Sun Yat-sen University.
They extended Lunar New Year wishes to all alumni and guests, expressed appreciation to the sponsors, organizers, and volunteers, and wished everyone an enjoyable and rewarding evening.
Xiaofei Mu, First Vice President of Commercial Banking at Cathay Bank, and Chen Jin, Managing Partner of CrowdFunz, also spoke on behalf of the event sponsors. In addition to introducing their respective companies’ products and services, they extended their best wishes for a happy Lunar New Year to all alumni.
As the evening continued, guests enjoyed a delicious and abundant dinner while taking in the spectacular nighttime views of Manhattan. Alumni associations from the participating universities also gathered for group photos, capturing memories of the evening.
The organizers also prepared a series of fun games and a lucky draw. During the “Two Truths and a Lie” game, alumni took turns coming on stage to share two true statements and one fictional statement about themselves. Participants who correctly identified the lie received a $10 red-envelope gift from the sponsors.
The exciting lucky draw featured NBA game tickets generously provided by Cathay Bank, giving four lucky winners the opportunity to experience the excitement of professional basketball up close. The games and lucky draw not only brought alumni closer together, but also filled the evening with laughter and fun.
The event lasted nearly four hours. The shared experience of being “on the same boat” provided a rare opportunity for alumni to connect. Although they were living far from their home country, although they came from different universities, and although some had never met before, the cold winter wind could not diminish their enthusiasm or the natural sense of warmth and familiarity among fellow Chinese. A simple “Hello” was enough to bring strangers closer together.
The warm spirit of the Lunar New Year made everyone forget the passage of time. Even after the cruise returned to shore, many guests lingered, reluctant to say goodbye.
As the evening came to an end, alumni exchanged heartfelt farewells and New Year wishes: May the Year of the Dragon bring good fortune, happiness to every family, and success in all that you do!
Organizing Committee
Organizing Committee: Rui Huo, Xi Chen, Hao Li, Yafeng Wu, Muting Ren, Yanlin Li, Enda Peng, Zutao Zhu, Yongge Tang
Volunteers: Xi Yang, Xuechun Zhang, Yuyuan Cui, Cuili Lu, Zetian Huang, Qian Gong, Fei Wang, Le Chen
Audio Equipment: Yisheng Lin
Photography & Videography: Fangyong Dong / C-BIZMEDIA, Xingchen Li
News Release: Cuili Lu, Zetian Huang