The annual Candlelight Ceremony at Sias International University was held on September 19 at Sias' Track & Field Stadium. The Ceremony marks the beginning of the academic year for freshmen as they take an oath as students at Sias for the next 4 years.

The list of guests included CCTV News host, and current host of '30 Minutes' and 'The News Studio', Li Wenjing; Chinese artist and art collector, Zhao Tailai; Actor and thespian, Xu Guoyin; President of Fort Hays State University, Dr. Mirta Martin; former President of the Sias Foundation, Dr. Alan Brown; and current President of the Sias Foundation, Jeff Jorde. There was a delegation from Panyapiwat Institute of Management in Thailand that included the Vice President for Administrative Affairs (also Vice President of Charoen Pokphand Group), Siam Chocksawangwong; The Vice Executive Director for The Office of President, Adisorn Wongjittapoke; the Manager of the Chinese Business Networking Management Department, Chainarin Naowacharoenlak; the Director of International Relations, Usanee Kulintornprasert. Senior members of the Sias hierarchy were present, such as Chairman of the Board, Dr. Shawn Chen; Party Secretary, Fei Hexiang; Sias President, Dr. Chen Sikun; Vice President Liu Shuqin; and Deputy Party Secretary Li Huafeng.

As is the tradition at Sias, everyone present at the Track & Field Stadium lit candles to mark the beginning of the academic year, and the beginning of college life for the new batch of freshmen. There were speeches by Dr. Shawn Chen, Dr. Alan Brown, Dr. Mirta Martin, Li Wenjing, and Xu Guoyin. Chinese artist, Zhao Tailai was appointed as an honorary President by Dr. Shawn Chen, after which Vice President Liu Shuqin led the freshmen of the academic year 2016-17 in taking their oath.

Student awards were presented, and the Candlelight Ceremony was brought to a close by a series of performances by the Sias Art Troupe, culminating in a large-scale fireworks display. Almost 8,000 freshmen joined Sias this year, making it the largest intake of freshmen so far in Sias' 18-year history.