On September 20, Sias International University held the 2012 Candlelight Ceremony at the Track & Field Stadium. The President of Guizhou University, Dr. Zheng Qiang, the President of the Sias Foundation, Dr.Alan Brown, the President of Global Interactions, Jerrie Ueberle, and other local leaders and university leaders attended the ceremony.

Through a raffle draw, several students from different academic schools received the opportunity to have lunch with the Founder, and Chairman of the Board of Sias, Dr. Shawn Chen. This was followed by a video that highlighted the recently concluded freshman military training. Then, Dr. Chen lit the torch and passed it to a student who lit the candles of teachers and students at the venue.

Dr. Shawn Chen delivered a speech in which he introduced the guests and welcomed the freshmen. He also briefly spoke about Sias' East-meets-West educational philosophy and said that he hoped that all the students could make use of the resources at Sias to improve themselves. Dr. Chen's speech was followed by speeches by Dr. Zheng Qiang, Dr. Alan Brown, and the 2012 Freshman Representative, Wu Dingjun.

After an awards ceremony, there were many performances organized by Sias' academic schools. The ceremony ended with a display of fireworks.