Sias International University held its 15th Homecoming Day on June 3, across its campus. The festivities involved Chinese and foreign guests, university leaders, faculty members, students, and alumni. A series of events took place as part of Sias' tradition, including the Homecoming parade of floats, Homecoming performances, art exhibitions, the annual Sias Alumni Summit, the Birdman contest, and the fluorescent night run, among others.
The festivities began in the morning with the Homecoming Parade of Floats. Among the many floats were those designed by various departments, international students, and Sias' foreign faculty. The floats represented Chinese and Western cultures and had a wide range of their creativity.
The Homecoming Performances were witnessed by senior Chinese and international guests, university leaders, alumni, parents, the faculty, and students. The Sias President, Dr. Chen Sikun, presided over the ceremony.
After the playing of the Chinese and American national anthems, the Chairman of the Board of Sias, Dr. Shawn Chen, welcomed and introduced the chief guests. He said that Sias' Homecoming Day festivities had evolved over the years, and had steadily increased their relevance and impact. It brought students and parents together on campus and showed Sias' course of development. At the same time, the Homecoming Day festivities and performances give a glimpse into Sias' implementation of the combination of Eastern and Western forms of comprehensive education. It also gave a chance to students to show their talents.
The President of Fort Hays State University, Dr. Andy Tompkins, then delivered a speech. He spoke of the traditions of Homecoming in colleges and universities in the USA, and how Sias' celebration of Homecoming was unique in China. He said that this showed Sias' internationalized all-round education, and expressed his appreciation for the morning's Parade of Floats. He hoped for strengthened ties between Fort Hays State University and Sias in the future.
The 4th Henan University Campus New Media Forum representative, and Director of Human Resources for Micro-blogs on Campus in Henan, Wang Li, then delivered a speech. She thanked Sias for its help and support in hosting and organizing the 4th Henan University Campus New Media Forum, The New Media Forum of Henan's university campuses has come to national attention and shows the pluralistic campus culture while dealing with the challenges and opportunities in the age of new media. Cheng Chunjin, the parents' representative, expressed his gratitude to Sias on behalf of the Parents' Committee. He said that the leadership of Sias, as well as the intellectual and academic achievements of the teachers, had provided students with a rich educational experience. He hoped that the students would appreciate their time at Sias and remain grateful as they graduate and assimilate into society.
After the speeches, Sias International University held gift exchanges with Fort Hays State University, from Kansas, USA, and with the Kaifeng Vocational College of Culture and Arts. These were followed by a wide range of theatrical and musical performances by Sias' art troupe, students, and faculty.
In the afternoon, the students organized and held a Birdman Contest, and a Canoe race. At the same time, parents and teachers held an exchange meeting. At the meeting, Dr. Shawn Chen elucidated Sias' current and future development plans. He also engaged in discussions with the parents and held a Q&A session.
Sias' 15th Homecoming Day festivities also included many other activities such as the University Students' Architectural Space Model Invitational Exhibition, the 4th Henan University Campus New Media Forum, the 7th Annual Alumni Summit, the Parent's Committee's General Election, the 3rd Henan Province Construction Model Competition awards ceremony, the Henan Civil Engineering Society's Applied Talent Education Symposium closing ceremony, a basketball tournament, a university Debate Competition, special opera performances, as well as the Fluorescent Night Run (Color Run).
