In the golden autumn of September, a new journey of dreams unfolds. On the evening of September 21 at 7 p.m., 2025 Sias Freshmen Opening Ceremony and Candlelight Celebration took place at Sias Stadium. The ceremony was launched simultaneously in the format of a "main venue + sub-venues + online live broadcast." Sias Stadium served as the main venue, while the Opera House Teaching Theater and the Student Activity Center were set up as two sub-venues. Over ten thousand freshmen of the Class of 2025, parents, alumni, and representatives of teachers and students witnessed the official start of the new students' university chapter through on-site participation or online viewing.
He Xiong, Deputy Secretary-General of the People's Government of Henan Province and Director of its General Office; Zhang Guohong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Ge'ermu Office of the People's Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region; Zheng Bangshan, former Director of the Henan Provincial Department of Education; Shu Weifang, Director of the Physical Education, Health and Arts Department of the Henan Provincial Department of Education; Deng Yingwen, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Mayor of Zhongyuan District, Zhengzhou City; Yi Gang, Vice Chairman of the Xinzheng Municipal Political Consultative Conference; Gao Qunyao, Chairman of Singapore's Whale TV Group and former President of Microsoft China and News Corporation; a team led by Wang Ning, an alumnus of the Class of 2005, Founder and Chairman of POP MART; Zhao Longkai, Professor of the Finance Department at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management and Director of Peking University's Center for Business and the Arts; Zhao Chen, Senior Partner of Plug and Play China; Tu Duanwu, Associate Professor and Master's Supervisor at the School of International Education, Beijing Foreign Studies University; Józef Hernik, representative of the President of the Kraków University of Agriculture in Poland; Wang Rui, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of Henan Experimental High School; Peng Taifeng, an alumnus of the Class of 1998 and founding President of the Sias Beijing Alumni Association; and other guests were invited to attend. Dr. Shawn Chen, Founder and Chairman of Sias University; Wu Hua, Executive Vice President; Zhao Yuxin, Vice President; and Yuan Guanglin, Vice President; and other Sias leaders were present at the ceremony, which was hosted by Wu Hua.
The ceremony kicked off with the solemn national anthem of the People's Republic of China. Dr. Chen delivered a welcome speech, extending a warm welcome to all the freshmen of the Class of 2025 on behalf of the university. Using outstanding alumni such as Wang Ning, the founder of POP MART, Shang Lifeng in the cross-border e-commerce field, Yuan Ronghai in the drone industry, Olympic javelin champion Lü Huihui, and Sun Mingyuan, a flag bearer in the September 3 Military Parade, as examples, he elaborated on the university's motto of "East meets West, Integrating Knowledge with Practice" and its cultural atmosphere of respecting individuality and embracing diversity. He encouraged the freshmen to take these excellent senior students as role models, bravely try and explore, and find their unique selves through constant challenges. Facing the wave of rapid development of artificial intelligence, Dr. Chen specifically introduced the university's "AI + X" curriculum system, stating that Sias has taken the lead in deeply integrating artificial intelligence into teaching content, methods, and assessments. He hoped that the freshmen would become "AI-native generation" who master both professional knowledge and AI technology and leaders of future society in the classroom. Meanwhile, he borrowed Steve Jobs' famous quote "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish" to encourage all the freshmen: You are standing at a new starting point. Every bit and piece of your time at Sias today will eventually be strung together into the most dazzling thread in your lives. Maybe the next "Wang Ning" who changes the world is among you!
In his keynote speech, Wang Ning shared his entrepreneurial story and his deep affection for his alma mater. He compared his initial feelings upon arriving at Sias 20 years ago to "opening a window," believing that Sias's atmosphere of integrating Chinese and Western cultures and its diverse and rich campus activities provided him with a broad vision to look out at the world and also "planted a very important seed" for his future international business endeavors. Wang Ning mentioned that Sias's inclusive and encouraging environment for innovation was the key to him taking the first step in entrepreneurship. From initially founding an interest club to the university actively providing a studio as a practice base, all reflected the university's respect and support for students' exploratory spirit. Facing the junior students, Wang Ning earnestly hoped that everyone would cherish the precious four years of university life, grow through seeking knowledge, harvest friendships through interactions, and more importantly, bravely explore the unknown and dare to break through themselves. He also encouraged them with his own experience: Forge your own unique path.
Wang Rui spoke highly of Sias's achievements in international education over the past 27 years, believing that the two universities share a high degree of compatibility in educational philosophies. He encouraged the freshmen to maintain curiosity and grow freely on the diverse platform of Sias, forge their characters through practice, and shine their youth.
Chen Jingzhao, a teacher representative, shared his exploration experience in the field of AI and encouraged the freshmen to drive their growth with passion, make good use of Sias's stage and resources, and grow into a new generation of challengers with an international perspective and practical abilities. Yang Huiwen, a freshman representative, emotionally recounted the warm story of the "Sias bond spanning two generations" between her and her mother. By sharing her mother's study experience at Sias 25 years ago, she regarded her personal choice as a "relay of youth" and expressed her yearning for and pride in the university's international atmosphere.
During the ceremony, the freshmen put on a Sias emblem one by one and made solemn oaths in a dignified manner, promising to "explore the world with a scientific spirit, take the initiative to learn, and unite knowledge and action" and to "uphold honor with honesty and trustworthiness, abide by laws and regulations, and seek truth and be pragmatic." The shining university emblem is a symbol of identity; the resounding oaths are expectations for their future lives.
During the celebration, Sias University and the Kraków University of Agriculture in Poland held a cooperation signing ceremony. Chen Xiaochun and Józef Hernik, the representative from the Polish side, jointly signed the agreement. University leaders and Anna Hernik, a representative from the Polish side, attended as witnesses.
The Vice President presented awards to the freshmen who won the "Betty (Enrollment) Scholarship" and encouraged them to take this as motivation to start an exciting university journey.
At the candlelight celebration, Dr. Chen and the guests jointly lit candles and passed the flame to freshmen representatives. The dots of candlelight gradually spread, illuminating the entire venue, conveying the university's care and symbolizing the intergenerational inheritance of the campus spirit. The freshmen held the candlesticks in their hands, gently swaying them. The warm yellow light shone on their young faces, reflecting their anticipation and expectations for their future university lives.
After the candlelight ceremony, 12 meticulously arranged programs took the stage one after another, bringing a visual and auditory feast to the entire audience. Programs such as the dance "A Flourishing Scene," the song and dance "Oriental Jasmine," the Latin dances "Vibrant Blossoming" and "A New Heartbeat," "A Gentle Breeze Comes," "Dance Power Awakening," "Peach Blossoms White and Apricot Blossoms Red," "Youth Towards the Future," and "Harmonious Homeland" were rich in content and wonderfully performed, fully demonstrating the artistic talents and spiritual outlook of Sias students.
As the last note of the artistic performance faded away, the 2025 Sias Freshmen Opening Ceremony and Candlelight Celebration came to a successful conclusion. This celebration was not only a welcome ceremony but also a grand event marking the start of dreams. As Dr. Chen said, "Maybe the next 'Wang Ning' who changes the world is among you." It is believed that the freshmen of the Class of 2025 will compose their own unique and brand-new melodies on the fertile soil of Sias, with youth as the score and struggle as the tune.
