The Universal Abacus Academic Association held the “Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Certification and Scholarship Awards Ceremony” at the Nanwan Qiaojiao Center on the afternoon of May 31st (last Sunday), honoring students who passed the abacus and mental arithmetic certification. The event included an on-site flash calculation competition to showcase the students’ learning achievements and the effectiveness of abacus and mental arithmetic education.
This year, the students performed exceptionally well, with over 90% of them successfully passing the certification. Some even reached the elite levels of 13th grade in abacus and 10th grade in mental arithmetic, which was an inspiring achievement.
President Xie Xiuzhi of the Universal Abacus Academic Association congratulated all the students who passed the certification and thanked parents, guests, donors, media, teachers, OAYO executives, and volunteers for their support. She emphasized that abacus and mental arithmetic education not only cultivate students’ professional skills but also aim to nurture their leadership, sense of responsibility, spirit of service, and community contribution.
Deputy Director Cai Jiahua of the Qiaojiao Center expressed in her speech that abacus not only helps in developing mathematical abilities but also trains children’s focus, logical thinking, perseverance, and self-confidence. These abilities are essential nutrients for the children’s future growth. She also expressed her hope for the Universal Abacus Academic Association to continue providing a high-quality learning platform for children in the Bay Area. Fremont City Councilor Shao Yang, Advisor Mao Xiaoling of the Universal Abacus Academic Association, and President Cai Zongming of the Universal Abacus Youth Volunteer Group each delivered speeches to congratulate the participants.
Notably, former OAYO President and current advisor Martin Wu established scholarships this year to encourage the dedication and service spirit of OAYO executives. Wu, who recently graduated from New York University and is about to enter the investment banking industry, emphasized how his journey in learning abacus and mental arithmetic since first grade, serving as a teacher’s assistant, OAYO president, and advisor, has influenced his decision to set up the scholarships. He hopes to motivate outstanding students to continue serving the association and community, as well as fostering leadership skills among young members to serve as role models for junior students.
Wu mentioned that besides enhancing computational abilities, abacus and mental arithmetic also develop concentration, resilience, self-confidence, and problem-solving skills, which have been beneficial for his personal growth and future career. In an era of rapid AI development, he believes that abacus and mental arithmetic hold great educational value by training students in focused thinking, continuing cultural heritage, nurturing creativity, and enabling children to effectively utilize AI tools in the future.
Parent Xu Guizhen attended the ceremony with her 8-year-old child who is in the third grade. She shared how her child started learning abacus and mental arithmetic in September last year and successfully passed the sixth-grade certification in just a few months. Xu likened learning abacus to playing the piano, as it requires daily practice to stimulate the brain and cultivate concentration, analytical thinking, and perseverance.
Although her child initially felt discouraged due to frequent mistakes while practicing, with encouragement, they gradually understood that continuous practice leads to improvement. Xu expressed gratitude to Teacher Xie Xiuzhi for her tailored teaching methods, which helped her child progress rapidly.
Facing the age of AI, Xu believes that while AI is a tool, children still need to possess logical and judgment capabilities to discern correct answers. She hopes that abacus and mental arithmetic will help train children’s mental and concentration abilities, and through certifications and exemplary figures at ceremonies, inspire them to maintain the motivation for continuous learning.
Lai Xinyi, the mother of former Universal Abacus Youth Volunteer Group President Cui Jiali, noted that the learning environment of the association is filled with a spirit of mutual assistance, with everyone working towards common goals. It not only enhances children’s calculation skills but also teaches them to think critically, which is beneficial for society.
She emphasized that abacus and mental arithmetic education is not just about skill training but also includes character development. Children who learn in this environment gradually develop a sense of responsibility, teamwork, interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and the capacity to motivate others, which she considers essential reasons for her child’s remarkable growth and excellence. ◇