The 48th annual conference of the Northern California Chinese School Association was held in Miaobida on the evening of June 20th, attracting over 200 participants including school representatives, political and overseas Chinese community figures, and community supporters. The theme of the conference was “Passing on the Torch, Building Dreams for the Future”, reflecting on the efforts and services of the 48th team over the past year. The event included the handover of the presidency, scholarship awards, and a ceremony to express gratitude.
Dignitaries in attendance included the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Wu Zhixiang, and his wife, the Director of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, Zhuang Yashu, Mayor Carmen Montano of Miaobida, Mayor Raj Salwan of Fremont, Committee members Wei Dezhen, Zhang Zhengbang, Chen Yangming, Liu Lingxia, Chairman of the Santa Clara County Council Li Zhouxiao (Otto Lee), San Jose City Councilor David Cohen, Fremont City Councilor Shao Yang, and former Mayor of Fremont Lily Mei, among others. Although California State Senator Aisha Wahab was unable to attend, she sent a congratulatory certificate.
The conference opened with a pipa solo by Anita Li. President Fu Qijun expressed his gratitude for the support from various sectors, emphasizing the promotion of Chinese culture and education as the core mission of the Northern California Chinese School Association. He acknowledged the collective efforts of member schools, volunteers, and the community, thanking his family for their understanding and support. Fu shared his personal involvement in Chinese education through his daughter’s attendance at a Chinese school, progressing from a parent, to a school board member, to eventually becoming the president of the association.
Fu mentioned the enthusiastic response to the newly added “Chinese Arts Talent Show” this year, with over 50 entries exceeding expectations. The early summer teacher training camp also saw increased participation from educators.
In his speech, Wu Zhixiang highlighted the challenges of learning Chinese overseas, recognizing the dedication required from parents who accompany their children to Chinese schools every week. He commended principals, teachers, volunteers, students, and parents for their long-term commitment to Chinese education, emphasizing the role of Chinese schools in preserving Taiwanese culture, history, and traditions to keep the next generation connected to their cultural roots.
Zhuang Yashu noted the growth of the Northern California Chinese School Association since its establishment in 1978, from 5 initial member schools to nearly 80 schools. She praised the contributions of past presidents, school volunteers, principals, and teachers over the years, acknowledging Fu Qijun for his warm leadership in organizing various activities.
The evening included the transition of the 48th and 49th presidency, as well as the presentation of commendations from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee and expressions of gratitude. The newly elected President Liao Xiujing expressed gratitude to past presidents for laying the foundation for the association, thanking the team and her family for their support. Taking on the responsibility of the 49th presidency, she vowed to leverage her 24 years of educational experience to continue serving the nearly 80 member schools and advance Chinese education.
Liao Xiujing highlighted the importance of not fearing obsolescence in the age of technology and AI for Chinese schools. She emphasized the role of the association as a platform to assist teachers and schools in learning new tools and sharing experiences through teacher workshops and activities. She stressed that education still requires “warmth”, with technology serving as a tool, and expressed her hope to combine innovative thinking and teamwork to further advance overseas Chinese education.
The conference also featured the presentation ceremony for the Mrs. Lily Hsieh Scholarship and the Diligent Study Scholarship. Overseas Chinese consultant and President of the Southern California World Journal Association Li Minhua explained that the scholarships were established in memory of her mother. Despite facing hardships as a single parent raising six children, her mother persevered in providing them with education, resulting in all six children attaining doctoral or master’s degrees. The scholarships aim to continue her mother’s commitment to education and encourage more students to strive for learning and cultural heritage.
This year’s “Diligent Study Scholarship” recipients were Blair Chen from San Ji Tzu Chi Humanistic School and Nathaniel Modert from Shi Dongpo Elementary School. Despite facing physical challenges and mobility issues, Blair Chen has been learning Chinese since kindergarten, consistently for nine years, achieving first place in Chinese-English translation in academic competitions. Nathaniel Modert’s mother is visually impaired, posing additional challenges in their daily lives and school commute, yet he persists in attending Chinese classes weekly, actively practicing handwriting and translation. Both students have overcome difficulties in their environments, exemplifying the spirit of hard work and diligence in learning.
The conference concluded with a performance by teacher Li Haoqin and the national music ensemble, a video of acknowledgments from the 48th team, gratitude to sponsors and donors, and an interactive raffle, ending on a high note in a lively atmosphere.