The Northern California National Taiwan University Alumni Association held the “Passing on the Fifties – Azalea Luncheon” in Milpitas on April 25 (last Saturday) with the theme of “The Convergence of Wisdom and Vision” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the alumni association. The event attracted 430 alumni and guests.
Among the attendees were 25 alumni who specially traveled from Taiwan and 9 alumni from Southern California. NTU President Chen Wen-Chang also made a special trip to the U.S. to attend, and Professor Hsu Cheng-Ming, known as the “Father of Semiconductors,” served as the keynote speaker.
President Zhuo Hsin-Hui (Class of 1992, Civil Engineering) of the Northern California NTU Alumni Association expressed her honor to serve the alumni and thanked everyone for their support. She emphasized that 50 years is a significant milestone and symbolizes the passing down through generations. She mentioned that the youth group established during her tenure has attracted over 200 young alumni to join, and many young alumni participated and performed on stage, inspiring confidence in the future of the alumni association. She stated that the Northern California NTU Alumni Association not only looks ahead to the next 50 years but also strives to extend its legacy to a century.
Deputy Director Chu Yong-Chang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco expressed his honor to represent Director Wu Chih-Hsiang at the event and participate as an NTU alumni, feeling particularly connected. He mentioned being an NTU Social Sciences alumni from 1985, subsequently obtaining a Master’s degree in Sociology from NTU, thus having deep emotional ties to his alma mater and the alumni association.
Chu Yong-Chang praised the long-standing dedication and active service to the society of the Northern California NTU Alumni Association under the leadership of President Zhuo Hsin-Hui and past presidents. He stated that the association’s organizational system is sound, with thoughtful event planning, embodying the spirit of NTU’s motto of “Integrity, Diligence, Patriotism, Philanthropy.” He also congratulated the association on its 50th anniversary, expressing hopes that the alumni will continue to shine and contribute more to the alma mater and society.
During the event, the president, past presidents, and distinguished guests raised their glasses on stage, and the alumni and guests enthusiastically cheered, toasting to the “Happy 50th Anniversary of the Northern California NTU Alumni Association” and passing on the torch for the next 50 years, toasting together.
Furthermore, the alumni association specifically raised funds for the “Centennial Push” in support of NTU’s 100th anniversary celebration. President Zhuo Hsin-Hui mentioned that a total of 17 contributions were received for the “Centennial Push,” amounting to $558,000, inviting donating alumni to come on stage and present this gesture of goodwill to the alma mater.
Director Chuang Ya-Shu of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center told Epoch Times that the 50th annual meeting of the Northern California NTU Alumni Association brought together many Northern California NTU alumni, with President Chen Wen-Chang and Professor Hsu Cheng-Ming present, signifying its significance. She pointed out that NTU alumni in Northern California exhibit high vitality and achievements in various fields, particularly holding significant influence in high-tech industries. She looks forward to combining the strength of NTU alumni in the future to support overseas Chinese affairs development and create a better future for the community.
When interviewed, NTU President Chen Wen-Chang mentioned that Northern California gathers many outstanding NTU alumni, especially with many alumni working in the Silicon Valley area, and many NTU students pursuing further education at Berkeley, Stanford, and surrounding schools, showcasing the influential presence of NTU talent throughout California.
He emphasized that one of NTU’s key missions is to nurture exceptional talents and make contributions to society and the world. He believes that students trained by NTU are of world-class standard, looking forward to the continued growth and development of the Northern California NTU Alumni Association. He also said that NTU will continue to strive to become “the best university for Chinese people.”
NTU alumni and Bay Area entrepreneur Hu Li-Min, when interviewed, expressed his delight at witnessing the 50th anniversary of the Northern California NTU Alumni Association. He believes that NTU gathers outstanding talent from Taiwan, with many alumni succeeding in various fields. By joining forces, combining experiences, expertise, and resources, everyone can exert greater power to make more contributions to the country and society. He also mentioned that in the past, many NTU alumni were used to working independently, but now they can connect and collaborate with each other to create a better future together.
The rich event content on that day featured Professor Hsu Cheng-Ming giving a keynote speech titled “Chip Chat,” sharing observations on the semiconductor industry and technological development. The program also included performances such as choir singing, youth group presentations, alumni talents, street dance, and traditional dances, showcasing the intergenerational vitality of NTU alumni. ◇