The National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) New York Alumni Association held its annual meeting on October 19 at the Overseas Community Service Center, with NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen coming all the way from Taiwan to attend and console the alumni. Li Zhiqiang, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and an alumnus of NCKU, also attended the event, engaging in lively exchanges with the alumni and creating a warm and affectionate atmosphere.
Nearly a hundred alumni gathered for this reunion, including older graduates like the founding chairman Xiang-Yuan Zheng (1966 Civil Engineering) and Chien-Ning Yu (1960 Chinese Literature), as well as young alumni who had just graduated from NCKU and are currently pursuing further studies at Columbia University. President Shen shared with them the latest developments at the university.
President Shen stated that this visit was to connect with the alumni and provide updates on the university’s progress. With 220,000 alumni scattered around the world, they are NCKU’s greatest asset. Each interaction with the alumni during events like this gives off a sense of warmth akin to gathering with family. The establishment of the university is not about self-isolation but more importantly, about contributing to society. In its 93 years of existence, NCKU has instilled in its students the qualities envisioned by its first president, Daolong Kuo: “cool-headedness, open-mindedness, and agility,” resulting in three key attributes of its graduates – Teamwork, Compassion, and Resilience. NCKU strives to “showcase Taiwan to the world” and adheres to the mission of “deepening local roots while embracing the world,” focusing on the development of national core industries such as healthcare services, satellite technology, digital sustainability, and technological innovation.
During his speech, Director Li Zhiqiang expressed that he graduated from NCKU’s Department of Foreign Languages in 1992 and has been in diplomatic service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 30 years since 1994. He cherished the opportunity to reunite in New York after such a long time since graduating from NCKU. He fondly recalled his campus life, often seeking last-minute help under the banyan tree for exams, a memory that deeply resonated with him.
The alumni surrounded Director Li Zhiqiang, engaging in friendly exchanges with him.
Founding chairman Xiang-Yuan Zheng, in his speech, reflected on the founding process in 1988. Alumni such as Chien-Ning Yu and Pin-Hui Chen frequently held meetings and discussions at Tim Howe Tea House in Manhattan’s Chinatown, sponsored by Li Mingxing through advertising fees. At its peak, the alumni association had over a thousand members. He was pleased to see many recent graduates studying in New York joining, bringing fresh energy to the New York alumni association.