The Southern California Soochow University Alumni Association held its 2024 annual meeting and presidential handover on Saturday (September 28) in Rosemead, California. Outgoing president Sun Shantai passed the baton to the incoming president Ke Ningning.
Soochow University traces its roots back to a college founded by the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church in 1879, with predecessors such as the Bo Xi School in Suzhou, Gong Xiang School, and Shanghai Chinese-Western College. In 1900, the three schools merged to form Soochow University. It was also the first private university in China and was reestablished in Taiwan in 1951. The university has campuses in Shilin District, Taipei, and Zhongzheng District. Soochow University excels in various disciplines such as literature, science, law, business, foreign languages, social sciences, and big data management, producing many outstanding alumni.
Sun Shantai expressed his delight at finally passing on the presidency after serving for seven years due to the pandemic. This year marked the first physical annual meeting held since the outbreak. He mentioned that the Soochow University Alumni Association, founded in 1983 by Shuai Yiren, has always served alumni and their descendants with the spirit of love for the alma mater, mutual assistance, unity, and selflessness. The association actively supports the United Alumni Association of Chinese Colleges and Universities in Southern California and participates in overseas Chinese activities, welcoming all alumni willing to serve Soochow University.
Ke Ningning thanked the alumni for their dedication to the alma mater and expressed special gratitude to the Friends of Soochow Foundation for its longstanding sponsorship and support. The charity was established in 1963 by the late Professor Edward L. Rada, Ph.D. Rada, who served as a visiting professor at Soochow in 1961, teaching marketing and business management for a year. Upon returning to the United States, he founded the foundation in 1963 and served as its president until 1997. During his tenure, he tirelessly fundraised for Soochow, established numerous academic scholarships, and invited prominent American scholars and experts to visit Taiwan and Soochow for lectures.
The current president of the Friends of Soochow Foundation is Edward Rada Jr. Donations made through this organization to Soochow University by individuals in the United States are eligible for federal and California tax deductions. All funds raised by the foundation are used for Soochow University’s development, student exchanges, and other activities to help the university become more international.
Consul General Ji Qinyao and his wife from the Los Angeles Economic and Cultural Office were also invited to attend the annual meeting. Ji Qinyao, on behalf of Chen Chia-ching, Chairman of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, presented certificates of congratulations and gratitude to Ke Ningning and Sun Shantai. Ji Qinyao stated that the alumni association best exemplifies the spirit of unity and cooperation among its members, which is also an important force supporting the government. He sincerely wished the association success in its future activities and good health and fortune to the alumni and friends.