The University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI, JI hereafter) held the 2020 Thank You Day event at Long Bin Building on November 29, in a bid to express gratitude to all people who have provided continuous support for the development of JI.
In the opening speech, Dean Peisen Huang said support of friends from all walks of life is indispensable to the development of the Joint Institute. In the year of 2020 plagued by the global COVID-19 pandemic, JI students, faculty and staff worked closely together to overcome the difficulties. As it steps into the 15th anniversary, JI will continue abiding by the philosophy of “education as foundation and innovation as soul”, and work out a new way of its own on reforming the international engineering education to get better results in return for the care and kindness received.
UM Vice-provost Valeria Bertacco delivered an online speech for the event. She said a UM-SJTU partnership of over 10 years enabled both sides to witness in-depth development of scientific research and cross-cultural exchanges. The long-term close cooperation played a very important role this year during the pandemic period, resulting in the acceptance of UM Chinese students by JI to pursue their studies as usual on the SJTU campus in Shanghai.
Henry Tang, Chairman of Shanghai Tang Junyuan Education Foundation, delivered a recorded speech via video. Over the past six years since the establishment of Tang Junyuan Scholarship at JI, 12 students have been sponsored to pursue their degrees in the United States. The foundation decides to make an additional donation of 5 million yuan to expand the scholarship fund and support the talent-training programs of JI and SJTU, said Tang. Tongkang Jin, secretary-general of the foundation who attended the event onsite, added that the Tang Junyuan Scholarship will also increase the number of nomination awards in the future.
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to Secretary-general Tongkang Jin of Tang Junyuan Education Foundation
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to Liming Intelligent Manufacturing Talent-training Foundation founder Liming Yu
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to Qiusuo Scholarship founder Alan Ren
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to painting donor Baoxing Gu
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to art works donors for JI Art Exhibition
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to representative of institute donors
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to representatives of anti-pandemic parents and alumni
JI leaders present certificate of appreciation to alumni who provided support to JI
Scholarship awarding ceremony was held after the donor-appreciation ceremony.
Donors award 2020 John Wu and Jane Sun Sunshine and Merit Scholarships
Donor awards 2020 Tang Junyuan Scholarship
Donor awards 2020 Yu Liming Endowed Scholarship
Donors award 2020 Sam & Daisy Wu Scholarship
JI leaders award 2020 Jackson and Muriel Lum Endowed Scholarship
JI leaders award 2020 Cheng Family Endowed Scholarship
Donor awards 2020 GDP Explorer Scholarship
JI leaders award 2020 Fuda Scholarship
Donor awards KLA Scholarship
JI leaders award Yadong Scholarship
Student representatives sing a song to express gratitude to donors
In his closing speech, JI Honorary Dean Jun Ni said JI has received dozens of scholarships, education funds, numerous financial support for teaching and research projects since its establishment in 2006. The givings have benefited hundreds of JI students and families, and helped JI achieving great achievements. The future development of JI is inseparable from the generous love and support from parents, alumni, enterprisers and communities. The scholarship winners are expected to pass the great love to future generations of youngsters.
Scenes of the UM-SJTU JI Art Exhibition
John Wu and Jane Sun (donors) talk with students
As part of the Thank You Day event, the UM-SJTU JI Art Exhibition was held on the same day at Long Bin Building, displaying more than 50 art works from JI faculty and staff, alumni, parents and celebrities from all walks of life.
