On November 3, the re-establishment ceremony of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) Alumni Association in Southern California and the release ceremony of the senior alumna Lisa Lu's autobiography Return of the Swallow were held in Irvine, U.S.

Zhenbin Yang, Secretary of the Party Committee, sent a congratulatory letter to celebrate the event. In his letter, Yang expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the faculty and students of SJTU for Lisa Lu's long-standing affection and strong support for the university. He also extended warm greetings to all alumni in Southern California and expressed his hope that the Southern California Alumni Association will continue to actively strengthen ties between alumni and the university. He emphasized that alumni would carry forward the spirit and values of SJTU by following its motto of "seeking the truth, being pragmatic, striving for excellence, daring to be the first, and progressing with the times”.

The event brought together Lisa Lu, nearly 100 alumni and their families, Yushen Wang (Director of the Development and Liaison Office and Secretary General of the SJTU Education Development Foundation), and Liqiang Zhang (Deputy Director of the General Alumni Association Office of SJTU), to celebrate their shared memories and look toward future collaboration.

The book launch for Return of the Swallow was hosted by alumnus Mr. Wenji Xu (Law Department, Class of 2001), the first recipient of the Lisa Lu Humanities Scholarship.

Many individuals expressed their gratitude and respect for Yan Lu during the event. Weiwei Hu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC SJTU Committee and Vice President of SJTU, sent a video message congratulating her. Hu fondly recalled their initial acquaintance for the writing of her biography, and the memories they created. Another individual, Mr. Yushen Wang, expressed admiration for Yan Lu's extraordinary life story, long-standing love for the arts, sense of responsibility for cultural inheritance, and the deep affection for her alma mater. Jing Ge, one of the contributing editors of the book, reflected on the writing and editing process of the book’s release and offered congratulations on its official release.

Lisa Lu remarked that she hoped that Return of the Swallow would serve as a gift to the younger generations, encouraging them to maintain enthusiasm for life and pursue their dreams. She also had open, heartfelt conversations with alumni during the event, while also thanking the teachers, students, alumni, and others who contributed to the successful publication of the book.

The re-establishment ceremony for the SJTU Southern California Alumni Association was hosted by alumnus Chenxi Guo (Microelectronics, Class of 2010). Guo introduced a variety of speakers, one of whom was responsible for initiating the re-establishment: Neng He (Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, Class of 1985). He delivered a speech where he gave an overview of Southern California Alumni Association’s history, including its initial establishment and following development. He also expressed gratitude for the alumni who actively contributed to the re-establishment efforts, emphasizing the association’s continued commitment to SJTU’s long-standing motto of remembering one’s roots. Lastly, He pledged to make new contributions to the association's development and assist the university in its efforts to become a world-class institution.

Guo also took the opportunity to share preparations for the re-establishment of the alumni association. Alumni representatives who provided donations, including Mincheng Jin, Guangshuo Liu, Liangjie Chen, and Yanyu Ding, spoke in turn, each congratulating the association and offering their commitment to continue uniting and serving alumni. Other speakers included Yushen Wang, who introduced the university's recent developments and achievements.

Liqiang Zhang announced the list of the first council members of the Southern California Alumni Association and presented the appointment letters to the said individuals. Neng He was appointed as president, and Chenxi Guo as secretary-general. Certificates of appreciation were given to alumni who made outstanding contributions, and the Southern California Alumni Association flag was presented to the president and secretary-general of the first council.

【About the SJTU Alumni Association in Southern California】

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) Southern California Alumni Association was originally founded in 1943 by Mr. Xuesen Qian, Mr. Daji Xiong, and Mr. Shengqiu Hu at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). With over 80 years of history, the association is currently led by president He Neng and secretary-general Chenxi Guo, and serves more than 1,000 alumni in Southern California.

Text by: Ziwen Ren

Photography: Alumni in Southern California

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Re-establishment of the SJTU Alumni Association in Southern California and Launch of Return of the Swallow

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