On December 1, the University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI, JI hereafter) hosted its 2024 Thank You Day event at the Long Bin Building. The event recognized students receiving JI’s self-established scholarships for the fall semester and expressed gratitude to all supporters who have contributed to the institute’s development.
In his opening address, SJTU Vice President Weidong Liu welcomed the guests and congratulated the scholarship recipients. He highlighted SJTU’s commitment to advancing internationalized higher education, with JI serving as a model of excellence. Liu extended special thanks to donors for their generosity and encouraged students to pursue excellence, grow holistically, and innovate to address real-world challenges.
JI Dean Chien-Pin Chen expressed gratitude for the continued trust and support of the community. He reflected on JI’s 18 years of development, emphasizing its commitment to internationalization, interdisciplinarity, innovation and quality. Chen attributed JI’s success in nurturing outstanding alumni to the cultural values embedded in the “JI model,” which has significantly shaped its development. He also thanked the donors for their contributions, which empower students and foster their pursuit of dreams.
Founder and Chairman of H&F Fund Management Group John Wu, who is also director of the SJTU Board, shared his joy at attending the Thank You Day and praised JI’s accomplishments in international talent cultivation. Expressing pride in JI’s progress, he reaffirmed his dedication to supporting its growth. Wu congratulated JI on its 18th anniversary, encouraged gratitude, and called for collective efforts toward an even brighter future.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Yu Liming Scholarship, President of Zhejiang Liming Intelligent Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Liming Yu and his wife, Xiaomin Zheng, awarded a certificate to JI Associate Teaching Professor Ryan Mallory Thorpe, who has been appointed as the inaugural Siyuan・Yu Liming Chair Professor.
John Wu and Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, presented a certificate to JI Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Professor Gang Zheng, who has been appointed as the latest John Wu and Jane Sun Chair Professor.
During her address, Jane Sun emphasized JI’s role as a vital bridge for enhancing Sino-US cultural and academic exchanges, reflecting the founding purpose of her Trip.com Group International Leadership Program. She encouraged students to pursue excellence and contribute to international collaboration.
Yushen Wang and Chien-Pin Chen present a certificate of appreciation to Trip.com Group.
The Thanksgiving Day event included the presentation of certificates of appreciation to Chairman of the JI Council Ming Yang and faculty member Hanyang Zhuang for jointly establishing the “Qingyang Scholarship” to support undergraduate research at JI. The certificates were awarded by JI Dean Chien-Pin Chen and Yushen Wang, Secretary-General of the SJTU Development Foundation.
JI Student Affairs Coordinator Ziyu Zhao presented a report on the institute’s financial aid and scholarship programs, detailing the review process for the 2024 fall semester scholarships. According to the report, over 300 applications were submitted, with 163 students ultimately awarded scholarships after a thorough evaluation process.
Donors and JI leaders award scholarships to students.
Student representative Zixuan Yang, a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering, expressed gratitude while sharing how her scholarship motivated her academic and personal growth, including experiences in social initiatives and academic competitions.
As a tribute to donors, JI produced an AI-powered video titled A Letter of Thanks to You, inspired by handwritten notes from over 20 scholarship recipients. The video creatively blended AI technology with heartfelt messages, offering a unique and emotional expression of gratitude.
The event also featured in-depth discussions between donors and scholarship recipients, fostering meaningful exchanges on academic and career planning.
As a signature event promoting a culture of gratitude, Thank You Day motivates students to channel their achievements into a drive for continuous progress and innovation. The celebration highlights JI’s dedication to talent cultivation and its deep appreciation for community support, fostering stronger ties with alumni and society while infusing fresh energy into JI’s future growth.
Editor on Duty: Tao Qingxiao