Campus Connection

The 2008 Chinese New Year Celebration took place on February 16, 2008 at the MSTF auditorium. This year’s celebration was unique in that it was organized by both the UMB and the UMBC CSSA. There were also representatives in attendance from University of Maryland, College Park and Johns Hopkins University Chinese associations. 

At the start of the program there were a few words from the current Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) president Xiao Zhu. The majority of the program consisted of a singing competition, reminiscent of a Chinese American Idol. Contestants representing each school performed both Chinese and American music. 

The singing competition was interspersed with performances from individuals in traditional Chinese instruments, dance, and martial arts. Jing Han, a first year dental school student, graced the audience with two song selections, “Good Night” and “Horse Race” that were played beautifully on the Chinese violin.

Next, a Chinese martial arts group from UMBC put on a demonstration that was probably the most exciting event of the night, besides the elimination of the Chinese Clay Aiken prior to their entrance.

Additionally, a fashion show entitled “Olympic Passion” consisted of several Amazonian Chinese women strutting onto the stage with multi-colored hula-hoops. At the end of their performance, the models stood side-by-side and held up the circles in a representation of the Olympic symbol in honor of the event being held in Beijing this year.

Chen Yang and her tiny saucers performed the Xinjiang Dance “Butterfly among the Celestial.” The event also featured the professional Chinese opera singer, Robin Wang who sang “Me and My Country” with such fervor that she brought the crowd to its feet.  

The program concluded with the audience voting for the top three singers to decide who would win the grand prize.

UMB was represented by Xiaowan Zheng, a third year graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Zheng went on to place third in the competition.  She said of the support that she received from UMB students, “It felt really good.  I’m touched that a lot of friends came out to support me.”

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