While thousands of Americans traveled out to Beijing, China for the Olympics, a number of Chinese residents found themselves in the Bronx.
SUNY Maritime College hosted 150 Chinese students from the earthquake ravaged Sichuan Province during the weekend of August 15-17.
After arriving at JFK International Airport in New York, on two different flights from Beijing, the students were bused to Maritime and spent a weekend in New York City before beginning their one-year course of study at Maritime College and 21 other SUNY colleges around the state.
The students are taking part in a special leadership program called the SUNY China 150 program. The goal of the program is to build a team of young leaders based on their common experiences in the U.S.
When they return to China, the students, from diverse Chinese ethnic groups, will help re-build the local economy and infrastructure in the region impacted by the earthquake.
Each student has committed to return to China upon completion of the program in May/June 2009 and to a period of national service in Sichuan to help with the rebuilding effort.
“SUNY will provide these students with valuable leadership training, which will help prepare them to return to China to assist with rebuilding efforts and the aftermath of the earthquake,” said Governor David Patterson. “SUNY’s deep educational ties with China allow our state university campuses to play a global role – and to be at the forefront of international educational experiences.”
The majority of the 150 students came from 40 counties around Wenchuan, the center of the quake. Four Chinese students (three men and one woman) remained at Maritime and they will study along with regimental and non-regimental students during the fall and spring semesters.
Commenting on the SUNY China 150 program, SUNY Maritime provost Joseph Hoffman, ’75, said “I believe that our own students will benefit greatly by studying and interacting with these Chinese students. China is an important nation in the global marketplace and it is vital that we continue to provide our students, tomorrow’s leaders of the international maritime industry, with a broad exposure to other nations and cultures.”
