On February 3rd, 2019, Purdue University's 2019 Spring Festival Gala, opened by the string and strum of a joyous Spring Festival Suite for piano and violin, shook the night with more than two hours of mesmerizing performances. The auditorium, with no seats to spare, was packed with more than 800 Chinese students and scholars, Purdue University faculty members, and students from the US and other countries. The gala was hosted by Purdue University’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA).

Counselor Chen Yinghui and Deputy Consul Liu Jiaming of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago attended the event upon invitation, bringing New Year greetings and blessings from the motherland to Purdue’s Chinese students and scholars. Throughout the night, the stage saw a total of 12 programs including vocal and instrumental performances, artistic displays and raffle drawings. From the planning, organization and preparation to the actual performances themselves, these students conveyed a sense of true talent and artistry, ultimately presenting the audience with a feast of the ears and eyes. Genuine applause and jolly cheer remained rampant throughout the night. Overseas students, away from the unparalleled comfort of home, were able to find amongst the performances a sense of warmth and familiarity, just like watching CCTV’s New Year Gala at home with their families. At the same time, the performances gave American teachers and students, international students from other countries, and local community residents the chance to immerse themselves in the grand elegance of traditional Chinese culture and the tangible holiday atmosphere of the New Year.