300 Enthusiastic Participants from Six Universities Gather for the Event; Lin Jun-Xian of Chaoyang University of Technology Claims Two Awards

Champion Lin Jun-Xian (left) winning this year's championship, receiving the award personally presented by Director Yuan-Zhen Mao (right).

Asia University grandly held the "4th Star of Asia International Students Mandarin/Taiwanese Singing Contest" at Room A101 last Wednesday (21st). This year's competition was an unprecedented success, not only bringing together outstanding international students from 6 colleges and universities in Central Taiwan—including National Chung Hsing University, National Chi Nan University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Feng Chia University, and Chaoyang University of Technology—to compete on the same stage, but its overwhelming popularity also drew as many as 300 faculty members, students, and audience members to pack the venue to capacity on the day of the event.

The opening ceremony specially invited the Dean of International Affairs and Project Principal Investigator, Lin Chun-Wei, to deliver a opening speech. He stated that the Star of Asia Singing Contest aims to provide a stage for international students to showcase their language learning outcomes and diverse talents. Being deeply moved by seeing international students from various schools gather together to bridge national borders and engage in cultural exchange through music, he also noted that this represents a fruitful result of Asia University's promotion of internationalization. Throughout the contest, contestants displayed extraordinary vocal skills and stage presence, while the 300 audience members offered their warmest applause and cheers, pushing the event's atmosphere to its peak.

International contestants singing passionately on stage (pictured is contestant Olivia Schubert), driving the atmosphere at the venue to its peak.

Students from the Taiwanese class, led by Instructor Lai Chao-Yin, singing the Taiwanese song "Thian O-O" (Black Cloudy Sky) on stage.

Following fierce competition and rigorous evaluation by the professional judging panel, the list of winners for this year's awards is as follows:

1st Place in Mandarin Category: Lin Jun-Xian, Chaoyang University of Technology ("Falling Leaves Return to Roots")
2nd Place in Mandarin Category: Chen Wei-Li, Feng Chia University ("Obsession")
3rd Place in Mandarin Category: Chen Wen-Tong, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology ("What Was Taken Away")
Best Popularity Award (Audience Vote): Lin Jun-Xian, Chaoyang University of Technology ("Falling Leaves Return to Roots")
Best Creative Performance Award (Judges' Pick): Olivia Schubert, National Chung Hsing University ("A Kind of Sorrow")

Honorable Mentions (Special Addition):
Lee Min-Hao, National Chi Nan University ("Initial Memory")
Gendhis Nuraini Sukmaningtyas, Asia University ("You Are My Everything")

As the competition successfully concluded, Director Mao, Yuen-Jean of the Chinese Language Center personally presented the awards, commending all participating contestants for their outstanding performances. The successful organization of this event was especially thanks to Instructor Lai Chao-Yin for her meticulous guidance of the Taiwanese class students' wonderful performance, as well as dedicated professional support from the Department of Information.

Communication and Dou Ruo-Ci from the Center for the Development of Teaching. The organizer, the Office of International Affairs, stated that it will continue to plan and host various rich international exchange and multicultural activities in the future to persistently promote campus internationalization, and looks forward to attracting even more outstanding international students to join the event next year!

Asia University Dean of International Affairs, Lin Chun-Wei, delivering a speech and expressing how deeply moved he was to see international students from various schools gather together on such a grand scale.