Text by Ping Zi | Photography by Huazhi Li & Jing Zhang
The Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM) successfully hosted its 2025–2026 Annual Celebration on May 9, 2026, bringing together the Stanley & Marvel Chong Scholarship Awards and the IFest-MN Volunteer Appreciation Banquet. Generations of community leaders, families, and youth gathered in St. Paul to honor CAAM’s 59-year legacy of cultural heritage, civic engagement, and community service.
This year, 11 outstanding Chinese American high school seniors received scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, with recipients heading to top universities including the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, UIUC, UW–Madison, the University of Minnesota, and Carleton College. Four student speakers shared inspiring reflections on identity, service, and the power of community.
Keynote speaker Dr. SK Lo, Chair of the Asian American Unity Coalition, delivered a powerful call to civic participation, encouraging young people to “take their seat at the table.”
The celebration also highlighted CAAM’s major achievements at IFest-MN 2026, marking the festival’s first full return after seven years. CAAM presented five signature cultural programs and two new initiatives, featuring dance, music, cultural exhibitions, culinary arts, and traditional crafts—earning enthusiastic response from diverse audiences across Minnesota.
The evening concluded with tributes to former CAAM presidents, recognition of community partners, and performances by scholarship recipients, capturing a moment of unity, pride, and cultural vibrancy.
CAAM’s 2025–2026 Annual Celebration brought together scholarship honorees, community leaders, and IFest-MN volunteers for a night of unity and cultural pride. Eleven outstanding students received the Stanley & Marvel Chong Scholarship, and CAAM’s seven cultural programs at IFest-MN earned enthusiastic statewide response. The evening honored past presidents, celebrated community partnerships, and showcased exceptional youth performances—highlighting CAAM’s 59-year legacy of service and cultural leadership.
Full Story:
On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM) hosted a landmark double-celebration gala at the Kangle Activity Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The evening beautifully integrated the 2025–2026 CAAM–Stanley & Marvel Chong Scholarship Award Ceremony with the 2026 International Festival of Minnesota (IFest-MN) Volunteer Appreciation Celebration.
Bringing together generations of the Chinese community—from past presidents to the dynamic current Board of Directors and exceptional young scholars—the event stood as a profound testament to the enduring cultural legacy and community bond in Minnesota.
The gala was hosted by CAAM President Dr. Ping Wang, who delivered the opening remarks.
🎖️Shining Stars: Honoring the 2025–2026 Scholarship Recipients
Established by CAAM’s founding President and his wife in their later years, the Stanley & Marvel Chong Scholarship carries a visionary mission to “hold up a lantern to light the path for future generations.” This year, 11 outstanding Chinese-American high school graduates from six top high schools in Minnesota were selected to receive awards ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. These scholars will be attending prestigious institutions, including the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and a prestigious liberal arts college: Carleton College.
Four student representatives shared moving reflections during the ceremony:
Alice Liu (Mounds View High School Graduate, attending the University of Minnesota for Nursing): Speaking entirely in fluent Chinese, Alice reflected on her decade-long journey as a student and volunteer at the Minghua Chinese School. Quoting the timeless words of Qu Yuan — “The way ahead is long and has no ending, yet I will seek high and low for my ideal” — she re-examined the deep expectations embedded in her Chinese name: to possess humility within a vast universe.
Howard Ji (Wayzata High School Graduate, attending UIUC): Speaking in both English and Chinese, Howard expressed gratitude to his parents, teachers, and the Twin Cities Chinese Language School (TCCLS) for fostering his love for the traditional dragon and lion dance. Believing that education is the ultimate catalyst to eliminate inequality and shape the future, he pledged to follow in CAAM’s footsteps by actively contributing back to the community.
Ivy Lee (Mounds View High School Graduate, attending the University of Minnesota for Neuroscience): Ivy opened up about the isolation she occasionally experienced at school due to her heritage. Over time, however, she realized that her identity and her family’s narrative were her greatest strengths. She shared that this scholarship reaffirms that Chinese-American stories are powerful, valid, and deserve to be heard.
Evan Zhang Huss (Wayzata High School Graduate, attending the University of Minnesota for Biochemistry): For Evan, volunteerism is a family tradition; his mother served as a CAAM board member 30 years ago. As a second-generation volunteer, Evan grew up helping at the IFest Chinese Café, participating in the Timberwolves halftime dragon dances, and joining community parades, which ultimately inspired his career goal to pursue a profession dedicated to helping others.
🎙️ Keynote Speech: “Claiming Our Seats at the Table”
The gala featured a powerful keynote address by Dr. SK Lo, Board Chair of the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC). Dr. Lo drew from her extraordinary life trajectory—transitioning from a classified defense scientist to a successful Kumon education entrepreneur, and ultimately to a national advocate for civic engagement—to deliver a stirring call to action:
“If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” — Dr. SK Lo
Dr. Lo urged the younger generation to boldly dive into local volunteer work, internships, and public affairs. She also extended a warm invitation to everyone to attend the upcoming “AAUC Unity Summit”, hosted in Minnesota at the end of June, to cultivate collaborative leadership and drive systemic social change.
🤝 Echoes of History: Honoring Pioneers and Community Allies
CAAM’s resilience and growth over its 59-year history rests upon the shoulders of its predecessors and the steady support of community allies and media partners. Several heartfelt moments brought the evening to its peak:
Tribute to Past Presidents: Dr. Ping Wang formally introduced four distinguished past presidents representing CAAM’s leadership across the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and recent years. Their reflections and well-wishes deeply moved the audience. The honored former presidents were:
Mr. Kenneth Lau (President, 1978)
Dr. Charles Lee (President, 1982)
Ms. KaiMay Yuen Terry (President, 1990)
Dr. Bingwen Yan (President, 2016-2017)
Recognition of Special Guests: Dr. Wang expressed deep gratitude to key community leaders for their long-term dedication to CAAM’s initiatives:
Mr. Aiqun He — Volunteer Music Director of CAAM CDT
Mr. Ruzhao Cheng — Publisher of “China Tribune” (unable to attend due to international travel)
Ms. Christina Morrison — Editor-in-Chief of “Minnesota Chinese World”
Mr. Ruirong He — President of “China Insight”
Mr. Huazhi Li — Principal of Minghua Chinese School and Volunteer Photographer for CAAM major events
Mr. Huan Gao, Ms. Lixin Qin, Leadership team of the Kangle Activity Center
Mr. Donggen Liu, St. Paul Branch Executive Manager of the Kangle Activity Center
Educational & Artistic Highlights: Principal Ai-Chin Todd, representing the CAAM Twin Cities Chinese Language School (TCCLS) and the CAAM Board, highlighted the organization’s rich impact on Chinese language education and heritage preservation. Ms. Yanhua Wusands, the CAAM Board member and the representative of CAAM Chinese Dance Theater (CDT), followed with an elegant overview of the CAAM CDT, showcasing how the art of dance effectively bridges cultures and introduces the depth of Chinese heritage to public Minnesota audiences.
🏆 Cultural Roots: The Resounding Success of IFest-MN 2026
Another primary focus of the evening was celebrating CAAM’s phenomenal success at the 2026 International Festival of Minnesota (IFest-MN). This marked the grand and full-scale return of the beloved festival after a seven-year hiatus caused by the pandemic and various logistical challenges.
Serving as a core pillar of the festival, CAAM engineered a dynamic cultural matrix featuring “five classic programs” and “two innovative new projects”, captivating attendees with the auditory, visual, and human depth of Chinese civilization:
Five Classic Heritage Projects:
- The Chinese Café: A bustling, aromatic hub that remained an absolute crowd favorite among the public Minnesotans.
- Chinese Dance Performances: Exquisite traditional dances performed by CAAM CDT, including “Qiao Hua Dan” (Youth Troupe) and “Ancient Rhythms, Modern Grace” (Adult Troupe).
- Cultural Demonstrations: Masterfully crafted workshops teaching traditional arts and crafts.
- Cultural Exhibitions: A mini-museum showcasing historical treasures and cultural artifacts.
- The Bazaar: A vibrant marketplace displaying unique Chinese travel and cultural merchandise.
Two Breakthrough New Initiatives:
- Vocal Performances:Elevating contemporary and classic voices, featuring Ms. Mei Ma: “Jasmine Flower”, Ms. Mei Ma & Mr. Lei Li duet: “Kangding Love Song”, Mr. Junze Gong: Su Shi’s “The Great River Flows East”, Ms. Qian Xu & Ms. Yanhua Wu duet: “Joy of the Torch Festival”, and Ms. Qian Xu: “Earth Flying Song”.
- Traditional Instrument Ensemble: Exploring new dimensions of sound aesthetics through traditional Chinese instruments, including Ms. Yang Liu (Guzheng solo: “Fisherman’s Song at Dusk”), Ms. Ziyue Tan & Ms. Yang Liu (Hulusi and Guzheng duet: “Moonlight Over the Phoenix Tail Bamboo”), and Ms. Xi Tan & Mr. Cong Liu (Yangqin and Hand Drum duet “Tianshan Poetic Painting”).
The overwhelming acclaim received by these programs ignited broad appreciation from diverse audiences across Minnesota. Recognizing that these triumphs belong entirely to the selflessness and hard work of the community, CAAM President Dr. Ping Wang paused during the gala to bow deeply to the audience, offering his highest respects and profound gratitude.
🎼 Student Performances: Pride in Talent and Heritage
The celebration also featured stunning classical solos by two of this year’s scholarship recipients:
Guzheng Solo: “Spring on the Snowy Mountain” performed by Jessica Zhang (entering Carleton College).
Piano Solo: Beethoven’s “Für Elise” performed by Ning Zhang (entering Johns Hopkins University).
In his closing speech, Board Member Mr. Shi Peng reiterated that the flawless execution of such an intricate festival was made possible entirely by the synergy of all volunteers, artists, TCCLS, and CDT. He announced that preparations for next year’s International Festival (scheduled for April 9–10) are already underway, and invited everyone to continue this incredible journey together.
📸 A Night to Remember
The gala concluded with a series of historic group photos bringing together current board members, past presidents, honored guests, volunteers, and the 11 scholarship recipients and their families—capturing a timeless milestone of community unity, legacy, and shared pride.
Group photo of the full CAAM Board of Directors
(from left to right: Ping Wang, Shi Peng, Yanhua Wusands, Peter Li, Di Tang, Qiang Fang, Lin Shu, Ai-Chin Todd, Gang Ji)
CAAM Scholarship Committee members and scholarship recipients
(from left to right: Shi Peng, Peter Li, Ning Zhang, Jessica Zhang, Lucy Qian, Tianxin Luo, Tianxi Luo, Alice Liu,
Ivy Lee, Howard Ji, Evan Zhang Huss, Emily Zhang’s mother, Samantha Cai’s mother, Ping Wang)
Scholarship recipients and their families, IFest-MN 2026 volunteers,
and guests pose for a group photo with the CAAM Board of Directors.
Quick Resource Links:
Discover more updates: CAAM Official Website
Support our next generation: CAAM Stanley & Marvel Chong Scholarship Page
Explore cultural expressions: The CAAM Heritage Music Project and Fest Minnesota Official Website