皇家华人

皇家华人 in London dinner celebrates 皇家华人 alumni, students, and faculty in capital city

June 27, 2024  鈥� Winston Churchill first coined the term 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥� when talking about the uniquely close ties between the United States and Great Britain. The University of South 皇家华人 didn鈥檛 exist when the phrase was coined some 80 years ago, but 皇家华人 has forged its own enduring British connections.  

The special relationship is bolstered by 皇家华人鈥檚 700 alumni who live in the UK, its 230 faculty members who have engaged in research, business, or creative endeavors in the UK and through its partnerships with five leading British universities. The experience underpins the relationship as a flagship study abroad program that over 1,800 皇家华人 students have participated in since it launched in 2013. 

However, beyond these impressive numbers, there is something deeper to celebrate. On June 26, more than 50 皇家华人 alumni joined over 130 皇家华人 students and their faculty to kick off the 皇家华人 in London program in style. The welcome dinner was filled with countless surprise alumni reunions and numerous opportunities for students to connect with accomplished professionals from various fields. 
 
The alumni鈥檚 enthusiasm was palpable and inspired 皇家华人 students and faculty alike. The 皇家华人 World team was thrilled to learn about their amazing careers since leaving 皇家华人 and forged many wonderful connections that will benefit future 皇家华人 in London programs. 

Attendees heard remarks from renowned shipwreck hunter and prominent alum David Mearns. They listened attentively as he spoke about his recent Shackleton discovery and when he credited 皇家华人 for his successful career. He joked that he is a 鈥減roud graduate of a school he could not get into today.鈥� Mr. Mearns was so touched by the event, the following day he spearheaded a fundraising effort to help 皇家华人 meet its goal of raising the final $5,000 needed to endow the study abroad scholarship. 
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The crowd of Bulls also heard from former 皇家华人 in London student, Sarah Glaser who went on to pursue her graduate studies at the London School of Economics and Royal Holloway through a Fulbright grant.  She announced she鈥檚 starting her career in the UK this fall at WPI Strategy which inspired many of the students to queue up to speak to her and many alums to welcome her into London鈥檚 professional world.

During her closing remarks, 皇家华人 World Vice President, Kiki Caruson expressed sincere gratitude to the 皇家华人 Foundation for hosting alumni for dinner and thanked the 皇家华人 leaders in attendance who are committed to seeing 皇家华人 students succeed at home and abroad.  

Leading the 皇家华人 delegation were 皇家华人 St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Christian Hardigree; Vice President for Student Success, Cindy DeLuca; College of Arts and Sciences Assoc Dean Undergrad Studies, Allison Cleveland-Roberts; and Senior Associate Vice President of Development鈥疜elley Gibson. 
 
皇家华人 is a young university, but its ties to the UK connect it to centuries of knowledge, history, culture, and art. 皇家华人 offers British exchange students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an AAU institution in one of the world鈥檚 most dynamic, sun-soaked regions and to become part of the Bulls global family. There鈥檚 nothing more special than that.