On the evening of August 14, Siming College's welcome dinner took place as planned amid warm lighting and cheerful smiles. University leaders—including Professor Shiyi Chen, President of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Mr. Bo Jin, the Party Committee Secretary; and Professor Dongxiao Zhang, Executive Vice President and Provos, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering—joined faculty and students at the table, sharing a meal and exchanging ideas.

Lights On, Dinner Begins

Inside the hall, long tables stretched the length of the room, bathed in warm golden light that made the vast space feel both intimate and grand, evoking the dining-hall atmosphere of Hogwarts.

Opening Act: "Would You Like to Dance?"

At 6:00 p.m., the lights came up one by one, and four students—doctoral students Dayin Chen and Ming Cheng, and sophomores Wanqi Zhao and Yaqin Wang—kicked things off with the upbeat song "Would You Like to Dance?" The lively notes instantly broke the ice. Students in the audience swayed and tapped along to the beat, and youthful energy filled the hall as the music played.

Address by Professor Dongxiao Zhang

Speaking on behalf of the university, Professor Dongxiao Zhang welcomed the incoming undergraduate of 2026. "EIT is a young university," he said. "Here you will find mentors, counselors, and enthusiastic senior students—people to share your joys and help you through confusion. Every individual will be seen and valued. EIT is not just a campus for studying; it is another home for you. There is no single answer to college life. I hope you will refuse to become ‘standardized products,’ embrace uncertainty, and find your own path through free exploration."

Group Photo

Cameras clicked in rapid succession, freezing the moment when the entire group came together—the first family photo of the 2026 entering class.

Songs and Instruments Fill the Air

Vocal performances

A series of vocal performances followed, ranging from tender ballads and soothing, delicate melodies to a resilient coming-of-age anthem—including Taylor Swift's "You're on Your Own, Kid"—and a playful retro tune. Interspersed with the performances were lottery drawings that offered not only prizes but also sincere words of encouragement from faculty.

Martial arts and instrumental performances

From martial arts to flute, piano, drums, and guitar, students showcased their talents one after another.

Conversations between faculty and students

Students seated next to one another quickly struck up conversations about hometowns and majors, and after just a few exchanges, any initial awkwardness melted away. Senior students interspersed among the long tables leaned over to share campus stories with the freshmen beside them. Faculty members, too, set aside their usual classroom formality, chatting easily with nearby students about everyday topics and exciting new developments in their respective fields.

The Warmest Birthday Surprise

When the lights suddenly dimmed, the melody of "Happy Birthday" began to play softly, and a special birthday surprise for new students quietly took center stage.

Students with August birthdays were invited to the front, where they blew out candles and shared their joy amid applause and wishes.

Bo Jin and students cut the birthday cake

Bo Jin joined birthday students Lexuan Wang and Bin Li, along with ten other students born in August, to cut the birthday cake. With candles flickering and voices singing softly, this became a shared birthday for the new students at EIT—a romantic memory unique to the 2026 entering class.

Faculty and Students Dance Together, and the Band Brings Down the House

Dancing together

After the sweet celebration, the party kicked into high gear. Professor Ming Zhou, Dean of the College of Engineering and Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, took the stage first to lead the dance, instantly bringing the energy to a peak. New students, senior students, and doctoral students alike gathered in front of the stage to move to the beat. Academicians, faculty, and students danced together on the same floor—there was no distance of rank, and everyone let go of any reserve, fully releasing their youthful energy.

Live band performance

The band Atopos then took the stage, turning the dinner into an exclusive campus livehouse. Drums, strings, and vocals intertwined as the crowd waved and cheered along, pushing the night’s excitement to new heights.

Icebreaking games

Next came a lighthearted icebreaking party. A round of playful challenges and song-guessing games turned the long tables into different teams. In the relaxed atmosphere, any remaining unfamiliarity quickly faded, and bonds began to form naturally.

Lights Up, Voices Join in a Starry Finale

As the night deepened, the dinner reached its most ceremonial moment—the starlight sing-along. The main lights slowly dimmed, and as the opening notes of “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky” played, everyone switched on their star-shaped lights, holding them high and swaying gently. The singing traveled through a sea of lights, drifting past the tables and landing in every student.

Signing under the stars

Over three hours, from early evening into the night, the evening unfolded from shy first encounters to a hall-wide sing-along. For EIT’s 2026 entering class, it was a first shared memory—and a fitting prelude to their university journey.

The dinner ends, but the story begins

May every new student, with the support of Siming College, pursue what they love, grow freely, and carve out their own unique brilliance at EIT.