A statue carries forward cultural heritage, and a collection of writings commemorates cherished years. On October 28, Shandong University of Aeronautics (SDUA) held an alumni homecoming event for the Class of 1973, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation, along with a donation ceremony of a Confucius statue at the Arts and Sciences Plaza. Gong Xinjun, member of the party committee, vice president of the university, and vice president of the alumni association, attended and delivered a speech. The head of the cooperation and development office presided over the ceremony.
Mr. Gong Xinjun extended a warm welcome and sincere greetings to the alumni celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. He thanked them for donating the statue of Confucius to enrich the campus culture. He then introduced the university’s development over its 71-year history and highlighted recent achievements in disciplines, scientific research, and talent cultivation. He pointed out that SDUA is now focusing on three key initiatives: joint development by Shandong province and ministerial authorities, the establishment of an aeronautics and aerospace university, and the cultivation of a doctorate-granting university. The goal is to build a high-level application-oriented university with distinct aviation features. He expressed his hope that the alumni would continue to support their alma mater and contribute ideas for its development. He also encouraged current students to follow the example set by the alumni, carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, study hard, and forge strong professional capabilities.
At the ceremony, Gong Xinjun and Ren Xiangru —an alumnus from the Class of 1973 who majored in Mathematics and now serves as Chairman of Shandong Dahai Group — jointly unveiled the statue of Confucius and presented the donation certificate. Jiang Yushan, an alumnus from the Class of 1973 with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature and former Deputy Director of the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Statistics, donated the essay collection “Those Golden Years” on behalf of all alumni. Shi Qiyong, an alumnus from the Class of 1973 who studied Chinese Language and Literature and previously held the position of Head of the Planning and Business Department at Qilu Petrochemical Survey and Design Company, delivered a speech reflecting on his college life from five decades ago. He expressed profound gratitude to his alma mater and offered his heartfelt blessings: “May our Aeronautics chart a splendid course, steering with crimson hubs to voyage ten thousand miles ahead!”
After the ceremony, the alumni visited the university history museum, Honor Gallery of Flying College, and the original site of the former Beizhen Teachers College. Through this visit, they gained a deeper appreciation of their alma mater’s illustrious history and remarkable transformation. They unanimously expressed immense pride in how the university has evolved and extended their heartfelt wishes for it to continue flourishing and writing brilliant new chapters in the years to come.
The event was attended by heads and teachers from Cooperative Development Office and Alumni Association Secretariat, along with more than 70 alumni from the Class of 1973.
