Young FASCA scholarship recipients and their parents connect with NTU alumni and hear stories of Taiwanese-Americans who built their careers and communities in the United States.
At the 2026 Alumni Annual Conference, the NTUAGNY appointed 40 new board members.
Attorney Kimvalrie S. Neal, Esq. (from left to right), John Su, President of the NTUAGNY, Nancy Yang (Andrew Yang’s mother) , and Andrew Yang, the keynote speaker at the 2026 NTUAGNY Conference, shared his experiences.
Jon Tai's magic and mind-reading performances are part of an entertainment program that alumni and their children participate in together.
The National Taiwan University Alumni Association of Greater New York (NTUAGNY) held its 2026 Annual Meeting and Alumni Conference on October 24 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Fort Lee, New Jersey, bringing together more than 200 alumni, community leaders, families, and guests. Four scholarship recipients were second-generation Taiwanese-Americans, who found inspiration in the stories of Taiwanese Americans who have pursued education, service, and leadership in the United States.
Tom Chih-Chiang Lee(李志強), Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, attended the event and greeted the guests. Lee expressed his honor at joining the gathering and seeing so many alumni and friends together.
NTU Alumni Association President John Su (蘇斐璋) thanked the guests and board members for their contributions and presented scholarships to Ethan Kuo (郭祝融), Cheng Su (蘇晟), Chenyu Hsu (許宸諭), and Chenhsin Hsu (許宸訢), twin sisters. Three of the four recipients are Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors (FASCA) Princeton Chapter's members.
For high school junior Chenyu Hsu, the scholarship was both an honor and an encouragement as she explores her future. After moving to the United States, she learned to adapt to a new environment and become more independent. Interested in hospitality, travel, and food service, she hopes to create enjoyable experiences for others.
“I am very grateful for this scholarship opportunity,” Chenyu said. “It would support my education and encourage me to keep working hard toward my future goals.”
Her twin sister, Chenhsin Hsu, said the scholarship application helped her reflect on her personal growth and explore possible careers in hospitality and culinary fields. “To me, this scholarship is not only financial support but also encouragement to continue learning and growing,” she said.
The conference also gave the FASCA members an opportunity to meet NTU alumni who had built careers in engineering, research, medicine, and other professions after coming to the United States.
The keynote speaker was Andrew Yang (楊安澤), a Taiwanese-American entrepreneur, author, and political leader. The son of immigrants from Taiwan, Yang became the first Taiwanese-American to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. president. His journey from growing up as the child of Taiwanese immigrants to becoming a nationally recognized political figure offered an especially meaningful example for the young FASCA recipients.
Yang shared stories about his upbringing, career, and experiences in American politics. He spoke candidly about running for president without widespread name recognition, facing doubts about his chances, and later running for mayor of New York City. Rather than focusing only on his achievements, he also discussed losing both races and the lessons he gained from those experiences.
His story resonated deeply with the FASCA youth. Ethan Kuo reflected that seeing someone with a similar cultural background pursue national leadership demonstrated the importance of representation. “Having someone like you in a role matters,” Ethan said, noting that Asian Americans are often viewed as successful in school and careers but are not always expected to become leaders.
Cheng Su connected Yang’s journey to the responsibility of the younger Taiwanese-American generation: “My generation’s job is to become less invisible: speak up, run for positions and make it normal for a Taiwanese American to lead.”
The program also featured Yang’s mother, Mrs. Nancy Yang (陳玲銖), who presented eight pastel paintings and shared insights into her artwork. Yang shared that his mother had rarely asked him to do anything, but this time she specifically asked him to accept the invitation to speak at the NTU Alumni Association event. The heartfelt story created a warm mother-son moment that touched many guests.
For these FASCA youth, the NTU Alumni Association gathering became more than a scholarship ceremony. It connected them with an older generation of Taiwanese Americans, deepened their appreciation of their heritage, and encouraged them to envision their own future as leaders.
Inspired by Andrew Yang’s example, they left with a powerful message: their Taiwanese-American identity can be a source of confidence, leadership, and a voice for the future.
Reported by FASCA Princeton Chapter: Chenyu Hsu, Chenhsin Hsu, Cheng Su, and Ethan Kuo
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