Alfred University

06/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2025 08:46

Alfred University students win awards at 2025 Chinese Bridge Speech Competition

Alfred University News

June 9, 2025

Alfred University students win awards at 2025 Chinese Bridge Speech Competition

Max Rasilla, Daisy Wu, and Angelina Olivera at the award ceremony of the Chinese Bridge Competition

Two Alfred University students earned high honors at the 2025 Chinese Bridge Speech Competition for the Eastern U.S. Region, held at the China Institute of America in New York City on May 17. The event drew finalists from top institutions across the East Coast.

The final round of the competition included three sections: a prepared speech, an on-the-spot question/answer session in Chinese with the judges, and a talent performance showcasing Chinese culture. These segments tested not only students' speaking ability, but also their real-time language comprehension and cultural competence. Winning an award at such a high-level, comprehensive competition is a significant honor.

Max Rasilla, an Art & Design major from Moraga, CA, with minors in Chinese language and culture and music, won second prize in the College Group. In a heartfelt and inspiring speech, he reflected on his journey of learning Chinese and exploring Chinese culture over the past year. From competing in last year's Chinese Bridge in New York to traveling to Beijing and Fujian in China, and participating in a Chinese education conference in Buffalo, NY, Rasilla described how learning Chinese became a personal journey of cultural and wisdom discovery. He spoke additionally about how Chinese philosophy, such as Laozi's concept of harmony with nature and Zhuangzi's ideas of creative freedom, influenced his ceramic art, and his overall talk was rich with personal stories and insight. His presentation also included a captivating guzheng performance.

Angelina Olivera, a political science and philosophy double-major from Buffalo, NY, minoring in Chinese Language and Culture, earned third prize. Olivera in her speech shared her 10-year journey of learning Chinese, which began in third grade in the Lewiston-Porter School District. She described how inspiring teachers nurtured her love for the language and how, at Alfred University, she advanced quickly, placing into CHIN 202 and completing the Chinese minor within two years while also studying guzheng. She additionally shared how studying Chinese has expanded her worldview and strengthened her commitment to becoming a lawyer who can serve diverse communities. Her graceful guzheng performance added cultural depth to her speech and left a lasting impression.

Both students were mentored and accompanied by Clinical Associate Professor Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu, who also served as a judge for the elementary school group. Professor Wu praised their hard work and growth, saying: "This competition wasn't just about awards-it was about growth. Max and Angelina embraced the challenge and brought pride to Alfred University by sharing their talents and passion for Chinese language and culture. The weeks of focused practice leading up to the contest allowed them to make substantial progress of language skills far beyond typical classroom learning. Supporting them in their preparation was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my teaching career."

The success of Max and Angelina reflects the strength of Alfred University's Chinese Language and Culture minor, launched in 2024. This interdisciplinary program allows students to study Chinese alongside courses in philosophy, music, history, and art.

Professor Wu also expressed gratitude to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Office and the Bernstein Student Development Fund from the Provost's Office for generously supporting the students' travel of this valuable experience.

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