"Tongji University has always been where I work and live. Having benefited from Tongji, I wish to give back. My goal is to contribute to the cultivation of young talents at the university."

December 14 — The donation ceremony for the "Tongji University Lu Xilin​ Education Development Fund" was held this morning at the Siping Road Campus. Academician Xilin Lu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a professor in the College of Civil Engineering at Tongji University, donated the entire 3 million RMB bonus from the 2024 "Shanghai Outstanding Science and Technology Contributor Award" he received. Professor Min Yang​ from the same college donated 2 million RMB from his personal savings. Together, they established the "Lu Xilin Education Development Fund" at Tongji University. The fund will set up the "Lu Xilin Civil Engineering Technology Innovation Award" to encourage Tongji students to strive for excellence and aim for new heights in science and technology.

University Party Committee Secretary and CAE Academician Qinghua Zheng​ attended and addressed the ceremony. Vice Presidents Zhenming Shi and Xiangning Li were also present. Attendees included Ying Zhou, Director of the Development Planning and Discipline Construction Department and Dean of the College; Yu Huang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the College; Xiaolei Zheng, Director of the Alumni and Foundation Office; along with relatives and friends of the donors, and faculty and student representatives.

During the signing ceremony, Xilin Lu, Min Yang, and Xiangning Li jointly signed the donation agreement. Qinghua Zheng presented donation certificates to the two professors.

In his speech, Qinghua Zheng expressed his high respect and sincere gratitude to Academician Xilin Lu and Professor Min Yang for their benevolent act, which demonstrates their deep commitment to the university's development. He stated that the two professors, with their kindness, have "sown seeds of love for nurturing the next generation," embodying a selfless spirit and the lofty ideal that "the summit is defined by the individual." He praised them for setting an exemplary model. Secretary Zheng highlighted the profound heritage of Tongji's civil engineering discipline, its courage in reform, innovation, and leading the times. He noted that in recent years, the discipline has taken solid steps towards "digital-intelligent transformation, greening, and integration," injecting new vitality into this traditional field. The university, he said, will utilize the donated funds effectively to further cultivate talent and contribute to national strength.

Academician Xilin Lu expressed that since coming to Tongji as a student in 1979, he has remained deeply rooted here. Receiving the "Shanghai Science and Technology Hero Award" this year is not just a personal achievement but an honor belonging to Tongji University. Establishing the education fund has been a long-held wish, hoping to contribute to cultivating more young talents at Tongji. He looks forward to the younger generation in civil engineering carrying forward the academic legacy and making innovative contributions in areas like disaster prevention and mitigation, and smart construction.

Professor Min Yang said that Academician Lu's decision to fully donate his award bonus back to the discipline and university he deeply loves resonated with his own long-standing wish. Having studied, worked, and retired at Tongji, Min Yang stated he has benefited from and is grateful to the university. He expressed great pleasure in adding his contribution to the fund, hoping to inspire more young students' passion for exploration and innovation.

Wensheng Lu, Chairman of Shanghai Jiezhu Architecture Technology Group Co., Ltd., spoke as an alumni representative. He expressed gratitude for the profound and enduring mentorship received and stated his willingness to follow the example set by his teachers. He aims to pass on this passion for education, deep affection for the alma mater, and sense of social responsibility, jointly supporting and growing the development fund to contribute to the cause of education.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6MDxwgiNSe4OfqQ-_zy2Lw