Editor’s Note:
As the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association and Irvine Chinese School near their 50th anniversary, a special editorial team is collecting reflections from former presidents and principals to preserve this half-century journey.
Cultural Express launches the “Brilliant Fifty” series, featuring selected essays that illuminate the people and stories that shaped our community.
Building a School by Hand and Heart
Looking back on the early years of Irvine Chinese School, nearly every task—inside and outside the classroom—was carried out by parents and volunteers.
When I served as principal from 1982 to 1983, it was a demanding yet deeply rewarding time.
I invited neighbors and close friends to join the school, and we came together around a shared belief: the importance of preserving Chinese language and culture for the next generation.
Everyone contributed their skills generously, without expectation of recognition or return.
One memory remains especially vivid. I invited Charles Yeh to serve as ICS’s first dean of students.
He patrolled the classrooms and rang a small bell at the start and end of each class period.
Its clear sound echoed through the hallways and became a sound many of our students still remember today.
Linda Wei, our head of general affairs, managed countless responsibilities both on and off campus.
Jane Chang and Xiu-Feng Kang designed and sewed performance costumes for students. Even the headpieces and props for traditional dance were handcrafted by parents.
Resources were limited, but commitment was abundant. Watching the children step onto the stage with confidence and pride was our greatest reward.
During the 1982–1983 school year, ICS published its first Student Handbook.
This 16-page booklet included the academic calendar, school policies, administrative structure, classroom maps, and faculty contact information.
It was handwritten and illustrated by I-tuan C. Wang, with a cover designed by Steve Wang. Each time I revisit this small publication, it feels like opening a door to the past—back to a campus filled with hope and purpose.
It is a reminder that the school did not emerge by chance, but was built through the collective efforts of many dedicated individuals.
Covers of ICS Student Handbooks from 1982-88, all designed by Steve Wang.
Deepening Roots in the Community
During the 1980s and 1990s, SCCCA and ICS operated on campuses rented from the Irvine Unified School District, which made strong relationships with local community organizations essential.
I believed it was important for the Chinese Americans to give back, and after stepping down as principal, I gradually took on the role of a bridge between ICS and the broader community.
ICS rented classrooms at Uni High on Sundays in the 1980s
I served on the board of the Irvine Public School Foundation and participated for many years in district-wide fundraising efforts.
In 1999, I was honored with the Celebration of Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to education.
This recognition was not only a personal encouragement but also a meaningful affirmation that SCCCA and ICS had earned the respect and recognition of the broader community through sustained engagement and service.
One of ICS’s many classrooms at Uni High in 1989
Located near the University of California, Irvine, SCCCA and ICS also maintained close ties with UCI’s Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures and its East Asian Library.
Among the most memorable moments were a farewell banquet for Professor Chang-Lin Tien in 1990, a 1991 community fundraising campaign in support of the Irvine Barclay Theatre, and a 1993 reception welcoming UCI’s new chancellor, Laurel Wilkening.
These efforts helped establish a long-term, stable partnership between SCCCA/ICS and the university.
Former ICS Principal Terry Lee (second from left) hosts a farewell banquet for Professor Tien and his wife in 1990
SCCCA fundraising gala for the Irvine Barclay Theatre in 1991
It is worth noting that in 1998, ICS, the University High School Chinese program, and the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at UC Irvine jointly organized a series of teacher exchange events.
They presented reports on the state of Chinese language education at different levels, explored students’ motivations and goals for studying Chinese, and shared teaching resources and supplementary materials.
The three institutions also planned joint student activities to strengthen articulation and collaboration in Chinese language education.
A Vision Realized: The Kuan-Yuan Tai Educational Building
After 2000, as planning began for the construction of the Kuan-Yuan Tai Educational Building, I invited two professional architects, AC Lee and Judie Lai, to join the project.
Despite their demanding professional schedules, both contributed wholeheartedly.
AC Lee developed the initial design concept for the main building and outdoor spaces, offering a clear vision of what a cultural center could become.
Once construction began, Judie Lai carefully reviewed architectural drawings at each stage and worked closely with the construction supervisor to manage progress and costs.
Together, they helped navigate numerous challenges and gradually transformed an ideal into a tangible reality.
Architect AC Lee's concept drawing for the Cultural Center in October 2002
As I reflect on these years today, I have come to understand that the true foundation of a school or cultural center lies not in its buildings, but in the shared commitment and belief of its people.
Generation after generation of parents, teachers, and volunteers have devoted their time and energy to nurturing young minds, ensuring that culture continues and humanistic values take root.
To have been part of that beginning is one of the great honors of my life. The vision we built together did not remain in the past.
It continues to unfold in the hands of new generations. (Brilliant Fifty XII)