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.
Master Hongyi once said, “If there is no debt from a past life, there will be no meeting in this one. With destiny, you cannot avoid each other; without it, you will never cross paths.”
By that measure, we are all people bound by fate.
Fate brought us to the United States, to Southern California, to Irvine, and ultimately to the Irvine Chinese School.
Fate Binds Friendship Blooms
Our connection began in our children’s classrooms. We became class parents, helping organize practices for competitions, New Year performances, and athletic meets.
As we followed our children from one activity to another, parents who were once strangers slowly became friends. A community began to take shape.
Rent Soared Resolve Built
By 2001, the school had grown to serve more than 1,000 families and had become one of the most respected weekend Chinese schools in Southern California.
At the same time, soaring rent at University High School forced us to confront a difficult question: could we build a permanent home of our own?
Initiated by Diane Tang-Liu, seven parents came together to form the South Coast Chinese Cultural Foundation. I was entrusted with the role of chair for the entire construction project.
What followed felt almost miraculous. We secured land. We raised funds, with David Sun as our largest donor. We rallied parents behind a shared goal.
SCCCA former board chair Karen Kuo-Limb (third from right) at the Grand Opening of the Outdoor Expansion Project in September 2018
Costs Counted Challenges Conquered
From zoning changes and public hearings to design, bidding, and construction, every detail mattered. With a limited budget, even a small misstep could delay the entire project.
We knew the work had to move forward without interruption. Any pause, followed by a change in personnel, could easily derail progress and turn the project into a costly nightmare.
Budget discipline became our lifeline.
To save costs, we separated numerous items from the general contract and managed them ourselves: all flooring, carpeting, tiles, classroom cabinetry, retaining walls, gym soundproofing, the Chinese garden stonework, donor wall, building signage, monument sign, and directional signage.
Each item required multiple bids, contract review, price comparisons, payment schedules, and progress monitoring.
In parallel, the architect and I worked through nearly 250 Requests for Information with the general contractor. The constant meetings and problem-solving were exhausting.
Time Ripened Devotion Stood
Yet, remarkably, the entire project concluded with only about 20 change orders. On April 24, 2005, the building officially opened.
After just fourteen months of construction, the campus stood complete, as naturally as a child born after a full-term pregnancy. The emotional and physical investment behind that moment is something only a volunteer in such a role can truly understand.
I documented this journey in an earlier article, “Strength in Unity,” published in the 40th Anniversary commemorative edition.
Years later, during my term as Chair of SCCCA in 2017–2018, we once again faced questions of space and safety.
The water feature in the Chinese garden posed a potential hazard, especially with children running through the area, and it limited the garden’s usability. The outdoor amphitheater, exposed to sun and heat, was rarely used.
That year, we launched the Outdoor Expansion Project. Our goal was simple but ambitious: to make every inch of the campus functional and welcoming.
Working alongside Mike Chen, Wendi Chen, and Principal Yulan Chung, we began fundraising and planning improvements to both the amphitheater and the garden.
Shade Added Stones Set
The amphitheater was redesigned with a roof that visually echoed the main building. Seen from the front, its shape resembles the Chinese character “八,” symbolizing prosperity.
A proper stage was added. The seating was reconfigured and finished with wooden slats. Electrical systems, drainage, surrounding walkways, parking access, and landscaping were all carefully integrated.
The result was a durable outdoor performance space, usable in all weather.
The Chinese garden underwent its own transformation. A new door was added from the main hall, allowing large events to flow seamlessly from indoors to outdoors.
The pond was filled in, and the stone features were relocated. Some sculptures remained in the garden, while others were repositioned at the campus entrance.
Additional plantings, including pine and plum trees, enhanced the landscape.
Pavilion Persevered Kiosk Paused
At the heart of the garden, we envisioned a pavilion visible from the main hall. The current Xiao-Ci Pavilion was not easily realized.
An imported classical pavilion from Jiangsu was ultimately rejected due to poor material quality, a decision that led me to personally donate $10,000 to cover the loss.
In the end, we chose a modern design built by a local company. After many setbacks, the pavilion was finally completed.
Another long-held plan was a snack kiosk near the gym exit, offering coffee, light refreshments, and simple foods for students and parents.
The site was large enough to accommodate not only the kiosk but potentially a bookstore, storage space, and an outdoor restroom. The architect and I made multiple visits to the State Health Department and were close to securing permits.
Unfortunately, financial constraints and the arrival of COVID halted the project. It remains one of my deepest regrets.
Roots Held Culture Shared
Looking ahead, I believe it is important to reflect on our core mission. Since Principal Mitzi Fu founded the school in 1976, and especially after our move to this campus in 2005, Irvine Chinese School has grown to serve more than 1,000 families.
Our students have excelled in numerous competitions, and our campus stands as one of the most admired of its kind. Chinese language education is our foundation. Parents are our roots.
In recent years, parental presence on campus has diminished, and participation in external competitions has declined. Our focus has gradually shifted toward promoting Chinese culture within the broader mainstream community.
Culture, however, is vast and boundless. Without sustained financial resources and specialized expertise, even the most sincere efforts may only make small ripples.
I hope we pursue cultural outreach within our means, while never losing sight of education as our core mission or the parents who sustain it.
There is a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: “You are the salt of the earth.” Though I am not Christian, this metaphor resonates deeply with me.
Salt adds flavor, cleanses, and preserves. It is indispensable. The message is clear: each person has a responsibility to contribute, to fulfill their role, and to make the world better.
ICS class of 2018 with former principals and board chairs
Roads Inherited Dreams Built
My late father devoted his life to infrastructure, helping build Taiwan’s major highways, including the east–west cross-island routes and the north–south freeway.
He served as director of regional engineering offices and received Taiwan’s first Science and Technology Talent Award, along with the prestigious Order of the Brilliant Star from President Chiang Ching-kuo.
Perhaps his love for engineering runs in my blood. That inheritance led me to my enduring bond with SCCCA.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the physical foundation of the school and cultural center, and to leave behind a small but meaningful mark in the fifty-year history of this remarkable community. (Brilliant Fifty XXVI)
Read More：
Reflections Inspired by a Video Vivien Kao (SCCCA Former Board Chair 2011-2012)
The Transformation & Growth of SCCCA Andrew Yen ( SCCCA Former Board Chair 2007-2009, 2010-2011)
Thirty Years at ICS Memories Still Vivid Shi-yun Chung (Former ICS Principal, 1998–2000)
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary Joan Chien (SCCCA Former Board Chair 1996-98 ）
Building on the Past Opening a New Chapter Peter Liu ( ICS Former Principal 1995-96)
Some Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of ICS. Bin Yang ( ICS Former Principal 1992-94 )
Looking Back on My Year as ICS Principal. Ping Deng Yow ( ICS Former Principal 1988-89 )
An Affinity for the Irvine Chinese School. Ann Hwu ( ICS Former Principal 1987-88)
Building Bridges Across Generations and Cultures. Susie Chu ( SCCCA Board Chair 1988-89)
From Parent to Principal : My ICS Story. Hedy Ho（ Former ICS Principal 1986-87 )
United We Strive · United We Rise. Don Niu ( Former SCCCA board chair 1986-87 )
ICS Memories That Still Shine. Phen Cheng (1984-85 ICS Principal)
Reflections of a School Janitor. JJ Lee (SCCCA Board Chair 1979-1980 )
A Journey from One Dream to a Community Legacy Mitzi Fu (1976-82, 1983-84 ICS Founding Principal)