The annual Chinese New Year’s program was held Friday in the Cambria Room to celebrate the year of the horse.

This year, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association teamed up with Pitt-Johnstown Real World Interest Groups, who provided partial funds for food and one performance number.

Association President Cao Jun-tian considered the Friday event to be a success.

“We definitely have a lot more people this year,” he said. “It is good to see we have a lot more Americans participating.”

He also said working with the Real World Interest Groups helped diversify the event, which made this year’s program more of an interaction between cultures.

“Last year, it was just (Chinese students) doing our own thing.”

Several former UPJ Chinese students, who had transferred to Pitt-Oakland, returned to either perform or visit.

“All my friends are here, and I was (at UPJ) for two years,” said Chen Hua-dong, a finance student whom the Chinese students call Dong-Ge.

“Coming back to see everyone is always fun, which I do often.”

Chen performed a Chinese rap song. He also sang during last year’s event.

Cao said he felt touched to see everyone come back, that they had not forgotten them.

Junior finance student Jimmy Huo, who is an Acacia fraternity brother, said he was glad to see Dong-Ge and everyone else who had transferred to return for the New Year’s event.

“I visit them at Pittsburgh sometimes,” said Huo, “But it’s definitely nice to have everyone back together.

“It makes me happy to see that we’re so united, and that these friends haven’t forgotten us, amid the many newer friends they had made in Pittsburgh.

“I guess I know what my new year’s resolution is,” he laughed. “I wish I could get to Oakland this semester, too.”

Huo also said he enjoyed this year’s event more than the previous year’s.

“There were more people and more programs. It is nice to see so many American students have taken an interest toward our culture.”

After Friday’s success, association members hope to hold more events that involve Chinese festivals and cultures.

Cao, who has held the club’s presidency for two years, said he wishes there will be more Chinese students coming to UPJ next year, then joining the club.

He also wished the club could continue working with different groups on campus and receive more funding from the student government.

“With how much we got last year, we could host only about two, three events a year. I am hoping we could get more money this year,” he said.