RUCAA’s 2026 Coast to Coast Lunar New Year Toast: A Global Celebration RUCAA welcomed the Year of the Horse with our inaugural Coast to Coast Lunar New Year Toast, bringing together Rice alumni across five cities and two continents. From Seoul to Houston, Washington DC, New York, and Marina del Rey, alumni gathered to celebrate our shared heritage and Rice connections. The celebrations began on February 6th in Seoul at the New Blanc Central Myeongdong Hotel, marking RUCAA’s inaugural event in Korea. Nine days later, on February 15th, four cities across the United States came alive with festivities as alumni gathered from coast to coast—from a family-friendly brunch at Luna Hall DC to evening celebrations at Chi in Manhattan, Triple Pepper in Houston, and NAMOO in Marina del Rey. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones as we celebrated together across time zones. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making these gatherings so special!

On a chilly Friday night, February 6, 2026, Rice alumni gathered in Seoul to kick off our inaugural Coast to Coast Lunar New Year Toast! Twenty undergraduate and graduate alumni reconnected and met new friends, including a parent of a current Brown College sophomore. It was a wonderful evening to relax, celebrate the Lunar New Year, forge new connections, and strengthen our ties to the Rice community. The gathering brought together Owls from across generations in the spirit of celebration and camaraderie. We were amazed to hear from an Economics graduate alumni from the 1970s as well as an UG alum who was an athlete Owl. We all think he must be the only athlete from Korea that Rice has had and he told us a funny story of how the golf team would use the weight room after the baseball players and they spent a ton of their work out time unracking all the weights before they could start their workout (lol!)! Truly two pioneers! From sharing memories of life on campus to discussing current endeavors, the conversation flowed as freely as the toasts raised in honor of the new year. The event marked a special milestone as the first in what we hope will become an annual tradition of bringing Rice alumni across the world together during this festive season. Thank you to everyone, especially James Hurley, our Alumni Relations head, who joined us for this memorable evening. Our Seoul alumni were very moved that James was able to join us. Here’s to prosperity, good health, and continued connections this upcoming year!    

Call for Nominations/Self Nominations RUCAA is seeking passionate and dedicated Rice alumni to serve on our Board for the 2026-2028 term! About RUCAA: We are committed to fostering connections among Asian and Asian American Rice alumni, supporting current students, and advancing the Rice community through cultural engagement, professional development, and meaningful service. We’re Looking For: Alumni who are enthusiastic about: Building and strengthening our alumni network Mentoring current Rice students Organizing engaging cultural and professional events Contributing to RUCAA’s strategic vision and growth How to Participate: Self-nominate: If you’re interested in serving, we want to hear from you! Nominate someone: Know a fellow Rice alum who would be great? Nominate them! Open Positions: VP of Communications and Outreach VP of Student Affairs VP of Community Relations and Development Secretary Student Representative   Nomination Deadline: March 14, 2026 Submit your nomination here: https://forms.gle/zTqhCw8Xwu5Vjd9o8 Questions? Contact Andrew Lin at drewlin@alumni.rice.edu) Let’s continue building a vibrant, connected RUCAA community together!

Can you help? Do you want to volunteer? We need someone dependable with a bit of web development experience to do maintenance and occasional updating of RUCAA’s digital assets. Everything has been set up already; you will be credited with your work and possibly receive a small amount of compensation ingratitude (we are a volunteer organization). You must be either a current Rice student or alumni.If you are interested, please send a message via the “Contact” page on rucaa.org  

The RUCAA Alumni Weekend 2025 tour of the newly opened Sarofim Hall gave alumni and current students an inspiring look at Rice’s cutting-edge 94,000-square-foot home for the visual arts and was designed by Rice Architecture alumnus Charles Renfro of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. RUCAA members explored the building’s striking intersecting glass walls, light-filled studios, flexible performance lab, and the 215-seat cinema that now anchors film and media arts on campus. School of Humanities’ Emily Stein highlighted the building’s indoor-outdoor workyards, industrial studio doors, and LEED Gold sustainability features, all of which reflect Rice’s commitment to creativity, collaboration, and innovation. After the tour, RUCAA members gathered for a breakfast meetup where alumni and current students connected across class years, shared memories and career updates, and reflected on how the new arts facilities will shape student experiences moving forward. The meetup was especially significant because it reinforced RUCAA’s mission of community and mentorship and offered space for intergenerational conversations, cultural connection, and meaningful relationship-building. Thank you to all alumni and students who attended.

Note: This webinar and PIA is not affiliated with Rice University or RUCAA Modern Asian Parent Partnership presents: HELPING KIDS SHINE UNDER PRESSURE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025, Noon-1:30 pm ET / 9-10:30 am PT via Zoom Join us for a presentation by psychologists Dr. Michelle Chung and Dr. Laura Bresenbrugge exploring how today’s achievement-based world can affect our kids and how parents can support them, and stay for a NYC-Parents In Action led peer-to-peer breakout sessions with other parents to discuss the topic and share perspectives, experiences, and advice. Live Event Only! Registrations are limited, and this will be an interactive session. Please register only if you’re able to attend, so we can make space for everyone who wants to join.