On July 2, TECO in Houston successfully hosted the 2026 Annual meeting of the Taiwan Alumni Association in the Southwest, alongside the Orientation and Award Ceremony for the Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) recipients! This year, 25 exceptional scholars from the Southwest region were selected—including 5 Taiwan Scholarship and 20 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship winners. They are all set to embark on an exciting new academic journey in Taiwan this fall. Recipients, proud parents, and local alumni traveled from far and wide, joining both in-person and virtually for a highly vibrant and warm gathering.
Experience Taiwan’s Global Role & Democratic Energy
Director General Hsiao warmly congratulated all the brilliant awardees and highlighted Taiwan’s welcoming nature, noting that it is a safe and vibrant hub where diverse cultures and stunning natural landscapes blend beautifully. She shared pivotal milestones in Taiwan–U.S. relations, pointing out that beyond Taiwan's globally renowned leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, it proudly became the 4th largest trading partner of the United States last year. Today, 35% of Taiwan's exports go to the U.S. and 30% of its imports come from the U.S., reflecting a rock-solid and flourishing economic partnership.
Director General Hsiao also playfully reminded the students that arriving in autumn is the absolute perfect time. Scholars will not only get to experience iconic cultural and national milestones like the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, but they will also witness Taiwan’s lively democratic elections in November—a golden opportunity to experience Taiwan’s incredible energy, openness, and mature democratic resilience in action.
Preparing for Success
To ensure a smooth transition, Education Division Director Rebecca Lan provided an overview of Ministry of Education scholarship regulations and essential reminders for living in Taiwan, especially highlighting friendly new pathways for international graduates to work and secure permanent residency. Complementing these official guidelines, several alumni joined both in-person and virtually to share invaluable firsthand advice on everything from classroom learning to navigating daily life.
Taiwan is Forever in My Heart A truly touching highlight of the day came from last year's scholarship recipient and author, Stefany Ramirez. She emotionally shared how her journey with Taiwan began as a personal quest to find her birth mother. Driven by a desire to communicate deeply with her mother, she applied for the scholarship and dedicated herself to learning Mandarin. She beautifully concluded that "Taiwan has become my second home, and it will be forever in my heart"—— a beautiful reflection of "Once in Taiwan, Always in Love."
A big thank you to the Taiwan Alumni Association in the Southwest for their unwavering support and warm mentorship. Congratulations to all our 2026 scholarship recipients! We wish you a safe journey, a highly fulfilling study experience, and may you reap a rich harvest and soar together with Taiwan!
