Coastal Carolina University representatives recently participated in a virtual ceremony with partner institutions in China, recognizing the graduation achievements of 10 students in the 1+2+1 Sino-American Cooperation on Higher Education and Professional Development (CHEPD) double degree program.

In the 1+2+1 program, Chinese students spend the first year at their Chinese university, transfer to a U.S. institution and complete all requirements of that institution’s degree, and then return to China for the fourth year to complete their Chinese university’s remaining requirements. An integrated graduation program is held for students at the conclusion of the program.

The following students were honored for their graduation from bachelor’s degree programs at Coastal Carolina University:

Shangxuan Xie, computer science, magna cum laude

Yanjie Du, accounting

Yuhan Zhou, accounting, summa cum laude

Lin Ai, graphic design, magna cum laude

Yuting Huang, graphic design

Muchen Ji, graphic design, magna cum laude

Qianyi Liu, graphic design

Yuyang Liu, graphic design, magna cum laude

Huixi Wu, graphic design, magna cum laude

Yiwen Zheng, graphic design, cum laude

“These students have worked hard to complete all requirements of both their Chinese university and transferring to CCU, completed also all CCU requirements for graduation,” said Darla Domke-Damonte, associate provost for global initiatives at CCU. “Most returned to China during COVID and worked hard to complete program requirements of their Coastal Carolina University degree programs via distance courses during that time. They won awards for their artwork, completed virtual international internships, and engaged collaboratively in conversation and discussion clubs with students learning Chinese.”

CCU President Michael T. Benson made a recorded presentation as part of the proceedings, which were viewed live by more than 1,500 people on June 14. CCU’s students were among more than 500 students who graduated this year from more than 20 U.S. universities and more than 50 Chinese universities as part of the program. The CHEPD program began in 2000 and Coastal Carolina University has been a member since it received its first student in 2009. More than 90 students have graduated from the program at CCU since that time.

For more information, contact Domke-Damonte at ddamonte@coastal.edu.