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The Chinese Program at the University of Minnesota sent six students to compete in the contest, and all of them did an excellent job: five won gold, and one got silver. This is a strong testament of the strength of the Chinese Program in the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Minnesota. The award winning students are: Casey Thomas Kerian (gold), Alaya Doreen Lee (gold), Andrew Curtis Kruse (gold), Ryan A. Loomis (gold), Andrew Earl Ramdular (gold), and Molly Christine Tolzmann (silver).

Casey Thomas Kerian is a third-year student taking second-year Chinese. He is from Rochester, MN, and his major is Global Studies. The topic of his speech was "Discovering China." At the talent show, he sang a Chinese song "The Girl Looking at Me."

Andrew Curtis Kruse is a fourth-year student taking second-year Chinese. He is from Shoreview, MN, and majors in Biochemistry. His speech was on his "predestined relationship with China," and he performed Juggling and Nursery Rhyme in the talent show.

Alaya Dorean Lee, a sophomore taking first-year Chinese, is from Minneapolis, MN. She told the audience how much she loves Chinese dance, and performed a beautiful "Peacock Dance" at the talent show.

Ryan A. Loomis is a high school student, and is taking first-year Chinese through the University’s PSEO program. He is from Mahtomedi, MN. The topic of his speech was "Volunteering in China," and he played Tai Chi in the talent show.

Andrew Ramdular, a senior majoring in Asian Languages and Literatures, is taking both third and fourth-year Chinese. He is from Minneapolis, MN. The topic of his speech at the contest was "My Previous and Present Life," and he sang the Chinese song "Two Butterflies" at the talent show.

Molly Christine Tolzmann, a third-year student taking first-year Chinese, is from Forest Lake, MN, majoring in Global Studies. She told the story of her “Bad Day� in the speech contest, and performed Trombone in the talent show.