The Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP, www.theccip.com) celebrated another year of accomplishments and brought together key supporters of its cultural initiative by holding the 2014 Recognition Ceremony at Citi Field, home of the Mets, on July 8.

Over 130 guests, including students, government representatives, university partners, and host representatives, attended the event to celebrate the joint efforts of the greater New York City community members and students from Asia to promote cultural exchange through the Exchange Visitor Program.

Speakers at the ceremony included NYS Assembly Member David I. Weprin, NYC Councilman Peter Koo, and representatives of:

- Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand
- Congresswoman Grace Meng
- Comptroller Scott M. Stringer
- NYS Assembly Member Nily Rozic
- NYS Assembly Member Ronald Kim
- NYC Councilman Mark S. Weprin

The government officials also presented letters recognizing the contributions of the program in its cultural endeavors. Ms. Yvonne Chan, representing Hang Seng Management College, one of CCIP's partner universities, also commended CCIP for its ability to provide students enriching experiences that a traditional academic environment cannot. Host organizations then took the stage to describe their positive experiences working with CCIP students.

As a token of appreciation to the host organizations for helping CCIP further its mission to promote cultural exchange, CCIP students presented plaques that were handmade by them to each host.

The ceremony commemorated the students' experiences in the program with a video presentation produced by CCIP students. The photos featured in the video offered a touching inside look at CCIP student life that also took students on a trip to memory lane.

In turn, all students were presented certificates of completion for successfully finishing the program. Five exemplary students were also presented with the STAR Award, the highest recognition they could receive from the program. The auditorium was filled with the enthusiastic cheering and applause for the students, who had built meaningful relationships with each other and the community at large.

A 'passing the boat' ceremony followed, in which students lined up and passed a boat from hand to hand, essentially passing the torch from Session A students, who had begun the program in early May, to the newly arrived Session B students.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Marc A. Haken, Youth, Education and Library Committee Chair of the Community Board 8 in Queens (CB 8Q) and program advisor, who thanked the participants, program organizer, hosts, and the various associates who had contributed immensely to the success of CCIP in its goodwill initiative.

After the ceremony, the Spirit Award was presented by the Mets to honor those who have made outstanding contributions in the community, amongst which FUSIA Communications was honored for its work in bridging relations between the US and Asia, as well as developing future global leaders. FUSIA Communications is a Department of State-designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsor for the J-1 Intern category.

A baseball game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies followed the close of the ceremony, providing students a beloved and classic American experience to end the night. And to top off the evening, the students were happy to see that their cheering from the bleachers paid off when the New York Mets won.

While the ceremony marked the end of the program for CCIP's first wave of this year's participants, it also marked the beginning for Session B students, who have seven exciting weeks in the US to look forward to.

About the organizer: Established in 2002, FUSIA Communications, Inc. (www.fusia.net) specializes in cross-cultural communications. FUSIA Communications established CCIP as a social enterprise project in 2008. Since its beginning, the program has provided close to a thousand participants with the opportunity to engage in trans-cultural collaboration by interning at host companies and organizations located in New York and New Jersey.

About the program: The Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) takes place in New York City every summer from May to August in two seven-week sessions. CCIP stresses East-West cultural exchange and is aimed at individuals who and organizations that share a global vision. The program collaborates with eight elite partner universities to recruit the most promising candidates.

Participating host organizations in 2014:
Office of Congresswoman Grace Meng; Office of NYS Assembly Member Nily Rozic; Office of NYC Council Member Peter Koo; Admerasia; A Partnership;BoConcept New York; C & L Accounting; CMC Development LLC; CMP; Colon & Peguero LLP; Crystal McKenzie; Djam Insurance Brokerage; Fusia Communications; GC Eng & Associates, PC; Genesis Realty Group LLC; Hamilton Madison House; Joe's Music and Dance Academy; Landair Project Resources; Padilla & Company, LLP; Sing Tao Newspaper New York; Mary Nittolo, Inc. (the Studio); Toto Group; Trans Express USA; Yu & Associates, Inc.

Participating partner universities in 2014:
The University of Hong Kong; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong University of Science & Technology; City University of Hong Kong; Hang Seng Management College, Careers Office; National University of Singapore; Nanyang Technological University (Singapore); Macau University of Science and Technology (Macau)