News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　Under the guidance of Chairman Hsiao Chih-Hui, Xu Chu-Ting, Wang Ya-Ping, Ye Guan-Yan and Xie Qian-Hui, graduate students of the Department of Marketing and Tourism Management, National Chiayi University, won a national championship with “Miperper! Sandy Cheeks’s Moving Peninsula” at “For Love” Creative Trip Planning Contest 2016, organized by Kaohsiung Travel Creative Association. Advised by Prof. Liu Qiong-Ru, a student team consisting of Shen Shou-Ping, Lin Wen-Hui, and Zhang-Jian Wan-Ting earned an honorable mention, equivalent to a sixth-place national award, with “MINI Fun Flipping Chianan.”

　　According to Hsiao Chih-Hui, Chairman of the Department of Marketing and Tourism Management, NCYU, there were a total of 310 entries submitted by contestants from colleges and universities nationwide. It was a remarkable achievement for both the two NCYU teams that joined the contest to attain the prizes. A two-day, one-night free mini trip planned based on the award-winning itineraries will be offered to children from disadvantaged families in southern Taiwan.

　　Noteworthy is that the eldest member of the NCYU student teams, Xu enrolled in the Graduate Institute of Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, NCYU, as a full-time student. She now served as a travel show host for Taiwan Public Television. She shed happy tears upon winning the first prize, and what moved her the most was the fact that all the team members pulled an all-nighter to plan the itinerary, which is expected to introduce the disadvantaged children to the beauty of Taiwan.

　　Wang said that all the classmates were glad to put their knowledge into practice for the contest. They not only pushed the boundaries of their planning abilities, but contributed their part to the well-being of the disadvantaged groups and the public welfare. The first-prize winning itinerary titled “Miperper! Sandy Cheeks’s Moving Peninsula” features the mountainous and seaside township of Hengchun Peninsula as the main destination. The itinerary boasts an in-depth trip to explore the indigenous culture and marine ecology. It is named after the Spongebob character “Sandy Cheeks” in hope that every child could be as adventurous as her and be proactive to know more about Taiwan and fall in love with their homeland.