Tsinghua Youth Connect Hosts Friendsgiving on Ice in Irvine

Great Park Ice, Irvine — November 9, 2025

Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) hosted its first official city meetup Saturday evening at Great Park Ice in Irvine, drawing sixteen Gen 2 participants. The event offered attendees the chance to skate in one of California’s premier ice rinks, which regularly hosts Olympic figure skaters and professional hockey teams, including the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. 

Several alumni attended, providing a link between past and current members of the Tsinghua community. In addition to connecting the Gen 2, the alumni also strengthened their communication ties and agreed on the potential benefits TYCon could bring in the future. 

Participants described the meetup as an opportunity to build friendships in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. There were Gen 2 figure skaters and ice hockey players present who helped teach newcomers how to improve their skating. In addition, skaters could race each other on Bobby the Seal® ice skating aids. The Friendsgiving-themed event concluded with attendees gathering at the rink’s edge with a heartfelt group photo, marking the end of TYCon’s inaugural city gathering. 

The hardworking and talented TYCon regional leads Raymond Yao and Jason He will continue planning for future events, creating wonderful memories for Gen 2 and strengthening the network of Tsinghua in Southern California.