top of page
.png)
Mid-Summer Bubble Tea Bash: Celebrating Youth, Creativity, and Connection!
Did you know Bubble Tea, or Boba Tea, originated from Taichung, Taiwan—Jaclyn’s hometown? Long before it became a global sensation, Bubble Tea started at a quaint tea shop called "Spring Water Hall (Chun Shui Tang)," right next to Jaclyn's high school. During those competitive high school years, grabbing a signature bubble tea and hanging out with friends was Jaclyn’s ultimate stress relief.
Fast forward to today, and Jaclyn’s love for Bubble Tea hasn’t faded. To celebrate and give iHub’s college students and high schoolers a sweet send-off before they dive into the next chapter, Jaclyn and iHub together with UCA NJ hosted an epic mid-summer Bubble Tea event at Kaito Bubble Tea in Edison, NJ. Huge shoutout to Justin Zhu and his partner Kai for hosting this fantastic event and making it a day to remember!
Event Highlights:
1. Dual Table Topics Showdown:
The energy soared with our "Dual Table Topics" competition! The highlight of the afternoon was the creative "Dual Table Topics" public speaking competition. Team "Speakers at Kaito," led by Toastmaster Gavellier Michael Thomas and members Sydney Lewis, Eva Qin, James Casper, William Wu, and more, competed against Team "Fans of Justin," led by Tia Thomas and consist of teammates Rachel Yuan, Justin Xu, Elizabeth, Ryan Zhao and more. The prompt challenged teams to design the 2028 LA Olympics torch relay, highlighting the best of the U.S. and choosing between Beyoncé and Simone Biles as the final torchbearer. Team "Fans of Justin," emerged victorious, earning Kaito’s signature bubble tea keychains.
2. A Cup of Tea Initiative:
Our Design Manager, Angelina Xi unveiled the "A Cup of Tea - Connect, Fueling Ideas and Friendship" initiative, aimed at building connections beyond iHub. Whether on campuses, in communities, or in everyday moments, this initiative encourages students and professionals to come together over tea, fostering new friendships and generating ideas that can shape iHub's future. Let’s carry the energy of our Bubble Tea event forward, transforming casual conversations into meaningful relationships and impactful actions!
3. Youth Talent Showcase:
Our young stars shone brightly! Student speakers Sydney Lewis, Tia Thomas, and Ryan Zhao delivered powerful speeches, Eva Qin performed the moving "Ballad of Jane Doe" from Ride the Cyclone, and Rachel Yuan shared her insights on the Spring Festival. Aaron Hu’s award-winning short film A Road Home captivated everyone with its compelling narrative.
4. Musical Magic:
The day kicked off with a stellar One Man Band performance by our Board Advisor and also UCA-NJ Lead Dr. YZ. Joined by vocalist June and musician and Composer Vince De Vira from Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts, the music set an uplifting tone for the event.
Congratulations to Angelina Xi, awarded Best Intern of 2024 for her exceptional contributions, including launching the "A Cup of Tea" initiative!
5. Special Shout-Out:
Community and Thanks!
A heartfelt thank you to iHub’s incredible team, including Digital Asset Manager Nimo Ren, Delegation Lead Justin Jiang (Carnegie Mellon), Yuewen Yang (Cornell), Justin Xu, iHub Gavel’s James Casper, Michael Thomas, Tia Thomas, and Student Officer Grace Ren (University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign). Your dedication and hard work have been invaluable A big shout-out to Kaito Bubble Tea, UCA-NJ, community leaders from PCE, Impact 21 Toastmasters, and all the incredible families and individuals who made time to join us. Your presence and support made this event a resounding success. Thanks to everyone who joined us for an afternoon of Bubble Tea bliss, creativity, and connection. Here's to many more amazing events ahead!"
bottom of page