SANFORD - A reception was held Monday, Oct. 24, to honor Yuehan Ma, the newest visiting instructor for Central Carolina Community College's Confucius Classroom. The event was held at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford.

The Confucius Classroom is an educational partnership created with N.C. State University's Confucius Institute and Nanjing Normal University.

Ma is the fourth Confucius Classroom instructor at CCCC, as she succeeds Guan Wang (2012-2016), Ling Huang (2010-2012), and Shuya Che (2008-2010). The Confucius Classroom promotes an intercultural exchange grounded in Chinese language courses, but offering a wide range of cultural events and activities as well.

"We are very excited to welcome Yuehan Ma to the College and eagerly anticipate her continuing the tradition of her predecessors in expanding our appreciation and learning of Chinese language and culture," says Jon Matthews, CCCC's Associate Provost in Harnett County and Confucius Classroom Director.

Ma graduated from Xi'an International Studies University with a Master's degree in 2007. She has served as a language and cross-culture instructor at Chang'an University since 2000. During her 16-year teaching career, Ma has taught a range of courses with a focus on cross-culture communication, American culture, and society studies, as well as language.

The North Carolina-Research Triangle Park Chinese Music Instruments Ensemble provided music for the reception.

The Confucius Classroom is available to conduct presentations or seminars for community groups, area businesses, and local schools. To schedule a CCCC Confucius Classroom presentation for your business, school, civic group, or community organization, contact Confucius@cccc.edu.

For more information about CCCC's Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius.