Gale spoke to 700 students and other guests, wishing them peace, happiness and success in the Year of the Snake. Lincoln mayor Chris Beutler addressed the crowd as well.

Dinner was a traditional seven course meal eaten with chopsticks. The Chinese students provided the entertainment with musical instruments, songs, dancing, dragons and good humor.

UNL vice chancellor for research and economic development Prem Paul and wife, Dixie

Sec. Gale and wife Carol with UNL vice chancellor for student affairs, Dr. Juan Franco

The Gale’s;  Pingan Huang, associate director of Xi’an Jiaotong University and Gorge Zhou, vice president of the Omaha Chinese Culture Association.

The Gale’s, Dr. David Lou, director of the UNL Confucius Institute and his wife, Marjorie

The Gale’s and Rachel Zeng, executive associate director of the Confucius Institute at UNL

Sec. Gale and Chinese students from UNL. The young ladies, dressed in traditional silk dresses, served as greeters for the event.