On April 24, the University of Minnesota CHINA CHAMPIONS were luncheon guests of Governor Mark Dayton at his official residence in St. Paul. Also attending were Minnesota Office of Higher Education Commissioner Larry Pogemiller, Jill Griffiths, a member of the U of MN China Center Advisory Board and CHINA CHAMPIONS Program (CCP) steering committee, professor Li Li Ji, Director of the School of Kinesiology, and Sandy Wang, a doctoral student serving as the secretary of the CCP.

Governor Dayton expressed a great interest in the CCP and chatted with the athletes about their educational experiences at the University of Minnesota and lives in the Twin Cities. Dayton shared fond memories with the group of his seven previous visits to China, as well as photos and souvenirs from these trips. According to the athletes, it was an inspiring afternoon and an experience they will not soon forget.