They competed against 32 outstanding programs from 14 states and Riverton High School students and their amazing teacher rose to the top. Please join us in congratulating Riverton High School’s Dr. Wei Wei and her Chinese Bridge students, who recently earned second place in the inaugural national “Chinese Teaching Star Innovative Teaching Contest.” It is an opportunity for students to showcase their Mandarin proficiency and cultural knowledge.
What makes this achievement so special is that Dr. Wei didn’t submit a specially prepared lesson. Instead, she chose a real, everyday Bridge class. In the award-winning lesson, students explored Chinese philosophy—Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism and connected these ancient ideas to modern leadership, communication, and real-life decision-making. They compared Chinese and American perspectives, sparking deep conversations about identity, responsibility, and how young people can make a difference in today’s world.
One student said, “Our goal is to become cultural bridges. Learning Chinese has opened my eyes to the world and helped me understand people more deeply. It’s not just a class, it’s changed how I see my future.”
Dr. Wei is known for her innovative teaching; from music and dance videos to real-world communication challenges and competitions, her students are constantly stepping outside their comfort zones and gaining confidence. Many families often ask, What can students do with this language? Where can it take them? The Bridge program is helping students find those answers.
Congratulations to Dr. Wei and Riverton High School’s incredible Bridge students for showing what it truly means to connect, communicate, and lead in a global world.