At 10:30 am on March 30, 2012, Confucius Classroom Opening Ceremony both for LAMP High School in Montgomery and Highlands School in Birmingham was held in the lobby of Confucius Institute of Troy University (CIT).

Those attendants in the ceremony were: Mr. Shuliang Guo, Deputy Director, Education Department of Hebei Province, Dr. Yanhuai Xin, President of Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Ms. JunYang, Vice Principle of Qinhuangdao New Century Senior High School, Hebei; Troy University leaders were Dr. Hawkins, Chancellor, Dr. Ingram, Senior Vice Chancellor; Dr. Hong Xu, Director of CIT, Professor XiaofengChen, Deputy Director of CIT; Ms. Kathryn Barr, Head of Highlands School, Birmingham; Dr. Steven Frost, Chinese Language teacher of LAMP Confucius Classroom, Montgomery. And about 100 students, educators and administrators witnessed the exciting moment.

The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Ingram, Senior Vice Chancellor of Troy University.

Dr. Hawkins, Chancellor of Troy University, addressed the opening ceremony. He expressed his hope for more Confucius Classrooms being set up in Alabama with the cooperation between China and America; he also encouraged the students from Highlands School to choose Troy University to study when they grow up and made contribution to the friendship of China and America.

Then the Confucius Classroom Opening Ceremony for LAMP School and Highland School proceeded. The unveiling was made by Dr. Yanhuai Xin, President of Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology and Dr. Ingram, Senior Vice Chancellor of Troy University, Dr. Hong Xu, Director of CIT and Ms. Kathryn Barr, Head of Highlands School.

LAMP School and Highland School signed the Confucius Classroom Agreement on Nov 7, 2011. Followed was a series of activities about language and culture exchange, which includes Chinese book exhibition, Chinese New Year celebration, as well as language and culture experience in class by CIT teachers.

After the opening ceremony, Ms. Kathryn Barr, Head of Highlands School, and Dr. Steven Frost, LAMP Confucius Classroom teacher respectively expressed their thankfulness to CIT to offer the platform to benefit more school students with different language and culture. Ms. JunYang, Vice Principle of Qinhuangdao New Century Senior High School, Hebei, showed her strong willing for the future cooperation with Troy University and Alabama middle schools or high schools. Last but not least, Dr. Hong Xu, Director of CIT, was welcomed to the front to address the ceremony. She first thanked all the guests' participationin Alabama-China Week, and then showed gratitude to all the faculty and staff of Troy University for their careful work during the Week. At last, she welcomed all the attendants to visit CIT often to offer adviceto make CIT's construction more and more effective.

The opening ceremony was ended in Highlands School students singing two Chinese songs. The pure voice and perfect Chinese pronunciation touched every attendant. Those kids'  wonderful performance made everyone in presence realized the significance of construction of CIT and its Classroom.

Crowned with success, Alabama-China Week attracted much more attention from various circles in Alabama. The news media of Alabama, Montgomery and Troy made public voices respectively, commenting that Alabama-China Week not only bridged China and Alabama in cultural communication, but also brought more opportunities in commerce and trade. Meanwhile, Montgomery media highly praised the role of the Confucius Institute of Troy in the development of Alabama.

The construction of Confucius Institute at Troy University has been supported constantly by Hanban Headquarters, Chinese Consulate General in Houston, Hebei Province, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Alabama State Government, Troy City Government, and Troy University as well. In the past five years, with the support of funds from Hanban and Alabama State Government and the support of intellectuals from Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology and Troy University, through methodical and creative work led by Dr. Iris Hong Xu, Director of CIT and Professor Chen, Deputy Director of CIT, CIT has made greatprogress in its development, which is and will be contributing its great effort in maintaining the friendship between Hebei and Alabama,and China and America as well.