The idea behind Global China Connection (GCC), a student-run organization founded by Columbia students, originated from less-than-satisfactory study abroad options in China.

Gavin Newton-Tanzer, the co-founder of GCC, recalls: "This was supposed to be, based on the forums, previous testimony, to be the top study abroad program...but the Chinese family first, didn't have electricity, second didn't have hot water, and obviously, third, didn't have wireless internet or internet at all for that matter."

"We think that what's lacking in the States right now is that as a high school student, you don't really have a chance to do an exchange in China," said Haibo Zhao, President of GCC's Yale chapter.

For the management team, GCC is much more than a student club.

"I think the reason why our network's been able to grow so fast is because our vision, our dream, is really sort of universal...Although we are students, the role that we take on and the initiatives we pursue, are things that people twice out age are pursuing right now," said Derrick Fu, co-founder of GCC.

"There's no other student organization like us that has devoted so much energy...to exploring exchange opportunities on such a variety of issues between these two countries,"explained Haibo.

Global China Connection is currently the world's largest US-China student organization, and they have plans to further expand their cross-cultural network.

Besides providing quality study abroad programs for students in China and the US, they also facilitate networking opportunities between individuals from the two countries. Their annual conference, "A Glimpse of China's Future", held on Saturday, was attended by delegates from various GCC chapters throughout the US and featured keynote speakers such as Professor Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University.

"There's really an emphasis on the connections that you can make between people and the mutual symbiotic relationships that both sides can use to foster growth, benefit and progress," said Eric Baron, an NYU conference participant.

The GCC management team thinks big, and certainly isn't afraid to dream big. Passionate and visionary, they hope to become another Columbia global success story.