Self-made businessperson pays back dorm fee 50 years overdue, and more
Self-made businessperson pays back dorm fee 50 years overdue, and more
2025-11-05
National Cheng Kung University in Tainan recently received a donation of NT$500,000 from an alumnus who graduated 50 years ago. The donor is Hsieh Ming-jiing, who said he’s only returning the NT$450 dorm fee he could not afford back then, as a student from an underprivileged family at the time. Taking into account inflation over the years and that the amount owed was 50 years overdue, he believed NT$500,000 was a fair amount to return.
This piece of cardboard dates back 50 years, authorizing residency at the student dorms of National Cheng Kung University. It belongs to an alumnus, Hsieh Ming-jiing. But why has he kept it for so long?
Hsieh Ming-jiing
NCKU alumnus
When I was sorting out my documents I found this thing from 50 years ago. I had not paid for the forms, but the university never sent me any payment reminders. So I owed money for 50 years, and thought to myself, “It’s really time to repay the university properly.”
While in his third year as an undergrad, Hsieh lived in the dorms for a semester so that he could meet up with classmates and study together more conveniently. Lodging cost NT$450 then, but Hsieh could not afford it at the time. The university never followed up on the amount owed. After fifty years, Hsieh decided that taking into account inflation over the years, he ought to return NT$500,000.
Hsieh Ming-jiing
NCKU alumnus
A bowl of plain noodles cost NT$3 back then. At NT$60 now, that makes it 20 times more expensive. NT$450 times 20 equals NT$9,000. And NT$9,000 for 50 years, that’s NT$450,000. I threw in another NT$50,000 to round it up. That’s how I’m giving back to my most respected alma mater.
After graduating, Hsieh got his first job at a shoe factory. Later on he helped his brother found the luggage brand “Eminent,” which has since become a listed company. After retiring, he began doing bike tours around the world and raise money for charity, helping disaster victims and underprivileged schoolkids. Now, he’s paying it forward at his alma mater.
Hsieh Ming-jiing
NCKU alumnus
The money’s useless if I keep it to myself, so I’m helping current students that would benefit. I’m returning this sum just before the 50th year since I’ve graduated.
Student
NCKU
If it’s a few thousands, it would still be helpful to students from economically disadvantaged families.
Student
NCKU
It’s quite generous of him. Even if money isn’t worth as much anymore, NT$500,000 can still be quite helpful to the university.
The self-made businessperson has come back to settle the sum he believed he should repay, making up for the debt and also paying it forward to younger students.
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欠成大450元宿舍費50年! 企業家"捐50萬"千倍奉還
2025-11-05
台南成功大學最近收到了一筆積欠了50年的宿舍費，原來是一名企管系校友謝明景，當年家境貧困，在學校住了一個學期的宿舍，卻無力繳納450元的宿舍費，這件事情就在謝明景的心中懸著，50年後，謝明景事業有成，還了50萬元給學校，
拿出超過50年的住宿資料卡，昔日的成大企管系大學生謝明景重回校園，因為在他心中，始終惦記著一件事。
[[成大企管系校友 謝明景]]
“把資料整理後發現，唉唷，我這張50年前的東西，學校都沒來催，我也沒有繳，就逃過了50年，啊，這筆錢應該好好來還給學校”
謝明景大三時，為了方便跟同學討論作業，在學校住了一個學期，宿舍費450元，但當時無力繳納，學校也沒有催，謝明景決定算進物價通膨，捐50萬元給學校，幫助更多學弟妹。
[[成大企管系校友 謝明景]]
“那時候的陽春麵一碗3塊錢，現在60塊是不是等於20倍，450塊乘以20是9000，9000欠了50年是45萬，我加個5萬塊錢，順便把它做成整數50萬，我回饋給我最敬愛的母校”
謝明景畢業後到鞋廠工作，更協助弟弟創立了萬國通路，如今成了知名的行李箱大廠，謝明景有了能力，退休後經常騎單車到世界各地募款，捐給災民及弱勢學童，也回頭來回饋母校。
[[成大企管系校友 謝明景]]
“我留著錢有什麼用呢，來接濟一些比較需要幫助的學弟、學妹，在50週年畢業這個前夕，我要把這個還給學校”
[[成大學生]]
“幾千塊的話，如果真的有清寒家庭，對他們而言也還是非常有幫助”
[[成大學生]]
“滿大方的，雖然有可能通貨膨脹，但是就是50萬也可以，幫助到學校滿多的”
白手起家創業，如今回頭來償還這筆欠了50年宿舍費，放下心中的大石頭，也修補了青春的遺憾。
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