Second Mount Holyoke Schwarzman Scholar named
Alum Weijing (Vickie) Liu ’22 is the second Mount Holyoke College alum named to the prestigious graduate program.
Schwarzman Scholars, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship programs, has announced its eleventh cohort of students. Among the cohort is alum Weijing (Vickie) Liu ’22, Mount Holyoke College’s second Schwarzman Scholar; Diamond Abiakalam-Chinagorom ’25 was in the tenth cohort.
Liu, originally from Shenzhen, China, majored in psychology with a minor in international relations. “When I received the news [that I was accepted], I felt calm and grateful,” she said. “Of course, I recognize the prestige and visibility that can come with an opportunity like this, but I also think it’s important to approach titles and credentials critically. What matters most to me is staying focused on the work itself. I’m deeply thankful for the chance to learn alongside driven peers from many disciplines and I remain committed to building meaningful, long-term impact through education.”
During this scholarship program, future leaders pursue a one-year, fully funded master’s degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where they gain a better understanding of China and global affairs.
Liu is hoping to build a future in cross-cultural and technologically relevant education. “My core motivation in applying is to design learning systems that are culturally grounded, globally relevant and responsive to the social and technological shifts shaping our world,” she said. “II believe that for educational innovation to truly take root, it must be paired with systems-level thinking. The tools we design, the values we embed and the policies that frame their use are inseparable — and together they determine whether an idea genuinely empowers learners or merely adds surface-level novelty.”
This year, Schwarzman Scholars received a record number of applications, with the class of 2026–27 selected from a pool of just over 5,800 candidates worldwide. The Schwarzman Scholars network now includes more than 1,500 members from 107 countries and 490 institutions. Schwarzman Scholars alums have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and are trailblazers across industries, collaborating to tackle pressing global issues.
“Our eleventh cohort is a truly impressive group that fills me with optimism,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, the founding trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. “I am hopeful that their interest in China and global affairs, coupled with their leadership potential, will create opportunities for collaboration and dialogue at Schwarzman College and beyond. As we move into our second decade, our network’s impact continues to grow, and I am proud of Schwarzman Scholars’ continued success.”
Starting in August 2026, the current cohort of Schwarzman Scholars will engage in a graduate curriculum focused on leadership, global affairs and China. The students will be taught by global thought leaders from Tsinghua and other globally recognized universities, and students will gain unique exposure to China through mentoring, internships and experiential learning. Additionally, career development is provided to help Scholars excel after graduation.
More information on the incoming class can be found at the Schwarzman Scholars website.
