Schwarzman College Commencement 2018
The Schwarzman College Commencement 2018 was held at the Schwarzman College on July 7, 2018. The Chairman and CEO of JD.Com Liu Qiangdong delivered the keynote speech. The Vice President and Provost of Tsinghua University Yang Bin, the Chairman of the Blackstone Group Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Dean of the Schwarzman College Wang Youqiang, and other distinguished guests attended the ceremony. The Executive Dean David Q. Pan presided over the ceremony.
The Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, the Principal Ballet Dancer of ABT Misty Copeland, the Chairman and Founder of Econet Strive Masiyiwa, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, and alumni from around the world extended their congratulations to the graduates through video.
Wang Youqiang, the Dean of the Schwarzman College, noted in his speech that he hoped the graduates, as the future world leaders, would act upon the University motto “Self-Discipline and Social Commitment” and make contributions for building a community of shared future for mankind and promoting world peace and development.
In his speech, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman of the Blackstone Group, congratulated the second cohort, expressing his joy and satisfaction with the achievements they have made. He raised several suggestions for the graduates: to face the difficulties and setbacks with a brave heart and to focus on and strive for the field they love. He also hoped the graduates will fully utilize their wisdom and talents, seize any opportunity to exert their leadership. “This is a lifetime commitment. In the years ahead, you will continue to learn from each other, and help each other impact the world,” said Schwarzman.
Liu Qiangdong, the Chairman and CEO of JD.Com, delivered the keynote speech entitled “From ABC to XYZ”. He encouraged the students to find their own positions in their careers, to improve their capabilities to make decisions, to have a sense of responsibility for the world, and to make more contributions for the social progress.
Bo Seo, the student representative from Australia, expressed his thanks to Schwarzman College in his speech. “Schwarzman Scholars is a program built out of our best instincts. It is made of generosity, of a belief in the powers of the young, and of a faith in the power of mutual understanding to prevent conflict”, he said.
Designed to inspire the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the most significant program of its kind since the Rhodes Trust was founded in 1902. The 200 scholars chosen annually for this highly selective program will work towards a Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University. As individuals who want to have a positive impact on the world, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Scholars will be selected based on their academic credentials, extracurricular interests and leadership potential.
Writer: Guo Lili
