Kyushu U senior selected as a Schwarzman Scholar

Kyushu University student Ayano Sasaki has been selected to the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2021, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowships. She is one of the youngest scholars ever to be selected from Japan this year and is set to join the program directly after graduating from her undergraduate studies.

This year, 145 scholars representing 41 countries and 108 universities were selected from a field of more than 4,700 candidates. The Class of 2021 will enroll August 2020 at Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Founded by American financier Stephen A. Schwarzman in 2016, the program aims to foster future leaders from around the world through a deepening of their understanding of China and its relationship with the rest of the world from various perspectives.

Scholars were selected on the basis of their academic ability, leadership, and strength of character. In addition to coursework on their way to earning a Master’s degree in Global Affairs, scholars have access to invaluable opportunities for career development, such as partaking in internships, working with mentors, and meeting with high-profile speakers.

Sasaki currently is studying international and Chinese law at the School of Law and will graduate in March 2020. She is interested in the role of Japan in the 21st century and aspires to strengthen the relationship between East Asian countries and the United States for their mutual future growth.

Aside from her studies, Sasaki has been active on and off campus. A member of the ESS debate section when she was a first-year student, she currently works part time for Q-mate, a student group in the International Student Exchange Division that assists international students in adjusting to campus life.

Sasaki has spent a year studying abroad at the University of Hong Kong on a Bai Xian scholarship, and she is also a recipient of the Yamakawa Prize, which is sponsored by the Kyushu University Fund and recognizes strength of character, excellence in academics, and demonstration of the qualities needed to be future leaders.

“I am very thankful for all of the people who have supported me during my time at Kyushu University, creating an environment that allowed me to pursue interests even beyond my major,” Sasaki said.

“Building on the strong foundation that I received at Kyushu University, I am excited to start the next chapter of my life as Schwarzman Scholar.”

For more information, see the Schwarzman Scholars announcement of the Class of 2021.