On November 10th, the Final Evaluation and Award Ceremony of the 2025 "Elites of International Students" at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was held in Lecture Hall A100 of the Student Center on the Minhang Campus. Wang Houji, Member of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee and Chairman of the Overseas Friendship Association, Wu Chao, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Design, off-campus media guests, leaders of university-level functional departments, deputy secretaries of Party committees for student affairs from various schools and departments, persons in charge of international student affairs, as well as Chinese and international student representatives attended the event. The ceremony was hosted by Shan Chang, a 2022 undergraduate student from the School of Media and Communication, and ERIK GRIGORYAN, an international student from the Koguan School of Law.

In his speech, Wang Houji extended congratulations to the shortlisted students and expressed his solicitude and gratitude to all departments and schools for their diligent efforts in organizing the selection. He noted that the "Elites of International Students" is not only an honor but also a recognition of diverse development aspirations: Stars of Academic Exploration delve deeply into their professional fields; Stars of Cultural Communication actively build bridges of friendship between China and the world; Stars of Public Welfare Practice courageously shoulder social responsibilities; and Stars of Innovation and Entrepreneurship dare to be pioneers in striving to make a difference in the world. He encouraged the shortlisted students to turn the honor into motivation, serving as bridges connecting China with the rest of the world, and hoped that all SJTU students would strengthen exchanges, learn from each other, and jointly foster an open, inclusive, and outstanding campus ecosystem.

Ge Yang, Deputy Director of the Student Affairs Office, then introduced the overall situation of the 2025 "Elites of International Students" selection, explaining the preliminary progress and final evaluation rules of the event. Launched in September, the selection received enthusiastic responses from all schools and departments across the university, with 25 international students recommended for their profound understanding and friendship with China, excellent academic performance, and outstanding research achievements. After the expert correspondence review, 12 candidates stood out and advanced to the final evaluation stage.

    Subsequently, in the order determined by drawing lots, the 12 candidates shared their study-in-China stories and growth insights through personal vlog presentations, "My Story in China" speeches, and Chinese cultural awareness displays. They revisited their original aspirations for studying in China, talked freely about their future development, and fully demonstrated their love for Chinese culture, dedication to scientific research and innovation, as well as enthusiasm for voluntary services.

    During the intermission of voting, Megan Huang, an international student from the United States studying at the School of Humanities, performed the song ‘When We Were Young’; her heartfelt interpretation won warm applause from the entire audience. The Chinese and International Student Choir jointly sang ‘Jasmine Flower’ and ‘Something Just Like This’. The integration of tradition and modernity, as well as the collision of Chinese and Western melodies, vividly interpreted the cross-cultural communication concept of "Each beauty shines in its own way, and all beauties thrive together".

The 2025 "Elites of International Students" and "Elites of International Students" Nomination Awards at Shanghai Jiao Tong University were officially announced!

陈旭 YASIN AMARA SEKOU S DRA

国籍：马里 Mali

学院：船舶海洋与建筑工程学院 School of Ocean and Civil Engineering

    He is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the School of Ocean and Civil Engineering. His ten-year journey of studying and living in China has been a profound process of exploration and dialogue. With a sincere affection for China and a commitment to promoting Sino-African exchanges, he not only devotes himself to addressing global challenges such as climate change through rigorous scientific research—having published numerous SCI and EI-indexed academic papers—but also embraces Chinese culture with immense passion, traveling to over 30 cities across the country. Through his camera lens and written works, he captures the diverse landscapes and touching details of this land. As an active practitioner of cultural exchange between China, Africa, and along the Belt and Road Initiative, he has participated as a guest in China News Network’s "China-Foreign Youth Dialogue" program and been interviewed by People’s Daily and China Daily, sharing his insights and observations.From winning the Excellence Award at the "Beijing Chinese Language Star" competition, participating in the "Encounter a Sustainable China" study tour, to leading his team to the Best Team Award at the Summer School of the Sino-British International Low-Carbon College, he has consistently integrated academic pursuits, cultural engagement, and a focus on sustainable development. He firmly believes that science and technology are a universal language, culture serves as a connecting bridge, and young people are the builders of the future.

The 2025 "Elites of International Students" selection not only provides a platform for international students at Shanghai Jiao Tong University to showcase their talents and engage in mutual learning but also effectively plays a demonstration and leading role by establishing peer models. It inspires a large number of international students to learn from outstanding peers, take on the responsibility of being envoys of civilization who understand and cherish friendship with China, and contribute youthful vitality to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.