MKA Students Selected as Pengyou Leadership Fellows

Congratulations to MKA junior Jordan Schildkraut and sophomore Jayson Thompson, who were selected as Pengyou Leadership Fellows. The prestigious Pengyou program is offered to American high school, college or graduate students who have studied in China. Only 40 students were accepted from several hundred applicants across the country, of whom only five – including Jordan and Jason - were from high school. A vigorous selection process that included two rounds of interviews, sought to identify young people with a passion for Chinese engagement and a high potential for leadership.

As Fellows, the boys recently returned from a Leadership Training Summit held at Harvard University. There, they spent four intensive days (from 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.) in active learning, covering topics of leadership, organizing, action and U.S.-China bridge building.The program, (based on the work of legendary organizer Marshall Ganz,) largely focuses on practical leadership tools, including how to best use resources as an organizer for constructive US-China engagement in local communities and future careers. While there, they met up with program coach and organizer Alyssa Farrelly, MKA Class of 2006, who is Senior Project Manager at the Golden Bridge Foundation in Beijing, where she has lived for the past three-and-a-half years.

Both students are in Chinese Honors classes at the Upper School. Their teacher, Dr. River He, notes: "They were so excited to participate in the program and have been sharing their experiences with their classmates. I am thrilled that the boys have been able to benefit from such a valuable opportunity during their high school years."

Click here for more information on the Pengyou Project.