A Duke Kunshan University senior is in the running for a coveted place on the McCall MacBain Scholars program as one of its first international students.
McGill University in Montreal, Canada, unveiled Eldar Wang as a finalist for the scholarship, a graduate program which strives to develop the leaders of tomorrow.
Wang, from Shanghai, is one of just 35 students from 31 countries vying for up to 10 international places, which will be awarded following a final round of interviews to be held at the university in March.
A student of world literature, Wang has written a world poetry book and published four book-length works as a translator.
“I am thrilled to have been chosen as a finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship, with the invaluable support of the passionate personnel at the McCall MacBain Foundation and DKU faculty, in particular Professor Paul Stanley,” the Class of 2023 undergraduate said.
“The invitation to proceed to the final round of interviews is a genuine privilege, and I hope to make a compelling case for my inclusion in the scholarship’s first global cohort.”
Designed to encourage purposeful leadership, the scholarships enable students to pursue a fully funded master’s or professional degree while participating in mentorship, coaching and a leadership development program.
They are the result of a landmark C$200 million (about 1 billion yuan) gift in 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, the second-largest single donation in Canadian history.
Finalists were chosen after a first round of online regional interviews, based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity.
“Eldar has been described as an author, an activist, a scholar and a stand-up comedian,” said Stanley, a senior lecturer in physics at DKU.
“Embodying many of the animating principles of DKU, Eldar is an engaged student who shares her passion for life and learning with a vibrance that positively influences the people around her.”
An active member of the DKU community, Wang, who majors in global cultural studies (world literature), has co-led a team of six providing teaching materials for elementary schools in remote regions, won a literature comedy contest and hosted radio shows.
She is interested in studying the literature and culture of modern China, and the representation of Asian minority groups around the world.
McGill was named Canada’s best university by the QS World University Rankings in June 2022, and 31st in the world.
John McCall MacBain, chairman of the scholarships at McGill, said of the program, “Our aim is to provide a life-changing opportunity for students who have a genuine desire to learn and make a positive impact in society.”
