Greater China Scholars Weekend connects finalists with the Notre Dame community
This year marked another successful Greater China Scholars Weekend for Notre Dame.
The Greater China Scholars Program, founded in 2011, attracts students from the Greater China region with exceptional academic achievements, a promising capacity for global leadership, and a strong commitment to the betterment of society. This year, GCS finalists came from across the region for the event, including students from Beijing, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and more.
and ND China alumni prepare for a panel discussion for finalists.
The event was hosted by Notre Dame Global in the Notre Dame Beijing office, with support from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. In conjunction with members of ND Global leadership, the ND Beijing staff helped to plan, coordinate, and run the weekend’s events—from talks and panels to the celebration gala. Additionally, five Notre Dame students studying in China for the semester helped with the preparations, leading an engaging icebreaker activity for the GCS finalists.
The weekend program was designed as an immersive experience, allowing finalists and their families to engage closely with the Notre Dame community. Throughout the day, finalists connected with current GCS scholars, Notre Dame current students, ND staff, alumni (from Beijing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and more), presidents of the Notre Dame Clubs from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Beijing, and alumni parents.
This year, the Parent Panel Discussion was led by Richard Zhang, President of the Notre Dame Parent Club of Beijing. The discussion was lively and meaningful, with parents sharing thoughtful perspectives and interpreting the spirit of Notre Dame through their own experiences as families.
a current undergraduate student.
“I was deeply touched while listening to the parents talking about their children’s experiences at Notre Dame. Their love and appreciation for Notre Dame is apparent. It is a testament to what Notre Dame is trying to build globally—the Notre Dame family,” said Hong Zhu, senior director of global education, who attended the event as a member of the Notre Dame Global Leadership.
The highlight of the event was the Celebration Gala Dinner, which brought together all attendees to celebrate the vitality and growth of the Notre Dame family in China. Around 80 guests joined the dinner, making it a truly memorable and meaningful experience for everyone involved. In a recorded message, Vice President and Associate Provost for Internationalization Michael Pippenger spoke directly to the GCS finalists, stating, “You are here because you represent the very best of academic excellence, leadership, and global ambition. Being named a Greater China Scholar is more than a recognition of what you have achieved, it is an investment in the bridge-builders you are becoming.”
During the dinner, two guest speakers also addressed attendees—Wenjun Zeng, a Notre Dame partner and chair professor and founding vice president for research at the Eastern Institute for Technology, and Jim O’Neill, a Notre Dame alumnus who has worked and lived in Beijing since 2010. For Jim, the essence of the Notre Dame family could be summed up in this quote from the Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky: Let us all remember how wonderful it was when we were all here together—united by a good and decent feeling—which made us better people than we otherwise would have been.
Addressing the finalists, he said, “I challenge you: Find that special place where you will be ‘united by a good and decent feeling.’ Find that special place that will make you an even better person than you already are. If you do that, then I am sure you will conclude that a special place is the University of Notre Dame.”
Ultimately, the event owed its success to its many supporters. The parents, alumni, and partners who make up the Notre Dame family were key to welcoming this new group of bright and promising GCS finalists to the Notre Dame family.
Reflecting on the event, Notre Dame Beijing Executive Director Jingyu Wang shares: “It was inspiring to see such a vibrant gathering at the Greater China Scholars 2026 event at Notre Dame Beijing. The event highlighted the achievements of our scholars and strengthened the University of Notre Dame community across the region, while offering a meaningful opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the formative Notre Dame experience—educating the mind, strengthening the body, and nurturing the spirit.”
