This November, ten SUIS Pudong students set off for New Haven in the United States, to compete in the World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champion, hosted by the world-renowned Yale University. The students had made it to the Yale finals after successful performances in the preceding rounds in Shanghai, Hanoi, Athens and Cape Town, a particularly impressive feat considering that this year was the first time that students from the school had entered the competition.

Over the course of one intense week, the students took part in debates, exams, collaborative writing and a group challenge, alongside 2,200 top students from all around the world. When the results were announced, it became clear once again that SUIS Pudong scholars are more than capable of competing successfully against their peers at the highest level, with a host of medals including over 10 golds. Particularly outstanding performers include Katie Zhang from 8CV, who achieved 5th place in the special subject and 7th place in the social studies categories, Tomomi Kawaguchi from IG2-JS, who earned 15^th place overall in and 6^th place overall in history; and perhaps most impressively of all, Rina Mitsutsuka from IG2-JS, who won the top prize in the literature category. Such high-ranking finishes are truly exceptional, when one considering the thousands of other students who were competing.

We hope that the outstanding performances of the students will encourage even more students to take part in the competition next year, to build on this highly successful start.

The World Scholar’s Cup trip was an absolutely wonderful experience for me. The competition was an opportunity for me and my teammates to increase our understanding and experience in many different academic areas: science, history, social studies, art and music, literature, not to mention debating and writing. The highlight of the trip to New Haven was, for me, being able to visit three prestigious universities and getting to know the students and campuses. I would recommend the World Scholar’s Cup to anyone looking for an eye-opening, inspiring and educational adventure.

——Rina

Scholar cup was an unforgettable experience for me. Although it was competitive, it was oddly relaxing as well. I was scared of the competitors at first but when I got there, I realized everyone was as nervous as I was. I really enjoyed spending time with friends as well as debating and the scholars bowl. I would recommend this to more people because it was a very fun experience.

——Tomomi

Senior Division Awards——Team Awards

Scholar’s Bowl

Rina Mitsutsuka, Susannah Xie and Tomomi Kawaguchi– 40th place

Andrea Dionysiou, Andy Li – Silver medal

Collaborative Writing

Andrea Dionysiou, Andy Li – Silver medal, 124th place

Scholar’s Challenge

Rina Mitsutsuka, Susannah Xie and Tomomi Kawaguchi – Gold medal, 49th place

Tournament of Champions Top Teams

Rina Mitsutsuka, Susannah Xie and Tomomi Kawaguchi – Silver medal, 54th place

Individual Awards

Tournament of Champions Champion Scholars

Tomomi Kawaguchi – Silver medal, 115th place

Rina Mitsutsuka – Silver medal, 196th place

Collaborative Writing

Rina Mitsutsuka – Silver medal

Andrea Dionysiou – Silver medal

Debate

Tomomi Kawaguchi – Silver medal, 160th place

Scholar’s Challenge

Rina Mitsutsuka

Literature – Gold medal, 1^st place

All subjects – Gold medal, 34^th place

Social Studies – Gold medal, 48^th place

History – Silver medal

Special subject area – Silver medal

Tomomi Kawaguchi

History – Gold medal, 6th

Literature – Gold medal, 15th

Art – Silver medal

All subjects – Silver medal

Andy Li

Special Area – Silver medal

Junior Division Awards——Team Awards

Collaborative Writing

Katie Zhang, Louise Liu – Silver medal, 114^th place

Individual Awards

Tournament of Champions Champion Scholars

Katie Zhang – Silver medal, 115^th place

Collaborative Writing

Katie Zhang – silver medal, 243^rd place

Scholar’s Challenge

Katie Zhang

Social studies – Gold medal, 7^th place

Special subject area – Gold medal, 5^th place

Science – Gold medal

All subjects – Gold medal, 27^th place

History – Silver

Louise Liu

History – Silver medal

Social studies – Silver medal

Elena Orihuela Sanz

Special subject area – Silver Medal

Da Vinci Scholar Award

Alicia Wen

School Top Scholar

Katie Zhang