University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student Lizabeth Bamgboye and alumna Maria Silva have been awarded the prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship, which provides a fully-funded master’s program in global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University. They are Carolina’s 12th and 13th Schwarzman Scholars since the scholarship began in 2015.
“Lizabeth and Maria are exemplars of Carolina students who combine academic excellence, community-centered leadership and global engagement,” said Marc Howlett, executive director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships. “As Carolina’s 12th and 13th Schwarzman Scholars, they will continue strengthening connections between UNC-Chapel Hill and a growing community of global leaders.”
Bamgboye is a senior, double majoring in global studies and political science with a minor in creative writing. She is an Honors Carolina student, Phillips Ambassador, Buckley Public Service Scholar, president of the Ebony Readers/Onyx Theatre, global studies research assistant and member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
A poet and data scientist, Bamgboye sees the Schwarzman Scholarship as the culmination of her Carolina career, which included studying abroad in Taiwan as a Phillips Ambassador. At Tsinghua University she will work to unite scholarship with the community by exploring her passions for social science research and poetry across new dimensions.
“In this next stage of globalization, we must be creative, courageous and empathetic,” said Bamgboye.
Silva received a bachelor’s degree from Carolina in 2022, double majoring in economics and Italian with a minor in business administration. She was a Morehead-Cain Scholar, Honors Carolina Laureate, Buckley Public Service Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Currently, Silva serves as a financial services consultant for Ernst & Young.
Silva, a Peru native, has also lived on four continents. At Tsinghua University her studies will focus on ways to facilitate international trade and other partnerships.
“Being selected as a Schwarzman Scholar represents a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of international relations and business,” said Silva. “For me, it’s not just an academic pursuit; it’s a gateway to becoming a part of a global network of leaders who are poised to tackle pressing challenges.”
Silva and Bambgoye will join an international cohort of 150 students in Beijing next year who were selected from over 4,000 applicants. The Schwarzman Scholarship is designed to build a global network of leaders who will deepen understanding between China and the rest of the world.
