Jake Gaba, Dartmouth ’16, was selected from 3,000 applicants across 135 countries as a member of the inaugural 109-person class of Schwarzman Scholars. Modeled after the Rhodes Scholarship, the program was established by Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of global investment firm Blackstone Group. It seeks to prepare students for a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Scholars study leadership skills and the Chinese language and culture while pursuing master’s degrees through Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Gaba is currently studying computer science and digital arts and is an amateur filmmaker whose videos, Guy Dances Across China in 100 Days and Dartmouth College—Happy, have been viral YouTube hits.