The valedictorian of the class of 2024 is Xuezhen Wang. Xuezhen is a graduate of the Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program between City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University, studying computer science at both institutions. Before that, he graduated from Shanxi Experimental Secondary School in Taiyuan, China.
During the initial half of his degree in Hong Kong, Xuezhen distinguished himself by receiving the esteemed Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship and being recognized as a JC Scholar. He actively contributed to campus life through various roles, including serving as the president of the Computer Science Department Student Chapter, a mentor for the freshmen in the department, a teaching assistant, and a PALSI (Peer-Assisted Learning Scheme using Supplemental Instruction) leader. Xuezhen's commitment also extended beyond academic settings as he engaged in community volunteering off campus, and completed internships with Tencent Video Chuang 2020 and Doctorflix. His foray into research began under the mentorship of Prof. Minming Li in algorithmic game theory, culminating in a publication at AAAI-23 (The Thirty-Seventh AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence) on facility location problem.
Continuing his academic journey at Columbia, Xuezhen maintained a record of excellence. He furthered his campus engagement by working as a teaching assistant and in the Operation Division of the Columbia China Forum, an annual student-led conference focusing on China's development and Sino-US relations. His achievements were recognized through the Columbia GS Dean’s Scholarship, the Peter K. Bloch Scholarship, and a GS Service Award, which highlighted his leadership and dedication to the community. At Columbia, he expanded his research under the guidance of Prof. Shuran Song and Prof. Steven Feiner, contributing to a project in robot teleoperation via VR interfaces, which was published at IEEE VR-24 (The Thirty-First IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces). When he’s not debugging his code, Xuezhen enjoys photography, swimming, and indulging in the melodies of Taylor Swift.
Xuezhen graduates summa cum laude with a degree in computer science, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, and the GS Honor Society. He will commence his PhD specializing in computer graphics at HKUST, aspiring to make contributions to the development of the visual effects industry in Hong Kong and China.
*Article updated summer 2024 with image from the GS Class Day Ceremony, held on Monday, May 13, 2024.
