2025 YCYW Alumni Hall of Fame

YCYW established the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 to honour graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the community and epitomise the YCYW spirit. Each year, YCYW presents the awards on Founder’s Day. On 10 October 2025, the YCYW Alumni Hall of Fame welcomed three distinguished alumnae.

Ms Haerim Jang

Class of 2014, YCIS Beijing

Ms Jang attended YCIS Beijing for primary school. After returning to the Republic of Korea, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Master of Arts in Asian Art History at Ewha Womans University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Arts Management at Seoul National University.

Ms Jang works as a curatorial assistant at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, where she focuses on cross‑disciplinary curation and research on the art market. Her goal is to connect tradition and innovation and to broaden public participation. She has gained expertise in multilingual and international projects, through her cross‑cultural experience at Cheil PengTai Beijing, a subsidiary of the Samsung Advertising; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Christie’s. She is now leading a contemporary art initiative centred on K‑pop, and supported by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. For this project, she is developing strategic media partnerships. In her work, Ms Jang continues to expand the intersection of art, investment, and cultural policy to foster a more inclusive and sustainable arts ecosystem.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Jang said, “To me, this award is not just a recognition of my past, but a general reminder to keep living out the YCIS spirit, and to think and listen across cultures, languages, and ideologies. Thank you once again for this beautiful encouragement. I will do my best, to be the kind of alumna who not only honours where she comes from, but also helps carry the values of Yew Chung International School into the future.”

Ms Michel Mak

Class of 2012, YCIS Hong Kong

Ms Mak is an alumna of YCIS Hong Kong. She earned her LLB (Bachelor of Laws), from The University of Hong Kong with outstanding results, and completed an LLM (Master of Laws), at Queen Mary University of London with a focus on International Arbitration, graduating with distinction. She gained experience at leading international law firms through summer internships, and secured a two‑year trainee solicitor contract, thereby gaining a rigorous academic and professional foundation for cross-border development.

After transitioning into the media industry, Ms Mak spent two impactful years at Phoenix TV Hong Kong Channel, where she planned and hosted “Hong Kong New Perspectives”. Her programme explored technology and social issues, featured in‑depth interviews, and linked with global correspondents for major international stories. At the 9th Hang Seng University of Hong Kong Business Journalism Awards, “Hong Kong New Perspectives: The AI Art Shift”, she won Silver in Best Business Technology News Reporting (Audio‑Visual). This marked Ms Mak’s first journalism award after joining Phoenix and established her personal brand of “technology foresight + in‑depth reporting”.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Mak shared, “I spent 18 years of my life with Yew Chung. YCYW isn’t just a school for me—it is a home. YCYW is the very ground that shaped my character and the place that gave wings to my dreams. YCYW taught me to ask questions, to think critically, to have compassion, and most importantly, to believe that I can be anything. To students who might be struggling in finding your path: that is okay. Don’t hesitate to change course. Your journey will never be a straight line; it is an adventure. Have the courage to be different, and to listen to your heart.”

She also urged her fellow juniors to carry with them two things as they step into the future. “First is the heart of gratitude. Always remember your family, your teachers and friends who supported you, and the unique community that believed in you. Trust me, they are going to be your strongest support. And second is the commitment to give back. Lift others as you climb, share your stories, be the person who inspires.”

Ms Kay Shi Qi Tu

Class of 2012, YCIS Shanghai

Ms Kay Shi Qi Tu, an alumna of YCIS Shanghai Gubei (Class of 2012), graduated from University College London with a Master of Arts in Architecture. As a UK‑registered architect and founder of the company TU by TU, she believes architecture and design should enrich human experience, seamlessly integrating function, beauty, and sustainability.

Her professional practice spans London, Hong Kong SAR, and Shanghai, integrating local culture specificity with innovative solutions. As a former Lead Architect at Zaha Hadid Architects, she has contributed to delivering large, complex projects and continually pushed the boundaries of architectural innovation. She has also contributed to the London Southwark Design Review Panel, helping to raise the overall quality of urban development. Her work has garnered awards and has been featured in leading professional media such as the Architects’ Journal and ArchDaily.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Tu said, “I still remember our school trip to Thailand, where we spent days laying bricks for a local school. It was hot and exhausting, but the joy of helping others to build their own space stays with me. And two years later, when I went to London to study architecture, I realised that the seed of that decision was planted there, in that moment of shared purpose.”

She also recalled that “the art room was where everything began”, where she “learned to create freely, to think visually, and to explore ideas without fear.” She reckoned that education is not about what we know, but who we become. “Life is not only about chasing happiness, it is about having the courage and confidence to face any fear or challenge—and to keep going.”