University of Delaware seniors Micah Petersen and Matthew Rojas, both Honors Program students, have been selected as members of the next class of Schwarzman Scholars, a highly selective program that provides for a year of graduate study in China.

Both Petersen and Rojas are Eugene du Pont Distinguished Memorial Scholars, funded by the Unidel Foundation.

Petersen, majoring in Chinese and international relations, and Rojas, majoring in economics and public policy, are among 129 men and women chosen from more than 2,700 applicants for the Class of 2018. The group will study at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, one of China’s premier institutions, beginning in August 2017.

The class is composed of students from 30 countries and 75 universities, with 45 percent from the United States and 20 percent from China.

The program, founded by Blackstone chairman, CEO and co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman and inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, enrolled its first class last year. That group will complete its studies in August.

Schwarzman Scholars are selected in a rigorous screening process that seeks to identify exceptional men and women who are expected to become future leaders and to confront the most difficult challenges of the coming century. Expenses for each scholar are fully funded by the program.

Petersen, from Houston, Texas, is an Army ROTC cadet, a Blue Hen Ambassador and a writing fellow and is involved with E-52 Student Theatre. He is a founder of the nonprofit Reviresco, which works to educate civilians about ways to support military personnel.

Rojas is president of the Student Government Association, is active with Reviresco and Big Brothers Big Sisters and also is a writing fellow. He is a founder of the nonprofit Lazarus Rising, which combats homelessness through the services of college volunteers.

More details about the Schwarzman Scholars program and about Petersen’s and Rojas’ accomplishments and plans will be included in a UDaily article next week.