Vietnamese student Le Thuy Lam Khanh earned major US university scholarships after excelling in fencing, debate, robotics and academics.
Not only has she maintained a perfect GPA throughout high school, but Le Thuy Lam Khanh has also earned a national fencing medal, become a familiar face at international debate tournaments and represented Vietnam in robotics competitions in the United States and Australia.
Armed with a remarkably diverse portfolio, the 18-year-old student has recently secured scholarships worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from several universities in the United States.
Refusing to be defined by a single field
Le Thuy Lam Khanh is a competitive fencer who is also passionate about swimming, debate and robotics. Photo: NVCC
Le Thuy Lam Khanh is a 12th-grade student at Wellspring Hanoi.
A year ago, she won a bronze medal at the National Fencing Championship, becoming the youngest amateur athlete to reach the podium at the country’s premier fencing competition. Despite taking up the sport only three years ago, Khanh has already competed in numerous international tournaments in Malaysia, Thailand and other countries.
Few people know that her introduction to fencing happened entirely by chance.
“At first, I simply wanted to try a new sport after many years of competing in basketball and swimming. I hoped it would help improve my concentration. Part of my decision also came from inspiration after watching one of my favorite films,” Khanh recalled.
After only a few training sessions, however, she was captivated by the sport’s fast pace, strategic depth and constant demand for decision-making under pressure.
Training alongside Olympian Vu Thanh An further strengthened her determination to pursue fencing seriously.
“For me, fencing is a way to sharpen my reflexes, stay calm under pressure and learn how to read situations quickly. It has helped me become more confident and decisive,” she said.
Le Thuy Lam Khanh (left) at the 2025 National Championship. Photo: NVCC
As her coach, Olympian Vu Thanh An said what impressed him most was Khanh’s view of fencing not merely as a sport, but as a journey of personal growth.
“She sees it as a way to become more decisive, more strategic and more resilient. That mindset has helped her improve rapidly and become the youngest amateur athlete to win a medal at the country’s highest-level fencing competition,” he said.
Beyond the fencing strip, Khanh is equally passionate about swimming, debate and robotics, earning numerous awards across those fields.
In debate, she won the Novice category at the Ho Chi Minh City Open Debate Tournament in 2022, participated in several international competitions and reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 National School Debate Championship.
In robotics, she competed twice in the First Lego League and represented Vietnam at international events in Sydney and Houston.
According to Khanh, each activity has taught her different lessons and skills.
“Robotics has taught me patience, creativity and logical thinking. Fencing has taught me to stay calm while remaining determined, to make judgments and handle pressure. Debate has strengthened my research skills, information processing and teamwork,” she said.
At different stages of her life, Khanh has deliberately chosen activities that allow her to explore new interests and pursue fresh goals.
“That helps me broaden my perspective on life and the world,” she said.
Khanh believes the energy that allows her to pursue multiple passions comes from two things: physical fitness and genuine enthusiasm for what she does.
“Regular sports training gives me strong endurance. At the same time, the feeling that I am improving and constantly discovering new things keeps me excited and motivated,” Khanh said.
In addition to her extracurricular achievements, Khanh has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout high school, earned a TOEFL iBT score of 111 out of 120 and received numerous academic honors, including second prize in a creativity competition organized by Queen’s University and a WETECH Technology Award. She also received Wellspring’s talent scholarship for several consecutive years.
A dream of learning in an international environment
Lam Khanh won a bronze medal at the National Fencing Championship. Photo: NVCC
Traveling abroad for competitions and international exchanges played a major role in shaping Khanh’s outlook on the world and her future.
“When I met people from different countries, I realized that the same issue can be approached in many different ways. That experience made me more open-minded, more willing to listen and more respectful of differences.”
Those experiences ultimately inspired her ambition to become a diplomat.
“I want not only to develop myself in an international environment but also to bring what I learn back to Vietnam, especially in the fields of diplomacy and international cooperation,” she said.
When preparing her US college applications, Khanh focused less on listing achievements and more on telling a consistent story about her personal growth.
“I wanted admissions committees to see that I have a clear academic and career direction. It wasn’t about presenting achievements. It was about sharing a journey of constantly challenging myself to become a better version of who I am,” Khanh said.
According to Khanh, every element of her application was designed to complement the others and create a coherent picture of who she is. Her academics, extracurricular activities and personal essays all reflected her goal of studying international relations and eventually becoming a professional diplomat.
That approach helped her secure several major scholarships from American universities, including the President Academic Scholarship at George Washington University worth USD 150,000 over four years, the President Scholarship at American University worth USD 88,000, and the Chancellor Scholarship at Rutgers University valued at USD 84,000. She was also admitted to honors programs.
Khanh plans to study Political Science at George Washington University.
As she prepares to leave for the United States, she hopes to excel academically while actively participating in activities that will provide practical experience.
“I hope to become someone with independent thinking, a deep understanding of global issues and a strong desire to contribute to Vietnam in the field of diplomacy,” she said.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
