Vichetpanha Leng (Academic Year 2024-2025) – Panic, Growth and Contemplative
Favorite Quote: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” – John Lennon
An interesting fact about Vichetpanha is that he loves planes—and he really means it. Whenever he sees a plane descending into or flying out of Phnom Penh International Airport, whether he’s on a motorbike or in a car, he can’t help but scream, cry, and marvel at how fascinating it is that humans can build such incredible machines. The roar of the engines is his absolute favorite sound.
He has been featured on national TV and in newspapers (BTV, The Phnom Penh Post, and The Post Khmer) for his academic achievements. Most notably, he was the first and only Cambodian student to ever receive the fully funded Young Leaders Scholarship (0.65% acceptance rate) to attend the prestigious Yale Young Global Scholars summer program. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the world on Google Maps. Over his high school years, he has studied at three different schools.
His favorite subject is AP Statistics because it sparked his passion in mathematics and showed him how applicable it is in the real world. He sees himself combining statistics with humanities or social sciences in the future. His most challenging project was the Research Capstone since it was his first time writing a paper at what he considered an undergraduate level. It required extensive preparation, countless readings, and a lot of stress, but it taught him valuable skills in research and writing.
Outside the classroom, Vichetpanha has been very active. He is the Founder of the Cambodia Interscholastic Mathematical Olympiad and the Founder of the Beyond Boundary Project, which collaborated with scholars from five countries to create a free 527-page WSC curriculum and provide debate, writing, and challenge training to over 200 students. He also attended the Yale Young Global Scholars summer program in the Innovation in Science and Technology track, participated in the World Scholar’s Cup seven times (his team was the first Cambodian team to rank 1st in Debate at the Global Round and 2nd overall at the 2023 regional round), and joined MUN, debate, photography, and student council. Beyond academics, he has launched multiple e-commerce businesses, helped with his family’s printing business, and volunteered in charity and food drive events.
Though he has only been at AUPPHS-FA for one year, his favorite memories include the field trips to Chisor Mountain Temple and Coco Farm, as well as Halloween celebrations and the shared stress of exams with friends.
He believes AP Microeconomics, Research, and English prepared him most for life after high school, as these subjects strengthened his ability to think critically, analyze human experiences, and communicate effectively—skills essential for making an impact in the world.
After graduation, Vichetpanha will attend the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West (UWC-USA) on a nearly full-ride scholarship.
His advice to juniors at AUPPHS-FA: “Don’t worry too much. Enjoy the moments, take things one step at a time, and be grateful to be alive and experiencing life. It’s beautiful—so take full advantage of it. Figure out your passion, but don’t pressure yourself.”