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The following is issued on behalf of the Student Financial Assistance Agency:
Around 900 students, five working adults and two apprentices were presented with awards and scholarships at the 27th Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) at Hong Kong City Hall today (March 23).
Officiating at the ceremony were Lady Youde; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr Ma Ching-cheng; the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, Professor Richard Ho Man-wui; and other members of the Board of Trustees and the Council.
Lady Youde said, "For 27 years, the Fund has spared no effort in supporting our most gifted students to obtain the highest quality education and also in encouraging those determined to make the very best of their talents. As a result, since the establishment of the Fund, over $230 million has been granted to nearly 690,000 students who have received our awards or participated in our sponsored activities. It has always been rewarding to see how the Fund has made it possible for our young people to take on new challenges and fulfil their ambitions."
In the 2013/14 academic year, the Fund has disbursed $6.86 million. Presented this year were six fellowship awards, one scholarship award plus two honorary fellowships and one honorary scholarship for overseas studies; one overseas fellowship and one overseas scholarship for two disabled students; 11 fellowships for postgraduate students, including one honorary fellowship; 26 scholarships for undergraduate and post-secondary students, including six honorary scholarships; four scholarships for disabled students pursuing undergraduate and post-secondary studies; six medals for students who obtained outstanding results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination; 821 prizes for senior secondary school students and 12 prizes for students of the Vocational Training Council; 13 awards for disabled students; two awards for outstanding apprentices; and five awards for working adults who have undergone retraining and have successfully integrated into their new work environment.
Exclusive sponsorship of $600,000 towards the Young Friends of the Hong Kong Arts Festival continued in 2013/14 to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to the performing arts. In 2013, more than 8,100 students have become members of the Young Friends and over 21,000 students have participated in various programmes and activities of this scheme.
Competition for the overseas fellowships and scholarships for 2014/15 was extremely keen. Seven brilliant contestants, from among 208 applicants, won the awards. Each will receive a maximum of $283,000 or $262,000 a year respectively for a fellowship award and a scholarship award.
The award recipients for the Overseas Fellowships 2014/15 are:
(1) Mr Chung King-lam, currently a student studying Geography and Resource Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in Planning Studies at the University College London in the United Kingdom;
(2) Mr Ng Ho-yee, currently a student studying Psychiatry at the University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in Clinical Psychology at Temple University in the United States;
(3) Mr Ng Ka-cheung, currently a student studying law at the University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a Bachelor of Civil Law degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom;
(4) Mr Dwight Tse Cheuk-kit, currently a student studying Psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a PhD degree in Psychology at the Claremont Graduate University in the United States;
(5) Miss Wong Hoi-ki, currently a student studying law at the University of Hong Kong, who intends to pursue a Bachelor of Civil Law degree at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom; and
(6) Miss Jaclyn Yeung, currently a primary school teacher, who intends to pursue a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The award recipient for the Overseas Scholarship 2014/15 is Miss Caitlin Li-yan Fischer of German Swiss International School, who intends to study Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.
The award recipients for the Overseas Honorary Fellowships/Scholarships 2014/15 are Miss Tam Nga-yin, Mr Yu Cheuk-yin and Mr Zachariah Lee Kwok-tsat. Each will receive $10,000 for the honorary award.
The overseas fellowship/scholarship award exclusively for disabled students was introduced in 1994. The 2014/15 fellowship recipient is Mr Tam Lok-ming, who is a hearing-impaired student studying Cell and Molecular Biology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He plans to pursue a PhD degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of California (Davis) in the United States. The award recipient for the Overseas Scholarship for Disabled Students 2014/15 is Miss Pun Hiu-ching, who is a student with physical disability studying at the CNEC Lee I Yao Memorial Secondary School. She plans to pursue a bachelor degree in Comparative Literature at New York University in the United States.
Six students who obtained outstanding results in the 2013 HKDSE Examination have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals. They are:
(1) Mr Christopher Sum Hiu-fung of La Salle College, who scored seven Level 5**s;
(2) Miss Tsang Yee-wai of CCC Heep Woh College, who scored seven Level 5**s;
(3) Miss Wong Nga-yee of Ying Wa Girls' School, who scored seven Level 5**s;
(4) Miss Lam Ho-yan of St Mark's School, who scored six Level 5**s and one Level 5*;
(5) Mr Choi Wai-tak of St Paul's Co-educational College, who scored six Level 5**s and one Level 5; and
(6) Mr Felix Lai Pok-yin of La Salle College, who scored six Level 5**s and one Level 5.
The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Council, who obtained Awards for Self-Improvement for Working Adults are:
(1) Mr Cheung Chi-hung, who completed the Certificate in Standard Security & Property Management, and is currently a building attendant;
(2) Mr Cho Tsz-man, who completed a short course in Measurement Technician, and is currently a project quantity surveyor;
(3) Ms Lee Hiu-wa, who completed the Diploma in Arboricultural Management, and is currently a project executive of a garden company;
(4) Ms Li Kam-ping, who completed the Certificate in Post-natal Care Worker Training, and is currently a post-natal care worker; and
(5) Ms Wong Lai-wah, who completed the Certificate in Care-related Support Worker Training, and is currently a patient care assistant.
The two apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who obtained the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:
(1) Mr Ho Shing-kwan, who attained a Craft Certificate in Gas Services Engineering, and is currently a gas utilisation fitter; and
(2) Mr Tse Chun-wa, who attained a Higher Diploma in Building Studies, and is currently a construction technician.
A total of around $223,000 has been expended on the Award Scheme for Disabled Students to provide 13 awardees with awards for the purchase of study aids.
Ten postgraduate students have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships at $30,000 each, while 20 undergraduate and post-secondary students have been awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarships at $20,000 each. One postgraduate student and six undergraduate students have been conferred with the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Honorary Fellowship and Scholarships at the value of $3,000 and $2,000 each respectively. In addition, four disabled students pursuing undergraduate and post-secondary studies locally have been awarded scholarships at $20,000 each.
The Fund has also spent $833,000 on the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Prizes for 821 senior secondary school students from around 420 schools throughout the territory and 12 students from the Vocational Training Council.
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund has since its inception supported over 22,600 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. Around 2,350 scholars and fellows have completed their studies and are now working in Hong Kong in different sectors, contributing to the well-being and development of society.
Ends/Sunday, March 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:31
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