Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards
Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award | |
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![]() Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award New logo | |
Awarded for | Recognizing outstanding academic, extra-curricular, and community service achievements, and morality among students in Hong Kong |
Location | Hong Kong |
Established | 1985 |
The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award (Chinese: 香港傑出學生選舉) is a student contest in Hong Kong. The Award aims to encourage promising students with outstanding academic, extra-curricular and community service achievements, and morality.[1]
From 1985 to 2010, the Award was organised by the Lion & Globe Educational Trust and co-organised by the Outstanding Young Persons' Association.[2] Starting from 2011, the Award has been organised by the Youth Arch Foundation and co-organised by the Outstanding Young Persons' Association. Every year, about ten secondary school students from local and international schools in Hong Kong are selected to be the "Hong Kong Outstanding Students".
History
The Award began in 1985 as the "Hong Kong Outstanding Female Students Award", which only accepted applications from female students; it was opened to male students in 1987. Over the first 25 years, the Award had been organised by Doreen Leung, the first female recipient of the Outstanding Young Persons of the World.[3] Since Leung died in 2009,[4] a group of past winners and finalists of the Award founded the Youth Arch Foundation in 2010, succeeding to the role of Leung as the event organiser of the Awards.[5]
Judging criteria
- Outstanding academic performance
- Achievements in extra-curricular activities
- Exceptional personal qualities
- Outstanding character
- Commitment to contribute to society
- Leadership potential
Selection process
Before 2011, applicants first needed to sit for a written test that comprised questions from disciplines including languages, mathematics, logic, science, history, geography, and current issues. 40 finalists would be selected to participate in a group interview, after which 10 or 11 winners would be selected.[citation needed]
Since 2011, applicants, as the first step, are required to take a written test of similar format. Candidates are short-listed to participate in a two-day camp which aims to assess applicants’ inter-personal skills and leadership potential.[6] 20 students are then selected to enter the panel interview round. Finally, 10 winners are chosen based on their performance in all stages.[7]
Subsequently,[when?] the Youth Arch Foundation further revamped the selection process for the Award. In addition to the previous assessment processes, finalists will be invited to participate in the Enrichment Program during the summer break. This program will help them enhance themselves, broaden their horizons, and develop their strengths. Participants will have the chance to engage in in-depth discussions with renowned figures, community leaders, various organisations, as well as outstanding students from previous years and other schools. During the sharing session for finalists, they will have the opportunity to share their learning achievements and experiences from the summer break.[citation needed]
Prizes
All awardees and finalists of the Award are invited to join a four-day summer leadership training camp. Starting from 2011, winners of the Award will be invited to partake in a study tour. In 2013 and 2014, awardees went on an experiential learning and cycling trip in Cambodia. In 2015, students participated in a service learning and environmental trip in Sumatra, where they were guided to produce environmental-themed videos.[7]
From 2016, awardees visited different places such as Guangxi, Sri Lanka, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin for the service learning trip. During these trips, they engaged in cultural exchanges with the locals and contributed to the community through activities such as teaching and repairing community facilities. They embodied the spirit of "Giving is Outstanding" through their dedicated service.[citation needed]
Other awards
In 2009, Doreen Leung, died. In memory of her, Youth Arch Foundation set up the Doreen Leung Memorial Service Award in 2010 to uphold her selfless spirit of serving the community.[citation needed]
The awardee is selected according to their community service records, as well as voting result among the nominees. Chung To, a social leader and Chi Heng Foundation Founder and chairperson, will be the mentor of the awardee for a year.[8]
Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association
The winners and finalists of the Award founded the Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association (HKOSA)[9] in 1987, a student-run organization. All winners and finalists of the Award are automatically enrolled to HKOSA once they are shortlisted to enter the final interview round.[10]
The organization has initiated a number of creative and innovative projects that aim to inspire other secondary school students in different ways. Some of the regular activities organized include the annual Leadership Interflow Camp since 1991, the Volunteer Training Scheme since 1998, the Hong Kong Youth Summit, a forum for students to discuss current issues,[11] since 2003, and the International Convergence, which is a multi-cultural experience scheme,[12] since 2005. These activities typically attract participation of over 100 students from different secondary schools.
HKOSA is supported by a group of honorary advisors, which include consuls general, university presidents and government officials. The advisor list in 2022–23 includes:[13]
- Mr Andrew Leung (梁君彥), President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
- Ms Christine Choi (蔡若蓮), Secretary for Education
- Prof Xiang Zhang (張翔), President and Vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong
- Prof Rocky Tuan (段崇智), President and Vice-chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Prof Stephen Cheung (張仁良), former President of the Education University of Hong Kong
- Michael Tien (田北辰), member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Schools by number of Outstanding Student Award winners
Notable winners and finalists
Many winners and finalists of the Award achieved excellent results in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, with a number of them obtaining 10As and 9As.[15] Many were admitted to universities such as Ivy League institutions and Oxbridge.[16] Up to 2016, the alumni base of the Award (commonly known as “OSArs”) has reached over 1100 people.[17] Many of them now work in fields including government, business, law, medicine, entertainment, education, architecture, journalism, and engineering.
Some of the notable winners and finalists are:
- Stephanie Au Hoi-shun (歐鎧淳), four-time Olympic swimmer; holder of 11 Hong Kong's long and short course (freestyle) records[18]
- Mung Chiang (蔣濛), Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering, Director of the Keller Center, Princeton University, 2013 Alan T. Waterman Award recipient[18]
- Cheong Leong (張亮), executive director, Charities and Community, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and chairman and CEO of RunOurCity, an innovative social enterprise he co-founded with the aim of transforming life through running. He has been an honorary advisor and director of Social Ventures Hong Kong, a pioneer venture philanthropic fund, since its inception in 2007.[19]
- Poman Lo (羅寶文) CEO and Founder of Century Innovative Technology Limited (CITL). She is also the Vice Chairman of Century City International Holdings Limited and Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited and an executive director of Paliburg Holdings Limited and managing director of Regal Portfolio Management Limited.[20]
- Perry So (蘇柏軒), Assistant Conductor of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; Youngest winner at 5th International Prokofiev Conducting Competition[18]
- Joey Wat (屈翠容), CEO of Yum China[21]
References
- ^ "Speech by Wong Yan Lung, Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, at the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards Prize Presentation Ceremony 2010" (PDF). The Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award". Official Website of the Outstanding Young Persons' Association. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ 世界傑青 (in Chinese). Official Website of the Outstanding Young Persons' Association. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
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- ^ 再見梁玳寧 (in Chinese). 星島日報. 12 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ 前傑出學生成立青苗基金:培育青年領袖參於社會服務 (in Chinese). 大公報. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "傑出學生選舉才德兼備". 頭條日報. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards 2010-11". Official Website of Youth Arch Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ 傑生青苗基金助人為本 (in Chinese). 香港商報. 28 November 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association
- ^ "Introduction". Official Website of the Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- ^ "Sharing Views on Economic Progress". South China Morning Post. 24 March 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
- ^ "A Broader View of Life". South China Morning Post. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
- ^ "List of Honorary Advisors". Official Website of Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "Past Winners 青苗基金 Youth Arch Foundation". youtharch.org. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "臥虎藏龍 天外有天 十優狀元傑生會學服從". 星島日報. 16 October 2006. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Alumni of Hong Kong Outstanding Students". Linkedin. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "Introduction of HKOSA". Official Website of Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ a b c "Past Winners". Official Website of Youth Arch Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "The Hong Kong Jockey Club".
- ^ Imogene Wong and Janis Cheung, [1] "Poman Lo: Executive Profile"
- ^ "Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award". youtharch.org. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
External links
- Youth Arch Foundation
- Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association