Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards
The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award (Traditional Chinese: 香港傑出學生選舉) is a student contest in Hong Kong. The Award recognizes students for great academic performance, extra-curricular achievements and commitment to serving society.[1]
From 1985 to 2010, the Award was organized by the Lion & Globe Educational Trust and co-organized by the Outstanding Young Persons' Association.[2] Starting from 2011, the Award is organized by the Youth Arch Foundation and co-organized 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 organized by Miss Doreen Leung, the first female recipient of the Outstanding Young Persons of the World.[3] Since Miss 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 Miss Doreen Leung as the event organizer of the Awards.[5]
Judging criteria
- Outstanding academic performance
- Achievements in extra-curricular activities
- Track record of community services
- Commitment to contribute to society
- Leadership potential
Selection process
Before 2011, applicants first needed to sit for a written test that comprises questions from all disciplines, including languages, mathematics, logic, science, history, geography and current issues. 40 finalists would be selected to participate in the group interview, after which 10 or 11 winners would be selected.
Since 2011, applicants, as the first step, are required to take a written test of similar format. 50 finalists are short-listed to participate in a 2-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]
Prizes
All awardess and finalists of the Award are invited to join a 4-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 to an experiential learning and cycling trip in Cambodia. In 2015, students participated in a service learning and environmental trip in Sumatra, where there were guided to produce environmental-themed videos. [7]
Other awards
In addition to the 10 or 11 recipients of the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award, a special prize is given to the top scorer of the written test in each form (three in total).
In 2010, the Doreen Leung Memorial Award was established. This award is presented to a finalist of the Award who most demonstrates the spirit of Miss Doreen Leung as a giver. Once selected, the awardee is offered a mentorship programme with a notable person working in the student's intended career field.[8] In 2010, the mentor was Chung To, founder of Chi Heng Foundation.
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. Some of them include:[13]
- Anson Chan (陳方安生), Former Chief Secretary for Administration
- Audrey Eu (余若薇), Legislative Councillor
- Eric Li (李家祥), Member of the 10th National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
- Regina Ip (葉劉淑儀), Former Secretary for Security; Legislative Councillor
- Michael Suen (孫明揚), Secretary for Education Bureau
- Jasper Tsang (曾鈺成), President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
- Rosanna Wong (王易鳴), Executive Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Schools by number of Outstanding Student Award winners
Notable winners and finalists
Many of the winners and finalists achieved excellent results in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination with a good number of them having obtained 10As and 9As.[15] Many were admitted to universities such as Ivy League institutions and Oxbridge.[16] Up to 2011, the alumni base of the Award (commonly known as “OSArs”) has reached over 700 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:
- Au Hoishun Stephanie (歐鎧淳), Swimmer at Beijing Olympics 2008; Holder of 11 Hong Kong’s long and short course (freestyle) records[14]
- Mung Chiang (蔣濛), Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering, Director of the Keller Center, Princeton University, 2013 Alan T. Waterman Award recipient [14]
- Joyce Samoutou-Wong (黃凱欣), co-founder of New Sight Congo, helping the blind and visually impaired by pioneering a non-profit eye surgintre in the Republic of Congo [18]
- Joey Wat (屈翠容), Managing Director for Health and Beauty UK at AS Watson, who has revitalised the Superdrug and Savers chains during her leadership in 2012-2014.[19]
- Jonathan Hsui (許智豪), Former DJ at RTHK[14]
- Norris Lam (林曼雅), Managing Partner & President of Forbes Private Capital Asia; Adjunct Professor (Honorary) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong[14]
- Karen Mok (莫文蔚), Cantopop Singer; Actress[14]
- Simon Shen (沈旭暉), Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Chancellor of Roundtable Community[14]
- 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.[20]
- Perry So (蘇柏軒), Assistant Conductor of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; Youngest winner at 5th International Prokofiev Conducting Competition[14]
- Kevin Tsang (曾家瑋), Composer[14]
- Edgar Tung (童成), CEO of SgT Group[14]
- 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. [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 Honk Kong. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ "The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award". Official Website of the Outstanding Young Persons' Association. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ 世界傑青 (in Chinese). Official Website of the Outstanding Young Persons' Association. Retrieved 2010-12-01. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ 再見梁玳寧 (in Chinese). 星島日報. 2009-11-12.
- ↑ 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. 2009-10-20.
- ↑ "傑出學生選舉才德兼備". 頭條日報. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
- 1 2 "Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards 2010-11". Official Website of Youth Arch Foundation. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ 傑生青苗基金助人為本 (in Chinese). 香港商報. 2010-11-28.
- ↑ Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association
- ↑ "Introduction". Official Website of the Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
- ↑ "Sharing Views on Economic Progress". South China Morning Post. 2010-03-24.
- ↑ "A Broader View of Life". South China Morning Post. 2006-12-15.
- ↑ "List of Honorary Advisors". Official Website of Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Past Winners". Official Website of Youth Arch Foundation. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ "臥虎藏龍 天外有天 十優狀元傑生會學服從". 星島日報. 2006-10-16.
- ↑ "Alumni of Hong Kong Outstanding Students". Linkedin. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ "Introduction of HKOSA". Official Website of Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ http://www.scmp.com/article/997106/joyce-samoutou-wong
- ↑ http://www.retail-week.com/people/superdrug-chief-joey-wat-departs-as-savers-boss-takes-the-helm/5060424.article
- ↑ http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/racing_news_item.asp?in_file=/english/news/2014-07/news_2014071101743.html&b_cid=EWRNRNE
- ↑ Imogene Wong and Janis Cheung,http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=23736691&ticker=355:HK "Poman Lo: Executive Profile"
