The 2014 Student of the Year winners are as diverse as they are talented, and they each showed true dedication to their craft.
Eunice Yiu celebrates winning the grand prize with her younger sister, Venrena (left).After months of sleepless nights and tough interviews, 2014 Student of the Year winners were finally announced at a glamorous ceremony on Saturday at the Sheraton Hong Kong.
The competition was incredibly tense this year, but Eunice Yiu from St Paul's Convent School (Secondary Section) proved she has what it takes to rise above the rest, and took home the grand prize. In her acceptance speech, the Form Five student said the competition was a memorable experience. "I've been able to see a lot more of the world; from discussing world issues to learning from very talented individuals of my age."
Winners of the other eight categories were also announced on the day, with shortlisted candidates, teachers, parents, and judges attending the ceremony. There were also many distinguished guests, including Education Secretary, Eddie Ng Hak-kim, and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chief executive of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which sponsored the 2014 Student of the Year.
During the ceremony, the three performing artist finalists wowed the audience with three stunning and very different performances.
Ma Hon-lam of Diocesan Boys' School and his violin hit the stage first; Christy Leung from Diocesan Girls' School then played a piece on her harp. Finally, Chan Kwan-ming of Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School showed off his unique talent with a solo a capella performance of Pharrell Williams' Grammy-winning Happy.
Here's a look at the winners from each category:
Community Contributor
Yip Chi-nga, Buddhist Wong Wan Tin College
Inspired by a school social worker, Chi-nga did more than 1,000 hours of community service last academic year, and says he volunteers to help build a strong sense of morals and ethics.
Sportsperson
Kitty Tam Yik-ching, Diocesan Girls' School
Kitty is a talented golfer who has competed in top international competitions, including the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, and the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games last year.
Visual Artist
Rainbow Tse Lok-yau, Renaissance College
Rainbow has won numerous awards, both locally and internationally. Last November, Wan Fung Art Gallery showcased her artwork in an exhibition called "Moments: Solo Watercolour Exhibition by Rainbow Tse".
Performing Artist
Chan Kwan-ming, Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School
"I think it's the first time anyone has won this award with an a cappella performance," says Kwan-ming, team leader, tenor, beat-boxer, sound man and arranger of his school's a cappella group, Infiniter. Kwan-ming is also passionate about promoting a cappella.
Scientist & Mathematician
Wu Shi-kei, St Paul's Convent School (Secondary Section)
Shi-kei was the first Hong Kong female candidate to win the "Future Scientist" award last year in Beijing for her innovative research on detecting water pollution. She has managed to balance science research and community service with her school work.
Linguist (English)
Nicole Liu Hui-kay, Diocesan Girls' School
Having won several debating and public speaking awards, Nicole hopes to study law one day. .
Linguist (Cantonese)
Elaine Wong, Diocesan Girls' School
As team captain of her school's debating team, Elaine is also an enthusiastic writer of stories and essays.
Linguist (Putonghua)
Chan Pang-wong, Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School
Dedicated to promoting Putonghua in school, Pang-wong is a master of Hakka, Cantonese and Putonghua, and is interested in learning more languages in the future.
Grand Prize
Eunice Yiu, St Paul's Convent School (Secondary Section)
While Eunice achieved excellent academic results, she demonstrates a particular talent in science and is on her way to developing a safe mosquito repellent. Her other achievements are in public speaking, debating, dancing, community service and volunteer activities.