Eunice Yiu (right) is congratulated by her younger sister Venrena at the Student of the Year Awards 2014.The prestigious South China Morning Post Student of the Year competition is back once again! The 35th annual awards event will celebrate the achievements of Hong Kong’s top secondary school students.
The Young Post team take pride in all that is great in the city, including our students – and that means you! This year’s competition will reward nine Form Four to Form Six students in seven different categories: grand prize, community contributor, linguist, performing artist, visual artist, sportsperson and scientist & mathematician.
Having run for 32 consecutive years from 1974 to 2006, the competition was resumed in 2013 in celebration of the South China Morning Post’s 110th anniversary.
Nominations will be accepted from the end of September to October 30. The winners will be announced in February and will share a total scholarship grant of HK$165,000.
Everything you need to know about the Student of the Year Awards
Year the first awards took place: 1974
Background: Designed to celebrate talented secondary school students in Hong Kong, the SOTY awards focus on those who excel in arts, academics, sports and community service.
Notable past winners: Swimmer and artist Alex Fong Lik-sun, Morgan Stanley associate Jolie Chow Mei-kwan and barrister Hugh Alexander Kam Tsun-ting have all taken home Student of the Year scholarships.
How to participate: Candidates in every category are high-achieving students who have been nominated by their school teachers. The participants then proceed through a series of rounds such as essay writing and interviews. Three finalists in each category are selected, and the winners are announced at the ceremony.
Prizes: The grand prize winner receives a HK$25,000 scholarship; first and second runners-up receive HK$8,000 and HK$4,000 scholarships, respectively. Winners in other categories each receive a HK$10,000 grant; first and second runners-up receive HK$4,000 and HK$2,000, respectively.
Join us in celebrating the excellence of the city’s students by nominating them for this meaningful award.
Meet last year's winners
Eunice Yiu, St Paul’s Convent School (Secondary Section)
Student of the Year Grand Prize 2014
Eunice plans to use her HK$25,000 scholarship from SOTY to start a social enterprise that will focus on helping less privileged children in Hong Kong achieve social equality.
Yip Chi-nga, Buddhist Wong Wan Tin College
Student of the Year Community Contributor 2014
Chi-nga did more than 1,000 hours of community service in the last academic year and wants to be a social worker one day.
Kitty Tam Yik-ching, Diocesan Girls’ School
Student of the Year Sportsperson 2014
Kitty is one of the best golfers in her age group and is now attending San Diego State University on a golf scholarship.
Rainbow Tse Lok-yau, Renaissance College
Student of the Year Visual Artist 2014
Rainbow held a solo art show entitled Moment: Solo Watercolour Exhibition several months before her SOTY win. She hopes to make her mark in the art world.
Chan Kwan-ming, Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School
Student of the Year Performing Artist 2014
Kwan-ming is the team leader, tenor, beat-boxer, sound man and arranger of Infiniter, his school’s a cappella group. He wants to form a full-time male a cappella group after graduation.
Wu Shi-kei, St Paul’s Convent School (Secondary Section)
Student of the Year Scientist & Mathematician 2014
Shi-kei was the first Hong Kong female to win the “Future Scientist” award in Beijing for her research on detecting water pollution. The highlight of SOTY for Shi-kei was meeting other talented students and learning from them.
Nicole Liu Hui-kay, Diocesan Girls’ School
Student of the Year Linguist (English) 2014
Nicole hopes to continue using her linguistic skills to study law and become a lawyer one day.
Elaine Wong, Diocesan Girls’ School
Student of the Year Linguist (Cantonese) 2014
Elaine is captain of her school’s debating team. She hopes that she can use her words to inspire Hongkongers.
Clair Chan Pang-wong, Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School
Student of the Year Linguist (Putonghua) 2014
Clair is a master of Hakka, Cantonese and Putonghua, and is interested in learning more languages in the future.