Jockey Club scholars reaffirm pledge to serve the community

23/11/2010

The achievements of 26 outstanding students to graduate under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship Scheme were celebrated last night (22 November) at a Graduation Dinner hosted by the Club.  Attendees included Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson, Legislative Council President Tsang Yok-sing, Club Stewards Anthony W K Chow and Philip N L Chen; representatives from the city’s tertiary institutions, as well as families and friends of the scholars.

Mr Stevenson noted that investing in youth development through training and education was one of the Club’s top priorities.  In the past 10 years, the Club has contributed some HK$3 billion to support various educational projects and collaborate with different organisations and partners.

“Established some 12 years ago, the Scholarship was designed to not only recognise academic excellence, but also require recipients to be responsible individuals with commitment, a spirit of volunteerism and dedication to community works,” he said.  In praising the scholars for adopting the Club’s spirit of serving the community, he said, “your commitment and devotion of spare time to the charitable works of the Alumni Association are setting inspiring examples for your fellow scholars.”

Adopting the topic of “Get a vision, Set a goal, Go for a dream”, the motto of the Schoolala Programme of the Jockey Club Scholars Alumni Association, Tsang Yok-sing, this year’s keynote speaker, shared his professional and personal experiences with the participants. He also encouraged students to be brave and equip themselves to face challenges ahead.

The 26 scholars who graduated this year from the eight UGC-funded tertiary institutions and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts included 11 from the Mainland.

Two of the scholars, Susan Li and Eric Chen, spoke about how their lives are developing. After graduating from her five-year studies in Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science at Baptist University, Susan stayed on to become a Chinese Medicine Trainee. “I will complete my training early next year and start seeing patients afterwards. My dream is to set up a seaborne mobile Chinese medicine clinic so as to promote my knowledge in Chinese medicine as well as acupuncture and acupressure to other parts of the world. I took my first step in promoting Chinese medicine when I organised a Chinese Medicine Workshop for Schoolala - a project under the Jockey Club Scholars Alumni Association,  guiding some secondary school students around the School of Medicine, Chinese medicine clinic and herb garden.”

While studying at City University, Eric established a Cantonese Club to teach hundreds of Mainland and overseas students Cantonese. Then shortly before graduation, Eric and some of his classmates founded a company to enhance food safety by using genetically-modified fish to conduct tests at reasonable cost. “Our project has won support from the SAR government and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, where our headquarters is located. We are planning to set up branches in various cities on the Mainland in future. Being a Jockey Club Scholar, I have learned from the Club's spirit to contribute to society. That’s why we have provided this low-cost technology to help enhance the safety of consumer products in China.”

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship Scheme was established in 1998.  It provides an average of 27 scholarships each year for local and Mainland students to pursue three-year first degree courses in the eight UGC-funded institutions and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.  It was originally planned as a ten-year scheme, but to dovetail with the new academic structure for senior secondary and higher education (commonly known as the “3-3-4” system) it has been extended to 2011/12, the last year before universities launch the four-year curriculum.  The Club’s total contribution amounts to HK$107 million.

Scholars are chosen by their respective tertiary institutions on the basis of outstanding academic ability as well as their community service record and other talents.  Renewal of the scholarship depends on the level of the student’s performance.  Each student receives approximately HK$290,000 over the full three-year period.  So far, 289 students have been awarded scholarships.

About the Jockey Club Scholars Alumni Association

Launched in 2002 with the Club’s support, and officially inaugurated in 2004, the Alumni Association aims to build a strong network of Scholars who can make good use of their diverse background and expertise to serve the community. The Association has organised a number of community service projects for elderly people, secondary school students, single-parent families, at-risk youth, young new arrivals and disabled children. The Club believes the Scholars’ enthusiasm helps promote the spirit of volunteerism, philanthropy and commitment in the community.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong’s best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city’s major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city’s growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.