Charities & Community
Education and Training
Jockey Club rewards students for academic excellence and passion to serve the community
05/07/2019
At the 2019 Presentation Ceremony and Graduation Celebration Dinner held on 4 July, a new batch of 42 students from various tertiary institutions were awarded HKJC Scholarships this year for their outstanding academic performance and commitment to serve the community, while 31 earlier Jockey Club Scholars graduated to embark on a new page of life.
HKJC Scholarships provide financial aid and development opportunities to a wide range of tertiary students in Hong Kong, covering not only undergraduate students, but also postgraduate and vocational education students as well as those with special education needs. This reflects the Club’s commitment to nurturing local talent and supporting the Scholars’ journey to become leaders of the community.
Since their inception in 1998, HKJC Scholarships have been awarded to more than 600 talented local and Mainland students to pursue their studies.
Among the 42 new Scholars is Tsz-lok, who is pursuing a Social Science degree at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Tsz-lok lost his eyesight due to illness when he was 15 years old. Nevertheless, he has stayed positive and embraced the challenges.
By participating in musical performances and other activities, Tsz-lok said he would like to spread the message that nothing was impossible, and that the disabled could do the same as ordinary people. He looks forward to broadening his horizons through the HKJC Scholarships programme and encouraging more people to overcome difficulties in their lives.
Graduating JC Scholar John Ho, now a musician at the West Kowloon Cultural District’s Xiqu Centre after earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Chinese Opera at the HKAPA, said that being awarded an HKJC Scholarship was a great honour to him and has made him more determined to pursue excellence in Chinese Opera.
The Jockey Club Scholars Alumni Association has also allowed him to connect with other JC Scholars and community leaders from all walks of life, Ho added. The friendships earned and the network built will be great assets in his life.
To date, the Club has contributed a total of some HK$400 million to the Scholarships through its Charities Trust. In addition to recognising undergraduates studying at the eight UGC-funded tertiary institutions and HKAPA, the scheme has been expanded to benefit undergraduate students with special educational needs from the nine institutions, as well as 18 students in vocational education programmes pursuing a higher diploma or an overseas bachelor’s degree. Another six graduates each year are given the opportunity to join postgraduate programmes at the University of Oxford or Harvard University, two of the world’s top universities.
To continue and strengthen the bonds among its Scholars, the Club has established The Jockey Club Scholars Alumni Association, through which a wide range of social service opportunities are organised. A Scholarship Secretariat has also been set up to provide the Scholars with opportunities for learning and personal development. They can interact with local leaders and be inspired to become compassionate leaders who care about social needs.
