Hong Kong to honour young leaders’ contributions to city during pandemic at annual Student of the Year Awards
- Students will get a chance to tell their stories while reflecting on this year’s theme, ‘Take action to drive positive change’
- Awards do not only bring status and prestige but also give winners skill set they need to continue to succeed, says South China Morning Post CEO
As Hong Kong gets back on its feet after the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2023 Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards are an opportunity to recognise young leaders for helping the community through the tough times, the organisers have said.
Entering their 42nd year, the prestigious awards continue their legacy to scout for the next generation of young leaders in the hope of helping them to further their cause and goals in life.
The annual awards have chosen the theme “Take action to drive positive change” to recognise and support young leaders who make a difference.
“SOTY is not just an award which accords laurels conferring status and prestige but a wholesome programme initiative that equips young leaders with skill sets that allow them to further succeed,” said Catherine So, CEO of the South China Morning Post.
Organised by Young Post and the Post and sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the awards hope to give students a chance to tell their stories while reflecting on this year’s theme. Nominations for the awards opened in April and have been extended to May 28.
On top of alumni sharing sessions and award ceremonies, where students connect and interact with fellow student leaders, this year, SOTY has taken engagement a step further and introduced a series of fireside chats.
These fireside chats and tailor-made workshops with leading professionals from various sectors aim to broaden participants’ horizons while allowing them to gain insights and advice that will be invaluable later in life.
There will also be a hackathon which aims to cultivate creativity and innovative thinking.
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Nominations across the nine categories should show how well the students demonstrate their abilities and also explain how their extracurricular activities have helped drive positive change.
SOTY will continue its tradition of giving a school the Special Award for Most Nurturing Environment. This will go to the institution that shows a strong connection to its students and encourages them to realise their potential.
Both school and self-nominations are welcomed, while a reference letter or endorsement is required if students apply through non-school and self-nomination channels.
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Forms Four to Six (Grade/Years 10 to 13) students in government-registered secondary schools during the 2022-23 academic year are qualified for nomination. The Grand Prize category is open for Forms Five to Six (Grade/Year 11 to 13).
The names of shortlisted students and finalists will be announced in June. They will be invited to individual interviews. The winners will be announced at the awards lunch in July.
