SJM awarded scholarships to 40 children of staff today, including new scholarships to 10 outstanding students of Year 2017 and renewal of scholarships for 30 recipients of Year 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
The Thirteenth Annual SJM Scholarship Awards was held today at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Lisboa. Acting Deputy Director of Tertiary Education Services Office of the Macau SAR Government Mr Teng Sio Hong, Chief of the Department of Education of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau Ms. Leong Vai Kei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Culture and Education of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau SAR Mr. Shao Bin, and guests from the education sector joined Chairman of the Board of Directors of SJM Dr. Ambrose So, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer Ms. Angela Leong, Director Dr. Rui Cunha and other senior management of SJM in celebrating the joyous moments with the award-winning students and families.
This year, 10 outstanding students were selected from 45 applicants by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee. The winning students are Hui Cho Man, Kam Tin Wai, Zheng Li Bin, Ao Nga Weng, Che Weng Si, Cheang Weng Kei, Tong Weng U, Chan Ka I, Chan Lou Man and Lam Fong In.
Each will be awarded MOP$20,000 per year until they finish their university studies. As recommended by Ms. Angela Leong, Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer and Chairman of the Staff Welfare Consultative Committee of SJM and approved by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee, the remaining 31 applicants shortlisted for this year’s interview present or represented by their parents at the awards ceremony were each given a gift voucher of MOP$3,000 from the SJM Excellence Staff Center as an appreciation of their hard work.
The ceremony also witnessed the renewal of SJM Scholarships to 30 recipients of Year 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, who were each awarded MOP$20,000 for the new academic year. Among them, Li Yaxiu and Ng Nok Si were named the best performing students in the past academic year, and were each given an additional award of MOP$5,000.
Dr Ambrose So, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SJM and of the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee, reminded the students in his speech to stay awake and not to go astray on their path of learning, particularly in an era of overflowing information. He urged the students to cultivate a positive attitude to learning, including the ability to distinguish right from wrong, and help bring more positive energy into the community. Dr So concluded by encouraging the students to connect learning to everyday life and to embrace creativity as part of learning, and bring their capabilities into play for a brighter future of Macau.
Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of SJM, and Vice-Chairman of the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee Ms Angela Leong remarked in her notes of encouragement, “The SJM Scholarship Programme upholds Dr Stanley Ho’s ‘people-oriented’ belief. We put strong focus on the welfare of our employees and on nurturing the children of our employees. This goes in line with Dr. Ho’s principle of ‘from society to society’.”
As the saying goes, “With knowledge comes a twist of fate, and with learning comes a bright future”, she hoped the students will keep that in mind and continue with their utmost efforts in learning, and tackle the challenges ahead. Moreover, she welcomed students to join the big family of SJM upon graduation, and encouraged them to participate in the activities organized by the SJM Scholarship’s Alumni Association, passing on SJM’s spirit of patriotism, and following the footsteps of the company in contributing to society.
Ms Chan Ka I represented the awardees to give the thankyou speech. She gratefully thanked SJM for its enormous contribution to the nurturing of talent for Macau and also parents and teachers for their support. She said in her speech that the SJM Scholarship is a precious gift to her and all the awardees, and pledged to make good use of the learning opportunities at university and serve the community in future with the knowledge gained. She also took the opportunity to encourage fellow students to remain confident and keep trying even upon failure or at times of loss.
The SJM Scholarship programme awards outstanding children of staff to further their university studies. Children of staff of SJM and STDM who are first-year undergraduates are eligible for application. The programme awards ten scholarships annually to children of staff, who are each awarded MOP20,000 per year until they finish their university studies (up to five years). Renewal of scholarships is based on assessment of the recipient’s academic results by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee annually. The Programme, since its establishment in 2005, has awarded scholarships to 129 children of staff, of whom 84 have graduated.
In addition to offering scholarships to children of staff, SJM also sponsors the full school fees of staff to further their studies at Macau Millennium College, and encourages employees to return to school by completing secondary school education at Millennium Secondary School. Moreover, SJM awards scholarships at local educational institutions, and through sponsoring local educational and cultural events, SJM aims to promote Chinese culture and foster learning in society. SJM is also dedicated to the development of education in China, including funding the construction of a primary school in Sichuan’s earthquake-affected area with regular staff visits to the school organized by the SJM Staff Welfare Consultative Committee. The Committee also organized staff participation in the patriotic education programme in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi.
