Student of the Year Awards celebrates 45 years of excellence, announces new vision for nurturing Hong Kong’s future leaders

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards, a prestigious recognition programme for Hong Kong's future leaders. Organized by the South China Morning Post, solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and supported by the Education Bureau, the awards programme has received over 900 nominations from 181 schools, setting a record-breaking milestone.

The ceremony, held on July 11 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, honored 40 outstanding students across 10 award categories, including the highly coveted Grand Prize.

Guest-of-Honour Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration, emphasized that leadership is not about a title, but rather the courage to step forward, take responsibility, and transform ideas into reality. He expressed the government's commitment to youth development, aligning with the award's spirit.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, praised the awardees for their achievements and reaffirmed the Club's long-standing commitment to youth development through its sponsorship of SOTY for 13 consecutive years. The Club believes that success extends beyond academic achievement and encourages young people to work for the common good and improve society.

Tammy Tam, Publisher of the South China Morning Post, highlighted the programme's evolution in tandem with national and local development priorities. In light of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong's inaugural Five-Year Plan, SOTY will introduce a new award category on AI literacy, underscoring the responsible use of AI among students. Furthermore, the awards brand will be strategically expanded beyond Hong Kong to elevate student excellence on a broader stage.

Past SOTY winners shared how the awards have shaped their personal journeys. Grand Prize recipient Jayden Tang, a Form 5 student at Ying Wa College, founded the "Health is Wealth" platform and led service projects supporting underprivileged groups. In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to his school, teachers, basketball coach, and family, particularly his grandmother, who taught him to be proactive and take charge in life.

The Grand Prize winner receives a HK$25,000 scholarship, with first and second runners-up receiving HK$8,000 and HK$4,000 respectively. The Most Nurturing Environment Award was given to HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College for its commitment to fostering student growth. To further support nominees, SCMP Learn launched the Student of the Year Growth Network in 2025, partnering with leading organizations and providing career development opportunities and a community of distinguished alumni.