Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards

The Award began in 1985 as the "Hong Kong Outstanding Female Students Award", which only accepted applications from female students; it was opened to male students in 1987. Over the first 25 years, the Award had been organised by Doreen Leung, the first female recipient of the Outstanding Young Persons of the World.^[3] Since Leung died in 2009,^[4] a group of past winners and finalists of the Award founded the Youth Arch Foundation in 2010, succeeding to the role of Leung as the event organiser of the Awards.^[5]

• Outstanding academic performance
• Achievements in extra-curricular activities
• Exceptional personal qualities
• Outstanding character
• Commitment to contribute to society
• Leadership potential

Before 2011, applicants first needed to sit for a written test that comprised questions from disciplines including languages, mathematics, logic, science, history, geography, and current issues. 40 finalists would be selected to participate in a group interview, after which 10 or 11 winners would be selected.^{[citation needed]}

Since 2011, applicants, as the first step, are required to take a written test of similar format. Candidates are short-listed to participate in a two-day camp which aims to assess applicants’ inter-personal skills and leadership potential.^[6] 20 students are then selected to enter the panel interview round. Finally, 10 winners are chosen based on their performance in all stages.^[7]

Subsequently,^[when?] the Youth Arch Foundation further revamped the selection process for the Award. In addition to the previous assessment processes, finalists will be invited to participate in the Enrichment Program during the summer break. This program will help them enhance themselves, broaden their horizons, and develop their strengths. Participants will have the chance to engage in in-depth discussions with renowned figures, community leaders, various organisations, as well as outstanding students from previous years and other schools. During the sharing session for finalists, they will have the opportunity to share their learning achievements and experiences from the summer break.^{[citation needed]}

All awardees and finalists of the Award are invited to join a four-day summer leadership training camp. Starting from 2011, winners of the Award will be invited to partake in a study tour. In 2013 and 2014, awardees went on an experiential learning and cycling trip in Cambodia. In 2015, students participated in a service learning and environmental trip in Sumatra, where they were guided to produce environmental-themed videos.^[7]

From 2016, awardees visited different places such as Guangxi, Sri Lanka, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin for the service learning trip. During these trips, they engaged in cultural exchanges with the locals and contributed to the community through activities such as teaching and repairing community facilities. They embodied the spirit of "Giving is Outstanding" through their dedicated service.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, Doreen Leung died. In memory of her, Youth Arch Foundation set up the Doreen Leung Memorial Service Award in 2010 to uphold her selfless spirit of serving the community.^{[citation needed]}

The awardee is selected according to their community service records, as well as voting result among the nominees. Chung To, a social leader and Chi Heng Foundation Founder and chairperson, will be the mentor of the awardee for a year.^[8]

The winners and finalists of the Award founded the Hong Kong Outstanding Students' Association (HKOSA)^[9] in 1987, a student-run organization. All winners and finalists of the Award are automatically enrolled to HKOSA once they are shortlisted to enter the final interview round.^[10]

The organization has initiated a number of creative and innovative projects that aim to inspire other secondary school students in different ways. Some of the regular activities organized include the annual Leadership Interflow Camp since 1991, the Volunteer Training Scheme since 1998, the Hong Kong Youth Summit, a forum for students to discuss current issues,^[11] since 2003, and the International Convergence, which is a multi-cultural experience scheme,^[12] since 2005. These activities typically attract participation of over 100 students from different secondary schools.

HKOSA is supported by a group of honorary advisors, which include consuls general, university presidents and government officials. The advisor list in 2022–23 includes:^[13]

• Mr Andrew Leung (梁君彥), President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Ms Christine Choi (蔡若蓮), Secretary for Education
• Prof Xiang Zhang (張翔), President and Vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong
• Prof Rocky Tuan (段崇智), President and Vice-chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Prof Stephen Cheung (張仁良), former President of the Education University of Hong Kong
• Michael Tien (田北辰), member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Many winners and finalists of the Award achieved excellent results in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, with a number of them obtaining 10As and 9As.^[15] Many were admitted to universities such as Ivy League institutions and Oxbridge.^[16] Up to 2016, the alumni base of the Award (commonly known as “OSArs”) has reached over 1100 people.^[17] Many of them now work in fields including government, business, law, medicine, entertainment, education, architecture, journalism, and engineering.

Some of the notable winners and finalists are:

• Stephanie Au Hoi-shun (歐鎧淳), four-time Olympic swimmer; holder of 11 Hong Kong's long and short course (freestyle) records^[18]
• Mung Chiang (蔣濛), Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering, Director of the Keller Center, Princeton University, 2013 Alan T. Waterman Award recipient^[18]
• Cheong Leong (張亮), executive director, Charities and Community, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and chairman and CEO of RunOurCity, an innovative social enterprise he co-founded with the aim of transforming life through running. He has been an honorary advisor and director of Social Ventures Hong Kong, a pioneer venture philanthropic fund, since its inception in 2007.^[19]
• Poman Lo (羅寶文) CEO and Founder of Century Innovative Technology Limited (CITL). She is also the Vice Chairman of Century City International Holdings Limited and Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited and an executive director of Paliburg Holdings Limited and managing director of Regal Portfolio Management Limited.^[20]
• Perry So (蘇柏軒), Assistant Conductor of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; Youngest winner at 5th International Prokofiev Conducting Competition^[18]
• Joey Wat (屈翠容), CEO of Yum China^[21]