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Five undergraduate students of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have recently been awarded The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships. They have not only excelled in their studies, but also demonstrated good character, leadership ability and enthusiasm in community services.

Lin Tsz Nok Curtis, a Year 1 student in Social Science, became blind due to illnesses when he was 15 years old. Struck by such a drastic loss, he was brave in facing up to it rather than becoming dispirited or depressed. Curtis transferred to a school for the visually impaired where he learned Braille and to walk with a cane. Being proactive in acquiring new skills, he eventually returned to a mainstream school for further studies and was admitted to CUHK last year. Curtis also seized every opportunity to take part in various activities, such as performing in musicals and to let people know about his personal experience. His story aroused the interest of the director of the documentary entitled “My Voice My Life” and Curtis was featured as one of the prominent commentators. Curtis is such a positive and determined person. He said “I only lost my sight but not my life”. He hopes that his life story will ignite passion and hope in the lives of others and bring them to pass on more moving stories. 

Aspiring to be a clinical psychologist, Liu Chi Yan Tiffany quit law school and transferred to CUHK. She is now a second-year student in Psychology. After seeing a friend suffer from mental illness, she was determined to ensure that no one should have to face mental health issues alone, and to contribute to the promotion of mental health. Tiffany has striven to arouse public awareness of mental health and said “My wish is to make Hong Kong people aware of the importance of protecting mental health, regardless of age, wealth and ethnicity, and to enjoy relevant services on an equal basis.” Participating in the Student Mental Health Awareness Group of The Chinese University Student Union, she helped review the assessment policies of the University regarding students’ mental health issues. Every week, she volunteered in an NGO, promoting mindfulness to and eliminating discrimination among the public. Last summer, she participated in a service placement in a rehabilitation hospital in Vietnam, taking care of kids with mental and physical needs. Thanks to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship, Tiffany will go on an exchange next year at the University of Pennsylvania where she can learn from Professor Martin Seligman, the “Father of Positive Psychology”.

Other awardees include Chow Chak Hang Arthur (Global Business Studies), Leung Shih Ya Cecilia (Public Health) and Li Shangzhe Daniel (Sociology). All of them are second-year students.

About The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships

Established in 1998, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships aim to identify and recognise outstanding local and mainland students who demonstrate leadership, excel academically, possess good character and dedicate themselves to community services. A total of 64 CUHK students have been awarded over the years and named “JC Scholars”.