The Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2026 with a series of forward-looking initiatives and honored a community-minded student-athlete from Ying Wa College with the Grand Prize for exemplifying this year’s theme: “Leadership in Action: Shaping the Possible.”

Organized by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, with support from the Education Bureau, the annual awards program reached a milestone by receiving over 900 nominations from 181 schools.

On July 11, a ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre recognized 40 outstanding students across 10 award categories, including the prestigious Grand Prize. More than 300 guests attended, including leaders from professional associations, academics, school principals, and parents.

Guest-of-Honour Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration, described the awards as one of Hong Kong’s leading youth recognition programs, emphasizing that “Leadership is not about a title, it is about the courage to step forward, the strength to take responsibility, and the determination to turn ideas into reality.”

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, congratulated the awardees and reaffirmed the Club’s commitment to youth development through 13 consecutive years of sponsorship. He highlighted that the Club has donated more than HK$16 billion to youth initiatives over the past decade, underscoring the belief in the future of every young person.

In his acceptance speech, the Grand Prize winner, Tang, expressed gratitude to his school, teachers, basketball coach, and family, especially his grandmother, who taught him to be proactive and take charge of his life.

In its inaugural year, the new initiative partnered with over 10 leading organizations across diverse sectors and organized eight exclusive events, creating a vibrant bridge between nominees and Hong Kong’s professional landscape.

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