Final face-off
TOMORROW is it for the six finalists of the South China Morning Post Student of the Year Awards 2002/2003.
They will be battling for the top award in the final to be held at the Drama Theatre of Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Wan Chai tomorrow morning.
The finalists, selected from 48 shortlisted semi-final candidates, are: Elmy Lung Wai-yue, 18, of Yew Chung International School; Tsui Ka-ling, 17, of Po Leung Kuk No 1 W.H. Cheung College (both from Kowloon); Chiu Kwun-sau, 17, of Queen's College; Donald Wong Ho-lun, 18, of St Paul's Co-educational College (both from Hong Kong and Outlying Islands); Leung Sze-ning, 17, of Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School, and Kay Seto King-lune, 18, Li Po Chun United World College (both from the New Territories).
In tomorrow's final, they will take part in a round-table discussion on stage before doing a one-on-one interview backstage with the judging panel formed by Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, who is also the guest-of-honour, South China Morning Post's Group Editor-in-Chief David Armstrong and managing director of New World First Bus Services Adolf H. Hsu.
Selection procedures for the award, in its 29th year, were changed this year to make the scheme more comprehensive.
Candidates were divided into three regions: Hong Kong and Outlying Islands, Kowloon and New Territories East and West.
On top of fulfilling the basic requirements, including scoring at least 30 points in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and non-academic achievements such as community services and extra-curricular activities, candidates qualifying for the semi-finals had to go through a series of challenging selection processes - a five-minute open group discussion and a three-minute speech on an unprepared topic.
Elmy said the three-minute speech was exciting. 'We had to start talking as soon as we opened the envelope and found out what the topic was,' she said.
The finalists hope they will deliver a presentable and interesting open discussion in the final.
Ka-ling said: 'I'm looking forward to it. I think everyone will be brilliant.'
While the finalists are being interviewed backstage, winners of the seven other categories - Best Improvement, Student Dancer of the Year, Student Linguist of the Year, Student Sportsperson of the Year, Student Computer Scientist of the Year, Student Musician of the Year and Student Visual Artist of the Year - will perform on stage.
This year, more than 300 nominations were received for all eight categories.
The ultimate Student of the Year Awards winner will receive a $30,000 SCMP scholarship and a $1,500 course from the Art School of the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai.
The three runners-up will receive a $5,000 scholarship each.
The event is supported by Hong Kong Education City.
Student of the Year Awards Final: 10am to 12.30pm tomorrow, Drama Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. For tickets and enquiries, call 2250 3120 or 2565 2415.
