850 outstanding students pick up awards

A GROUP of 850 students have received awards and scholarships under the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund. The awards were presented by Lady Youde at a presentation ceremony at the weekend.

The fund, which promotes education for young people in Hong Kong, has disbursed $9.4 million in the 1994-95 academic year.

These include 12 awards for overseas studies; three medals for students who have obtained outstanding results in public examinations; 10 awards for disabled students; 77 scholarships for diploma and undergraduates; 46 fellowships for postgraduates, and 698 prizes for senior secondary school pupils.

The fund also continued its sponsorship of the Young Friends of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Scheme with a sum of $600,000 for 1994-95. The scheme aims to increase secondary school students' exposure to the performing arts.

Competition for the overseas fellowships and scholarships for 1995-96 was keen. Thirteen outstanding students from among 293 applicants won the awards. They will receive $208,000 a year for a fellowship or $190,000 for a scholarship.

These students will have to return to work in Hong Kong for at least three years after completing their studies.