The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award is one of the most recognized and prestigious awards for secondary school students in Hong Kong. The Award, initiated by the Lion & Globe Educational Trust in 1985, aims to encourage promising students with outstanding academic, extra-curricular and community service achievements, and morality.

From 2010 onwards, the Youth Arch Foundation succeeded the role of the Award Organizer and made some revolutionary changes in the selection system. The Award would continue to advocate and foster the spirits of moral, intellectual and physical education amongst Hong Kong students. Applicants would need to go through a written test, an assessment program and a final interview. Ten “Outstanding Students” will finally be chosen by a group of professional judges. The Award not only commends students’ outstanding achievements, but also an opportunity for self-discovery and development of their potentials. Besides assessment activities, the Award shall provide a series of voluntary enrichment programs for Finalists starting in 2019. Students will also have opportunities to interact with social leaders, past awardees, outstanding students from other schools, and other groups in the community. Through taking part in leadership-training camps, seminars, enrichment programs and exchange activities, students can enhance their self-understanding and broaden their horizons.

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Application Details

Eligibility

Application is open to students currently enrolled in S.3 to S.5 / Grades 9 to 11 (12-year System) / Years 10 to 12 (13-year System) in Hong Kong.

Students can apply through two different schemes.

Scheme 1 ( School Nomination )

Submitted by School Teacher-in-charge

A School Nomination Code will be distributed to selected students for their registration on the Online Application System. Students are required to register on the System prior to referee invitation and application form completion. Applications are only considered complete upon TEACHER-IN-CHARGE submission by deadline.

Scheme 2 ( Self-nomination )

Submitted by Student

Students are required to register on the System prior to referee invitation and application form completion. Applications should be submitted by deadline.

Selection Process

1
Online Application

Please complete all application procedures online by deadline. Any application by email or post or repeated application will not be considered.

2
Written Test

All applicants will be invited to attend a written test for evaluation of academic competence, cognitive skills and social awareness.

3
Assessment Camp

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 2-days-1-night assessment camp that offers them a chance to assess applicant’s interpersonal skills and leadership potential, and 40 finalists will be selected afterwards.

4
Orientation Day

Finalists will be invited to an orientation day, where they will meet one another and senior outstanding students.

5
Enrichment Programs

Finalists will be invited to join a series of enrichment programs on a voluntary basis.

6
Finalists' Sharing Session

40 Finalists will share about what they have learnt and grown on during the summer.

7
Interviews

Finalists will be eligible to join interviews, and 10 winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

8
Award Ceremony

All finalists, winners, school representatives, their family members and friends will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony to celebrate the joy of achievement.

Click here to view the time schedule >

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Assessment Criteria

Candidates should possess exceptional personal qualities, exemplary character and a passion for serving the community. The ability to lead and act as a positive role model for other youth is essential. In addition, candidates should demonstrate meritorious academic results, active engagement in extra-curricular activities, and/or extraordinary talents/achievements.

Application Process

 
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6

Log in

School nomination

Application system – app.youtharch.org
Login ID – HKED School Registration Number
Login password – will be sent to schools via email

Self-nomination

Application system – app.youtharch.org/register
Register for a new account to login

Filling in information of teacher-in-charge

School nomination

Fill in basic information of teacher-in-charge,and proceed to the nomination page.

Self-nomination

Not Applicable

Invite students to fill in apply

School nomination

The School Nomination Code can be forwarded by email via the System or by any other means the school prefers. Please note that it is the school’s responsibility to ensure the receipt of Code.

Youth Arch Foundation will NOT keep any record and is not responsible for any data loss.

Self-nomination

Not Applicable

Referee Invitation

Students are required to fill in the referee’s information. An invitation email will automatically be sent to the proposed referee. Students can view the
Referee Status during their application process.Students can resend invitation to another referee before any reference submission.

(Note: Applicants under School Nomination should consult their Principal or teacher-in-charge; and reach a consensus prior to invitation of the referee.)

Reference Submission

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the referee has the information he/she needs to provide a recommendation and submit it by the deadline.

Completion of Nomination

School nomination

Student confirms that all the information are true and correct before submission. Teacher-in-charge submits application forms of students by deadline.

Self-nomination

Student confirms that all the information are true and correct before submission.

Prize

Each finalist will receive a certificate of achievement and an invitation to the Hong Kong Outstanding Students’ Association for life-time fellowship. Hong Kong Outstanding Students’ Association is a diverse and active community of over a thousand alumni of the Award.

Each winner will be awarded a certificate of distinction, a trophy and sponsored to a service trip* in the summer / other options.

*Youth Arch Foundation reserves the right to revoke the Award if a winner does not attend the service trip or related activities without valid reasons.

School principal and teachers of the winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and press conference. They will be presented with a trophy.

Youth Arch Foundation reserves the final right to make amendments and decisions regarding the terms and conditions of this Award and its related activities.

Past Awardess

Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award

Organized by the Youth Arch Foundation and fully supported by the Lion & Globe Educational Trust, the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award aims to encourage promising students with outstanding academic, extra-curricular and community service achievements, and morality.

Introduction of Doreen Leung Memorial Service Award

In 2009, Ms. Doreen Leung, the first female to be honored as “The Outstanding Young Persons of the World”, passed away. In memory of Ms. Leung, Youth Arch Foundation set up the Doreen Leung Memorial Service Award in 2010 to uphold her selfless spirit of serving the community. Awardee is selected according to his or her community services records, as well as voting result among the nominees. Mr. Chung To, a social leader and Chi Heng Foundation Founder and Chairperson, will be the mentor of the awardee for a year.

Throughout her life, Ms. Doreen Leung has been passionate about charity work and community service, and known to many as “Auntie Doreen”. Ms. Leung’s hard work on Hong Kong Outstanding Female Students Award founded in 1985, being renamed as Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award in 1987, must be recognized. She did not only organize the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award, but also acted as the Organizing Committee Chairperson for many years. She also set up the Best Improved Students Award and dedicated to cultivate all-around youths for the society. After “Auntie Doreen” Ms. Doreen Leung’s death, a group of past winners and finalists of the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award decided to step up and found the Youth Arch Foundation, to succeed Ms. Leung’s work as the organizer of the two awards.

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View all past awardees

Video of Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award

Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award 2020-2021

Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award 2020-2021

Giving is Outstanding – Let the Awardees show you by their stories

Watch Video

FAQ

Why is the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award (“HKOSA”) a unique student award?

The Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award was established in 1985. With more than 30 years of history, the Award has garnered wide-spread recognition and support from the community. With the support from past awardees, Youth Arch Foundation succeeded the role of the Award Organizer since 2010 and made some revolutionary changes in the selection system, which include written test, assessment camp and final interview. Winners will be chosen by a panel of professional judges. All finalists of the Award are invited to join the Hong Kong Outstanding Students’ Association. Founded in 1987, the Association has evolved into a diverse community of more than 1,000 Award alumni of social leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals.

Must applicants be local students of Hong Kong?

Applicants must be students studying at local or international schools located in HKSAR; applications from overseas will not be considered.

Is there any age limit for applicants?

There is no age limit. All students currently enrolling in S.3 to S.5 (International School Grades 9 to 11 / Years 10 to 12) in Hong Kong are eligible to apply for the Award.

How can applicants apply for the Award?

Eligible students can apply for the Award under School Nomination or Self-nomination schemes:

School Nomination: Submitted by Teacher-in-charge

A School Nomination Code will be distributed by teacher-in-charge to students for their registration on the Online Application System
. Students are required to register on the system prior to referee invitation and application form completion. Applications are only considered complete upon submission by teacher-in-charge before the application deadline.

Self-nomination: Submitted by Student

Students are required to register on the Online Application System
prior to referee invitation and application form completion. Applications should be submitted before the application deadline.

Are there any differences between School Nomination and Self-nomination?

There are no major differences between School Nomination and Self-nomination. However, applications under School Nomination should be submitted by teacher-in-charge via our Online Application System.

How can applicants invite their referees online?

Students are required to fill in the referee’s information. An invitation email will automatically be sent to the proposed referee. (Note: Applicants under School Nomination should consult their Principal or teacher-in-charge; and reach a consensus prior to invitation of the referee). Students can view the Referee Status during their application process. Students can resend invitation to another referee before any reference submission. The function will no longer be available upon first submission of reference.

Do applicants have to upload all certificates for reference?

Supporting documents are NOT required during online application. However, original proof may be required in the future for verification.

How can the applicants ensure the application submission is successful?

Teacher-in-charge or the applicant can check their application status in our Online Application System. Confirmation emails will also be sent to teachers-in-charge, nominated students and self-nominated applicants upon successful applications.

If the applicant is unable to attend the written test, can the applicant take the test on another day?

The Organizer normally does not entertain any request from individual student for alteration of test date. If the applicant is unable to attend the Written Test due to extenuating circumstances, he/she should refer to the “Application Form for Make-up Written Test” and submit an application for make-up test prior to the application deadline.

Only one make-up test will be arranged. Upon approval of application, applicant will be notified of the date and time of the make-up test.

When will the shortlisted results be announced?

After the Written Test, all applicants will receive email notification about being shortlisted to the Assessment Camp or not. 40 finalists will also receive our emails after the Assessment Camp for the enrichment programs, submission of personal statement, and details about the group interview, of which 20 shortlisted candidates will be eligible and separately notified for the final individual interview.

Is the Enrichment Program compulsory for the finalists?

No, the participation would be on a voluntary basis. It is not part of assessment for the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award.

Is the Personal Statement compulsory for the finalists?

Yes, all Finalists need to submit their Personal Statement by the specified date. The Personal Statement is a part of the assessment for the Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award.