Press Release

[Hong Kong - June 27, 2025] The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) today hosted its annual flagship event, The Academy Awards for the Gifted 2025, at the Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong. Widely recognised as the "Oscars" of the gifted community, the ceremony honoured over 50 outstanding students and alumni for their exemplary achievements in local, national, and international competitions. Prestigious awards presented during the event included the Outstanding Graduate Award, Outstanding Alumnus Award and Gifted Star Award. Witnessed by family members, educators, and fellow students, awardees took the stage to receive their accolades and deliver heartfelt speeches — making the ceremony a memorable and inspiring occasion within the gifted education landscape.

Recognising Diverse Excellence and Future-ready Competencies

The ceremony presented a number of prestigious awards, including the Gifted Star Award, Outstanding Graduate Award, Outstanding Alumnus Award, and Gold Award for the 2nd Leadership Training Programme. These accolades not only recognised the awardees’ achievements in local, national, and international competitions, but also celebrated their remarkable accomplishments beyond academics — including innovation and technology, community service, leadership, and humanistic qualities.

The ceremony was officiated by Dr CHAN Kin Keung Eugene, SBS, BBS, JP, Chairman of The Advisory Committee on Gifted Education. Distinguished leaders from the education sector, school principals, teachers, parents, and members of the new HKAGE student cohort were also present to witness this important milestone in the HKAGE’s journey to nurture the next generation of gifted leaders.

“Through gifted education, we aim to nurture young leaders who can apply their knowledge with purpose, care for society, and possess innovation, leadership, responsibility, a strong national identity, and a global perspective. These qualities are essential to expanding Hong Kong’s talent pool, enhancing our global competitiveness, and reinforcing confidence in Hong Kong. ” Dr CHAN remarked in his opening address. 

Exemplars of Giftedness – Innovating to Serve Society

The Outstanding Graduate Award this year was presented to Mr CHONG Sik Hin Lester, a distinguished student leader who exemplifies a strong sense of social responsibility and service. A two-time recipient of the HKAGE’s Gifted Star Award in the third and fourth editions of the Awards, he was also honoured with The Future Leaders Award 2023 award by the Outstanding Young Persons’ Association. With a strong passion for technology and educational service, Lester co-founded the education organisation Biz Sense with his peers. He also took part in the HKAGE’s Hong Kong Gifted Apprentice Programme, where he conducted research in science education under the guidance of an HKAGE-appointed mentor. He acknowledged the HKAGE’s pivotal role in helping him develop essential skills in time management and decision-making. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Executive Director and mentors for their continuous support and encouragement, which enabled him to translate visionary ideas into feasible and impactful initiatives. “The Executive Director and mentors taught me not to fear difficult challenges — because difficulty does not mean something isn’t worth pursuing,” he remarked.

The Outstanding Alumnus Award was conferred on Dr NG Cheuk Kwong Data, who holds a PhD degree in Physics from the University of Hong Kong. During his academic journey, Dr NG earned numerous awards in innovation and programming competitions. He later founded Printact, Asia’s first deep-tech education start-up focused on promoting biotechnology and emerging technologies. The company is dedicated to connecting digital talents and building a collaborative platform for innovation. Dr NG also serves as Co-President of the Cyberport Startup Alumni Association.

As an active supporter of the HKAGE, Dr NG has consistently contributed to the gifted education community by mentoring younger members, sharing his experience in innovation, and guiding student teams in the development of award-winning projects. He has also served as a judge in the HKAGE’s Young STEAM Talent Award for two consecutive years. He encouraged younger students to broaden their knowledge across different disciplines and to explore their interests through continuous enquiry and research. He also encouraged the students, saying, "I hope all of you can bravely step out of the classroom, engage with different people, learn from them, use what you've learned to help others, and create even greater value."

Leadership Training Programme Unlocks Potential and Cultivates Future Leaders

Since the 2022/23 academic year, the HKAGE has broadened its intake channel by introducing the Principal’s Nomination quota under the existing School Nomination scheme. This initiative aims to identify and admit high-potential students who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities. Nominated students may submit their personal profiles directly to the HKAGE, and are selected through a rigorous review process by the Admissions Committee. To date, more than 400 gifted students have joined HKAGE through this initiative and have benefited from the HKAGE’s specially designed Leadership Training Programme, which provides comprehensive and structured training to develop leadership competencies and unlock individual potential. In the current academic year, over 50 students successfully completed the second cohort of the programme. Among them, 34 students were awarded the Gold Award in recognition of their exceptional performance and leadership development throughout the course.

HKU Scholar Highlights Emotional Traits of Gifted Talents, Inspiring New Directions in Gifted Education

As a supporting organisation of this year’s ceremony, the University of Hong Kong was represented by Professor Jesus Alfonso D. DATU, Director of the Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education, and Associate Professor of Guidance and Counselling and Gifted Education. Professor DATU delivered a keynote presentation about “Affective Science and Education for Gifted Learners: Implications for Gifted Education and Practitioners”. Drawing from empirical research, Professor DATU explored the emotional characteristics and learning challenges commonly observed among gifted children and adolescents. He also introduced evidence-based resources and strategies to enhance the wellbeing and emotional development of gifted learners. His insights offered valuable perspectives for educators and practitioners in the field, helping to inform future approaches to holistic gifted education.

“HKAGE Along the River” Showcases Gifted Student Perspectives and Fosters Community Connection Through Art

As the ceremony drew to a close, HKAGE Executive Director Dr WONG Kam Yiu Jimmy led a group of students in presenting a large-scale collaborative artwork titled “HKAGE Along the River”. The three-metre-long scroll painting was created under the guidance of Professor Coleman WAI and Ms CHUNG Hei To, a former Gifted Star Award recipient and current university fine arts student. The piece vividly captures the scenery surrounding Shing Mun River, where the HKAGE is located. 

The artwork portrays the daily lives of Shatin residents alongside gifted students, blending realistic detail with imaginative expression. It also incorporates thematic elements from various HKAGE programmes, reflecting its diverse and holistic approach to gifted education. Created under the theme “Beyond Giftedness”, the painting highlights gifted students’ artistic talents, their keen observations of the community, and a strong sense of humanistic care — demonstrating how art can serve as a meaningful bridge between education and society.

In the current academic year, the Principal’s Nomination is expanded to include the visual arts domain . This initiative aims to identify and support students with exceptional artistic talent, while fostering interdisciplinary exchange among gifted students from diverse domains. By broadening students’ perspectives and encouraging creative thinking, the HKAGE seeks to provide a platform that allows gifted individuals to fully realise their unique potential. As part of this initiative, the HKAGE will recommend selected students to participate in an eight-day Beijing Art Exchange Tour in July, co-organised with the Education Bureau. During the tour, participating students will have the opportunity to attend workshops at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and engage in meaningful exchanges with local professors, students, and artists — enriching their understanding of art and culture from both regional and international perspectives.

A New Generation of Gifted Stars Illuminates the Path Forward in Gifted Education

Dr WONG Kam Yiu Jimmy, Executive Director of the HKAGE, remarked, “Through The Academy Awards for the Gifted, our goal is to showcase the outcomes of gifted education in Hong Kong. These outstanding students are not only high achievers in and beyond the classroom — they are also socially conscious individuals and the future innovators and leaders of our society. We hope that every gifted student can feel that their efforts are recognised and truly valued.” 

Dr WONG also highlighted the HKAGE’s recent efforts in identifying high-potential students through various competitions and nomination pathways. He reaffirmed the HKAGE’s commitment to whole-person development by offering a diverse range of learning opportunities and enrichment programmes tailored to the distinct needs of gifted learners. “I am confident that our awardees will continue to shine in their respective fields. I also hope that our new members will look up to these role models — their senior peers — and be inspired to explore and realise their own potential, embrace the vibrant journey at the HKAGE, and showcase the fruits of their learning.” He added. 

Carrying Forward the Mission of Gifted Education — Cultivating the Next Generation of Leaders

The Academy Awards for the Gifted 2025 recognised over 50 outstanding students selected from a cohort of more than 9,000 HKAGE members. The HKAGE also invited newly admitted students to attend the ceremony, allowing them to witness and be inspired by the remarkable achievements of their peers — fostering a spirit of excellence and continuity within the gifted education community.

Looking ahead, the HKAGE remains committed to leading the development of gifted education in Hong Kong and will continue to broaden opportunities for talent identification through a variety of competitions, strengthen leadership training, enhance whole-person development programmes, and refine its nomination mechanisms — including the Principal’s Nomination. Through these efforts, the HKAGE aims to cultivate a new generation of future-ready leaders equipped with diverse talents and global perspectives, contributing to the advancement of Hong Kong, the nation, and the world. 

Dr WONG Kam Yiu Jimmy, Executive Director of the HKAGE, remarked, “Through The Academy Awards for the Gifted, our goal is to showcase the outcomes of gifted education in Hong Kong. These outstanding students are not only high achievers in and beyond the classroom — they are also socially conscious individuals and the future innovators and leaders of our society. We hope that every gifted student can feel that their efforts are recognised and truly valued.”	Outstanding Graduate Awardee CHONG Sik Hin Lester expressed his sincere gratitude, saying, “The Executive Director and mentors taught me not to fear difficult challenges — because difficulty does not mean something isn’t worth pursuing.”
Outstanding Alumnus Awardee Dr. NG Cheuk Kwong Data encouraged the students, saying, "I hope all of you can bravely step out of the classroom, engage with different people, learn from them, use what you've learned to help others, and create even greater value."	A group photo of Gold Awardees from the Leadership Training Programme, celebrating their achievement.
(Second from the left) Prof WOO Kam Tim, member of the HKAGE Board of Directors; Ms CHAN Ching Chu Rebecca, member of the HKAGE Board of Directors; Prof WAI Coleman, Art Advisor of the “HKAGE Along the River”; Dr WONG Kam Yiu Jimmy, Executive Director, HKAGE; Dr LAM Tat Ho Lander, representative of the Education Bureau; Dr CHU Kai Wing Alex, member of the HKAGE Board of Directors and Mr WONG Chung Po, Associate Director (Programme), HKAGE display the “HKAGE Along the River”, a collaborative painting created by gifted students, exemplifying HKAGE’s commitment to a diverse and holistic gifted education philosophy.	Professor Jesus Alfonso D. DATU, Director of the Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education, and Associate Professor of Guidance and Counselling and Gifted Education, delivered a presentation on the science behind the emotional characteristics of gifted learners, offered valuable perspectives for educators and practitioners in the field, helping to inform future approaches to holistic gifted education

A group photo of all guests and awardees, capturing the collective milestone in nurturing the next generation of gifted leaders and talents.

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