Campus Digest

HKBU Appreciation Reception honours scholarship and financial aid donors 

Friday, 8 May 2026

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Professor Alex Wai (8th right, 1st row), Professor Martin Wong, Provost (7th right, 1st row), and Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) (9th left, 1st row), attend the Appreciation Reception alongside donors, guests, and award-winning students.
Professor Alex Wai delivers the welcome address.
Dr Albert Chau (right, 1st row) confers “House of Scholars” Fellow to Corinne Kwan, a fifth-year student at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (left, 1st row).
Student pose for photo with donors to express the heartfelt gratitude.
Scholarship recipients share their personal accomplishments and aspirations during the Appreciation Reception.

 

The Office of Student Affairs hosted the 2025/26 Scholarship and Financial Aid Donor Appreciation Reception on 30 April, honouring the unwavering generosity of donors who have selflessly supported HKBU students over the years. Coinciding with HKBU’s 70th anniversary this year, the reception was themed “Everlasting Bloom”, symbolising the enduring impact of the HKBU community.

In his welcoming address, Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, expressed heartfelt gratitude to donors for their steadfast support. He said that in the 2025/26 academic year, HKBU awarded more than 2,700 scholarships and 125 bursaries and emergency grants, with total funding exceeding HK$106 million. These awards not only ease students’ financial pressures but also inspire excellence and holistic growth. Professor Wai also commended the First-Generation University Student Fund, which has benefited more than 2,400 students since its establishment in 2017, empowering them to embrace new learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

The reception commenced with a dedicated, theme-inspired animation created by Tiana Wong, a student from the Game Design and Animation programme. Two scholarship recipients Cherry Pang (Arts and Technology) and Tseng Sze-sze (Visual Arts), captivated the audience with a performance of the classic Chinese dance Rhythm of the Lotus. The event also featured a video produced by alumni that incorporated artificial intelligence elements, showcasing how four outstanding HKBU students have seized opportunities through scholarships to pursue their dreams in areas such as free Chinese medicine services and health promotion, communication and broadcasting, historical preservation, and transdisciplinary studies.

In the sharing session moderated by Journalism and Digital Media student Peony Lo Wing-pui, three scholarship recipients Ismatbanu Junedbhai Dalal (Computer Science), Marcelle Karina Lamarche Valenzuela (Social Work), and Tony Tsui Chun-hei (Business Administration – Global Entertainment) discussed their talents, accomplishments, and ambitions. The event also celebrated the House of Scholars conferment ceremony, recognising outstanding student achievements.

Guests were also invited to take part in an innovative, interactive floral art activity developed and curated by Chloe Wong and Elyse Tsang, both students of the Art and Technology programme. An LED wall displayed guests’ hand-drawn flower designs in real time.

HKBU extends its sincere appreciation to all donors for their generous and enduring support, which continues to empower new generations of innovators, visionaries, and leaders. The University looks forward to many more years of partnership, growth, and shared moments of everlasting bloom.