SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) awarded scholarships to 34 children of staff at the 17^th SJM Scholarship Award Ceremony on 2 August 2021, including presenting new scholarships to ten outstanding students of Year 2021, and renewal of scholarships for 24 recipients of past years. Chairman of the Board of Directors of SJM Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director Ms. Angela Leong, Directors Dr. Ambrose So, Ms. Maisy Ho and Mr. Arnaldo Ho attended the ceremony held in the Tang Song Boardroom of Grand Lisboa Palace Resort, celebrating the joyous moments with the students and their families.

Ten outstanding students were selected from 35 applicants by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee this year. They are Wong Ian Kit, Lei Cheng In, Ouyang Lam Cheong, Chan Ka Wa, Chu Hou Chong, Sun Weng, Chan Ka Hon, Cheong Chi Kei, Loi Seong Hei and Kuok Sio In. Each will be awarded MOP20,000 per year until they finish their university studies. 

The ceremony also witnessed the renewal of SJM Scholarships to 24 recipients of Year 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, who were each awarded MOP20,000 for the new academic year. Among them, Zheng Libin and Tam Hou In were named the best performing students in the past academic year, and were each given an additional encouragement award of MOP5,000.

Ms. Daisy Ho, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said in her speech that the future belongs to the young people, and encouraged the students to stand firm in their ideals and convictions and make it their mission to contribute to Macau and the Motherland.  As she said to the students, “You should aspire to become more proud, confident and assured in your identity as Chinese people, and become the vanguard of the drive to rejuvenate the nation. It is also important for you to deepen understanding of China’s modern history, and keep abreast with the development of the country, while promoting in-depth exchanges and cooperation with other young people in the Greater Bay Area.  Be a main player in Macau’s unique roles of ‘One Centre, One Platform and One Base’ and an ardent supporter of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ through consolidating the foundation for ‘patriots governing Macau’.” She added that Dr. Stanley Ho was a vigorous promoter of lifelong learning, and consistently supported education on all levels. SJM is proud to reflect this outlook with the scholarship programme extended to children of staff.

Dr. Ambrose So, Director of SJM and Chairman of the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee shared a meaningful quote “博觀約取” from the Chinese poet Su Shi of the Song Dynasty.  He remarked, “You have to be cautious in picking the right information from broad reading, especially in today’s society, where you can find vast information from unknown sources on the internet. As you accumulate knowledge, you must also learn to distinguish what is right and wrong. This is also one of the vital factors on your learning to become a responsible person with good values. We hope that you can create values for yourselves and also for society as a whole.”

Ms. Angela Leong, Managing Director of SJM and Chairman of the SJM Staff Welfare Consultative Committee, said, “We should bear in mind the Chinese Communist Party’s belief of ‘gaining foresight into the future through the mirror of history’. This is especially true for the young people as they are working towards the rejuvenation of China in the new era.”  She continued, “As a student, you must have the resolve as a sportsman and devote yourself to your goals. You must also have the courage to face the challenges and strive for the best for yourself, Macau and China.” She also highlighted the upcoming Legislative Election and called on the students to demonstrate their love for Macau and the Motherland by fulfilling their civic responsibility to vote.

Ms. Sun Weng represented this year’s award-winners to deliver a thank-you speech. She said, “Thanks to SJM, a great number of students have been benefitted from the SJM Scholarship Award programme since its establishment. With the financial support, we can focus on learning and on pursuing our dreams.  We will continue to work hard and equip ourselves for the greater good of our society.”

The SJM Scholarship Award programme awards outstanding children of staff to further their university studies, with the goal to nurture talents for Macau.  Children of SJM and STDM employees who are first-year undergraduates are eligible for application. The programme awards ten scholarships annually to children of staff, who are each awarded MOP20,000 per year until they finish their university studies (up to five years). Renewal of scholarships is based on assessment of the recipients’ academic results by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee annually. The SJM Scholarship Award Ceremony, since established in 2015, has witnessed the graduation of 117 students.

In addition to offering scholarships to children of staff, SJM has set up scholarship programmes with local institutions. SJM also sponsors the full school fees of staff members to further their studies at Macau Millennium College, and supports recurrent education by encouraging employees to complete their secondary school education at Millennium Secondary School. Moreover, SJM is committed to promoting patriotic education. The SJM Staff Welfare Consultative Committee has organised staff participation in the patriotic education programme in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi since 2014.  SJM staff were the first batch of corporate employees to attend the training course on Chinese history and culture offered jointly by Macau Millennium College and a research institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences since 2018.