SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) held the 18^th Annual “SJM Scholarship Award Ceremony” at Grand Lisboa Grand Ballroom on 14 December 2022. At the event, Managing Director Ms. Daisy Ho, Directors Ms. Angela Leong and Dr. Ambrose So presented new scholarships to ten outstanding students, as well as renewed annual scholarships with 23 current post-secondary scholars for the new school year.

The SJM Scholarship Programme was conceived to recognize top-notch academic achievements by dependents of SJM employees and support talent development in Macau. Ten outstanding students have been chosen to receive the 2022 Scholarship, including Ian Cheng U, Tong Sin Io, Lei Hoi Hang, Leong Hio Hun, Lo Wai Ieng, Wang Jiaying, Mak Wai Hang, Ieong Sok Wa, Chan Weng Chin and Ho In Teng, with each of them receiving MOP 20,000 per year, until they graduate from university.

At the same occasion, SJM also renewed annual scholarships for 23 current students (2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 scholars) at MOP 20,000 each. Amongst them, Hoi Cheng Ieng and Wong Ian Kit attained exceptional academic results and were chosen as recipients of an additional MOP 5,000 incentive bursary.

Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM remarked, “As young leaders of a new era, our students are privileged to diversified platforms whereupon they may shine and flourish and develop their full potential. They should courageously explore new frontiers, venture away from their comfort zones, and pursue their passion. At the same time, they need to develop all-rounded skills and possess good character, nurture empathy and responsibility, and bring positive changes to the community.” She continued, “ Bearing the torch of ‘One Country-Two Systems’, I wish our students can proactively enhance exchanges with their Mainland counterparts, support the integration of Macau into the Greater Bay Area, and be a part of the great China story.

Our youth is our country’s future. Students must take advantage of every learning opportunity to upgrade themselves in order to best equip for the future of our society and our Motherland.”

Representing this year’s scholars, Lo remarked in her thank you speech “SJM Scholarship Programme helped us to get off on a good start in university studies. It supported us in our life planning, and is an excellent cradle for local talent development.”

Since its inauguration in 2005, the SJM Scholarship Programme has been supporting children of employees with distinguished academic standing to further their university studies. Children of employees under SJM and STDM entering first year university are eligible to apply. The Programme awards ten scholarships annually at MOP20,000 per year until students finish their university studies (up to five years). Renewal of scholarships is based on assessment of the recipient’s academic results by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee from year to year. 2022 marks the 18^th year of the Programme. Close to 130 scholars have since graduated from university and entered the workforce, while some have chosen to continue with higher degrees.

Apart from supporting its own employees, SJM has also established scholarship programmes in partnership with various universities. Moreover, in support of life-long learning, SJM fully sponsors staff to further their studies at Macau Millennium College, and encourages employees to return to school. Furthermore, SJM led the way in offering patriotic education programmes. In 2014, it organised the first employee delegation to attend training at Jinggangshan, Jiangxi, and has recurrently sent employees with remarkable success. In 2018, SJM jointly conceived a systematic and continual programme in Macau with Macau Millennium College, which features contemporary Chinese history, heritage and culture studies. SJM employees were the first batch of corporate graduates in this important initiative.