Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (“SJM”) awarded scholarships to 37 children of staff at the 16^th Annual SJM Scholarship Award Ceremony, including new scholarships to ten outstanding students of Year 2020 and renewal of scholarships for 27 recipients of Year 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016. The Award Ceremony was held on 30 August 2020 at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Lisboa, attended by Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer Ms. Angela Leong, Secretary-General Dr. Rui Cunha, as well as award-winning students and their parents.

Ten outstanding students were selected from 30 applicants by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee this year. They are Leung Hoi Ching, Kou Wai Seng, Fong Chon Seng, Cheong Wai Meng, Ho Chon Kit, Ho U Kit, Choi Wai I, Cai Yiqin, Ho Man Cheng and Leong Weng 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 27 recipients of Year 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016, who were each awarded MOP20,000 for the new academic year. Among them, Li Yaxiu 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 of SJM and member of the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee, conveyed her congratulations to the students via video, “The pandemic has forced physical distance but made our hearts grow fonder. I wish to congratulate our students, who have done an excellent job in effectively managing their time and continuing learning online while classes have been suspended.” She continued, “My father Dr. Stanley Ho put priority to nurturing talents, with beneficiaries covering university and college students, employees and their children, helping many people to realise their dreams over the years. Adhering to Dr. Ho’s principle, SJM has invested a multitude of resources in educational and cultural development, and is also committed to promoting patriotism, dedicated to nurturing capable and responsible talents for society, to ensure ‘one country, two systems’ will continue with stability.” She went on to encourage the students to clearly define their goals and actively fulfill their social responsibilities. “Very soon, you will step out of your comfort zone to start a new leaning phase in life. The current adversity will only make us more united, and lead us to learn more about the significance of gratitude and cherishing. I hope that you will set an example for others by appreciating, understanding and caring more about the people and happenings around you, and face the pandemic with empathy and optimism, releasing more positive energy to society.”

Dr. Ambrose So, Director of SJM and Chairman of the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee, gave his speech via video, as he said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy and people’s livelihood, including our daily lives. ‘Adversity is man’s highest institution of higher learning’ - amidst such challenges, how to develop self-discipline and self-improvement is of critical importance.” He urged the students to face adversity with courage and find strength in it through constantly improving themselves, joining forces with others in creating a caring community. “As the Chinese saying goes, ‘a noble person strives for self-improvement’ （天行健，君子以自强不息）. This is a motto not only to be applied in adversity, but also in life. I hope that you will inherit this traditional Chinese virtue, and contribute to Macau and our Country in the future.”

Ms. Angela Leong, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of SJM, also Chairman of the SJM Staff Welfare Consultative Committee, said in her speech, “The scholarship programme established by SJM for children of our employees follows Dr. Ho’s principle of contributing to society, not only in fostering of local talents but also in upholding the spirit of ‘Love China and Love Macau’. Macau’s current stability and prosperity is attributed to the support of the Motherland, and also to the hard work of the entire community. With the rapid development of science and technology coupled with the diversified development of the economy, positive personal values and attributes have been affected and challenged. You must uphold your belief, bearing at heart always the importance of gratitude when giving back to your parents and society.”

Ms. Leung Hoi Ching represented this year’s awardees to deliver a thank-you speech, as she said, “SJM, with its roots in Macau, has devoted tremendous efforts and resources to the nurturing of local talents to meet the needs of society, and always encourages students to work hard and contribute back to Macau. On behalf of the awardees, I wish to express our grateful thanks to SJM for its support, and also to our parents for the care and company. While grieving the loss of normal routines due to the sudden outbreak of the coronavirus, we have also taken the opportunity to review ourselves and set goals for the future. We have learnt to be a responsible person, and are constantly improving ourselves to become stronger.”

The SJM Scholarship programme awards outstanding children of staff to further their university studies. Children of staff of SJM and STDM 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 recipient’s academic results by the SJM Scholarship Selection Committee annually. The Programme, since its establishment in 2005, has witnessed the graduation of 110 students.

In addition to offering scholarships to children of staff, SJM sponsors the full school fees of its staff members to further studies at Macau Millennium College, and encourages employees to return to school by completing secondary school education at Millennium Secondary School. SJM also awards scholarships at local educational institutions, and through sponsoring educational and cultural activities, SJM aims to promote Chinese culture and foster lifelong learning in society. Moreover, the SJM Staff Welfare Consultative Committee has organised staff participation in the patriotic education programme in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi since 2014. SJM staff are 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.