Celebrating the Spirit of Giving Back: HKUST Honors Impact Makers

Over 70 HKUST staff members gathered on May 4 to celebrate their contributions to the community at the Impact Makers Appreciation Ceremony. The event featured encouraging speeches from Prof. Kar Yan Tam, Vice-President (Administration and Business); Chelsea Zhang, Assistant Director of the Human Resources Office; and Prof. Kenneth Leung, Director of the Sustainability/Net-Zero Office.

A major highlight of this year’s ceremony was the introduction of two new departmental awards, designed to recognize offices that have gone above and beyond in fostering a culture of service:

• Top Volunteer Participation Award: Awarded to the Dean of Students' Office, which saw the highest total number of staff members utilizing their volunteering special leave in 2025.
• Outstanding Volunteer Engagement Award: Awarded to the Library, recognizing the department with the largest proportion of its total staff participating in volunteering efforts last year.

The ceremony also celebrated a university-wide milestone: a 50% increase in participation, with 113 staff members from 33 different offices utilizing their special leave to serve the community. They have contributed a remarkable total of over 546 volunteer hours. From environmental conservation and elder care to waste circulation and supporting individuals with special needs, the diversity of impact was profound.

Before presenting the certificates to staff members, attendees heard moving reflections from Phyllis Lai (Dean of Students’ Office) and Gee May Tam (Office of the Dean of Science & IEO), who shared how volunteering has enriched their professional and personal connections.

This spirit of shared experience and mutual support is what the Impact Makers Program is all about. It's about how by extending ourselves to the community, we also enrich ourselves and strengthen the very fabric of HKUST.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all our Impact Makers for their dedication to the wider community.