58 students admitted to UST for talents in sports and science

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has admitted 58 students who shine in areas like arts, sports and science, through the university’s special admissions schemes.

Among them, four students were admitted to the university through the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA) and School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS).

Maddalena Di Salvo, a student athlete on the Hong Kong sailing team, said her sailing milestone is winning the Youth World Championships and ranking fifth in the women’s group, breaking the Hong Kong record.

She said she hopes to win a prize at the next Asian Games and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Di Salvo said she will finish her gap year and enter HKUST this year through SALSA. She plans to study computer science with an extended AI major and a robotics minor at HKUST.

“I am grateful that HKUST has supported me in discussing how my calendars will work in UST for my future training and competition,” Di Salvo said.

Kong Tsz-lam, a student athlete on the Hong Kong table tennis team, said she had transferred from her secondary school to Lam Tai Fai College due to its cooperation with the Hong Kong Sports Institute and listened to a talk from HKUST about SALSA in college.

“I am interested in business management, which HKUST offers one of the greatest business programs among Hong Kong universities, and in student-athlete agreements where students can use double time to finish their degrees,” Kong said.

Chu Siu-pong, a student who invented the “hands-free tracking shopping carts,” said he wants to start a business producing products for the elderly after graduating. In addition to the shopping carts, he invented a pavilion that can always have its back to the sun.

“I want to help the elderly more than others. I know HKUST has a lot of sources to gain more materials and technology to improve my shopping carts during my study in HKUST,” Chu added.

Fu Ming-hon, a student who created a drowsiness detection app for driving users, said he studied a part-time program at HKUST in secondary 4 and got an excellent grade. He mentioned that he loves the HKUST environment and wants to keep learning there.

“I am interested in AI and have developed a few products in this area, such as a drowsiness detection app for driving users, a smart peephole camera for the blind, and an exhibition for people to think about how AI affects us,” Fu said.

Emily Nason, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions at HKUST, said HKUST’s SALSA admitted four athletes while SNDAS has more than 70 students nominated and 58 students were admitted to the university.

Nason said students admitted through SALSA will have a student adviser and a team to support them. At the same time, they will have flexible class arrangements, such as double time to complete the degree, flexible distribution of each semester credits, four-year dormitory, physical therapy, psychological counseling, etc.

“Students admitted through SNDAS this year will have 19 courses to choose from, five more courses than last year,” she said.

“After admission, they will receive an one-off scholarship of HK$50,000. Also, those who attained stars in the Diploma of Secondary Education exams (catergory A subjects) or Mathematics extended parts (M1, M2) will automatically receive an admission scholarship,” Nason said.