How does passion meet purpose? For many students, it is a weighty question. Two exceptional PolyU talents – Jenny He Jingyun, the Most Outstanding Student of the Year, and Edwin Lam Yiu-chung, recipient of the Presidential Student Leadership Award – explained how their university journeys reveal a calling to serve society in their respective expertise.

A biology enthusiast since childhood, Jenny He Jingyun first came to Hong Kong from Guizhou, China, to study at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology to pursue her passion for life sciences in this vibrant, international city. Aspiring to master bioinformatics and biostatistics, she did not expect exchange opportunities would redefine her career aspirations.

Discovering genetic counselling during exchange

Through PolyU’s global exchange network, Jenny studied at the University of Cambridge and the University of Waterloo. There, she learned biomedical data analysis for disease research, connected with professionals in her field and uncovered the transformative power of genetic counselling. She then decided to become a genetic counsellor. “Having lost a family member to cancer, I’m particularly committed to promoting screening for cancer genetics and Chinese-prevalent hereditary diseases. My exchange experiences showed me how genetics can change lives,” Jenny recalls. “They also made me realise the vast potential Hong Kong has in developing this field.”

Back on campus, the University’s supportive environment and diverse community encouraged Jenny to take on leadership roles, from heading non-local student groups to volunteering. These honed her cultural sensitivity, an important quality for helping families understand genetic risks. As the Most Outstanding PolyU Student of the Year, she now eyes further studies in North America to obtain professional qualifications in genetic counselling, while envisioning returning to Hong Kong as a way of giving back for the funding and support she has received. “I hope to integrate advanced genetic counselling into the local culture to enable better services in Hong Kong,” she says.

Jenny eagerly participated in overseas programmes to broaden her horizons, including her internship at Canada’s Western University (left photo) and her exchange at the University of Waterloo, also in Canada (right photo).

Driven by a passion for healthcare, Edwin Lam Yiu-chung, a physiotherapy student, has shaped his university journey around one clear belief: healthcare should transform lives through meaningful human connection. Being this year’s recipient of the Presidential Student Leadership Award, Edwin fuses academic prowess with heartfelt service.

“Physiotherapists provide more than treatment. They offer encouragement, companionship and hope to patients, especially on the frontlines of primary care,” Edwin believes. This deeply meaningful role has fuelled his commitment to touching lives through professional care.

Active community engagement builds empathy

Outside the classroom, Edwin engages enthusiastically in community service, from organising cultural and learning activities for ethnic minority students and sparking science wonder in primary schoolers, to volunteering in health checks and exercise guidance for the elderly. Time and again, he steps up as a group leader, showing leadership and social responsibility while building empathy, communication and coordination skills that are essential for future healthcare professionals.

At the same time, Edwin has demonstrated strong academic performance alongside his many responsibilities, even publishing a research paper exploring links between chronic musculoskeletal pain and constipation in an academic journal.

Through the provision of scholarships, mentorship, student leadership opportunities and clinical placements, PolyU has played a key role in widening Edwin’s horizons and he has made the most of the University’s holistic learning environment. Looking ahead, Edwin hopes to join the Hong Kong public healthcare system, build up his clinical experience and pursue a PhD to contribute to healthcare in Hong Kong and beyond.

Edwin balances academic excellence with active participation in community service, for example, joining the “Better Ageing in Community Campaign” (left photo) and sharing his research paper in the “European Spine Journal” and at international conferences (right photo).

Recognising outstanding PolyU students

Each year, PolyU honours undergraduates through its Outstanding Student Award Scheme for academic excellence, leadership skills, active participation in extra-curricular activities, community service and exemplary character. The Presidential Student Leadership Award recognises students who demonstrate exemplary leadership while contributing to society and the global community. In the 2025/26 academic year, a total of 57 PolyU students were honoured with these awards, with Jenny and Edwin as inspiring exemplars.