The Department is pleased to announce that the following Teaching Assistants/ Demonstrators have been chosen as recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in 2024/25 Term 1: (Name in alphabetical order)
SHEN Jiaxin (CHEM2860), YEUNG Pui Wo Felix (CHEM2300) & ZHUANG Jingru (CHEM1380A)
This award is given each semester to Teaching Assistants/Demonstrators that demonstrates exceptional performance and devotion to duty while acting on behalf of the department. It is a prestigious honour that serves to recognise the best of the best within our ranks. The awardees’ teaching performance, contribution to Department and character are considered during the selection process. Each awardee will receive a $1,000 prize.
We are grateful to have our Department Chairman, Prof. Kwong Fuk-yee, to present the certificates and awards to the awardees.
What’s more, we are happy to have Jiaxin, Felix and Jingru to share with us their wholehearted feelings of receiving this achievement 🙂
Sharing from SHEN Jiaxin (Responsible course: CHEM2860)
Receiving this award is an honor. As a lab demonstrator, I teach foundational skills and guide experiments, but my true goal is igniting curiosity. Every session decodes reactions, celebrates ‘aha!’ moments, and reminds me why I fell for chemistry: those silent, dazzling dialogues between molecules. Watching students in the lab—their focus, their wonder—transports me to my undergraduate self: sleeves rolled up, heart racing, captivated by the alchemy of science. Chemistry, to me, is the universe whispering its secrets. To anyone who finds magic in reactions, whether you’re a student, researcher, or simply curious: “Every equation you balance and reaction you observe unveils hidden wonders. Let curiosity catalyze you, and let persistence compound into discoveries that matter.”
Sharing from YEUNG Pui Wo Felix (Responsible course: CHEM2300)
I am truly humbled to receive this Outstanding TA Award, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have made a positive impact on students’ learning journey. CHEM2300 is one of the most challenging physical chemistry courses, but seeing students’ curiosity and potential grow as they tackle these complex concepts has been incredibly rewarding. As a TA, I have had the privilege of not only guiding undergraduate students through challenging material, but also honing my own skills in presenting knowledge with clarity. This experience has been invaluable, and I am confident that it will serve me well as I continue on my PhD journey. I look forward to continuing to support future generations of students, and I hope to be an even more effective and supportive TA in the years to come.
Sharing from ZHUANG Jingru (Responsible course: CHEM1380A)
It is a great honor to receive the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. I believe that genuine interest is the best teacher, and helping students to engage deeply with the material is essential to their learning process. The challenge lies in finding ways to foster that interest, enabling students not only learn but also apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. The time spent interacting with students is a two-way exchange. While guiding them, I also have the opportunity to grow and develop my own understanding. This award is a reminder of the importance of my role as a TA and will continue to inspire me to approach my duties with even greater enthusiasm and dedication, striving to make a positive impact on the students I work with.
Hearty congratulations to Jiaxin, Felix and Jingru, and many thanks to all nominators and our selection panels!