Success Stories: Nurturing Tomorrow's Leaders!

Four Discovery College students reveal how the school’s Academic Scholarship Programme has empowered them to pursue their passions, achieve their goals and prepare for bright futures 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Discovery College 

Discovery College (DC) continues to set a gold standard for international education in Hong Kong. While the school is widely celebrated for its state-of-the-art campus and holistic approach to the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, it is the individuals within its walls who truly define its spirit. 

Cent ral to this thriving educational ecosystem is the Discovery College Academic Scholarship Programme – an initiative designed to recognise exceptional student talent, foster intellectual curiosity and provide tailor-made mentorship. Let’s hear from four remarkable, homegrown student scholars – Tasha Batchelor, Lucia Gimenez-Reyna Castillo, Alexander Nolens - Liu and Mahirr Uppaal – who reveal how the programme is shaping their journeys and helping them turn big ambitions into reality. 

THE POWER OF PERSONALISED MENTORSHIP 

Balancing high-level academics with extracurricular passions can be a daunting feat for any teenager. For Alexander, a dedicated athlete who represents DC in four sports – football, badminton, volleyball and swimming – the scholarship programme has been an essential anchor. 

“Being involved in sports, extracurriculars and academics may sometimes seem impossible, hence, my mentor helps me manage my schedule, establish priorities and ensure a high academic performance,” Alexander says. 

This sentiment is echoed across the cohort. Mahirr, who is drawn to the real-world applications of Economics, credits the scholarship’s structural guidance for giving students the confidence to step outside their comfort zones. 

“The guiding presence of mentors to help steer us in the right direction and resolve any queries is a huge help," Mahirr notes, adding that this support offers “increased flexibility and reassurance to pursue other streams of interest”. 

For Design enthusiast Tasha, the programme ensures that students never have to navigate their challenges alone: she greatly values the structure provided by regular progress meetings with her advisor. “The scholarship programme has supported my journey at DC through of fer ing any suppor t in subjects where I may want it. The regular meeting with my mentor, where we set goals and my progress toward these goals helps me to stay on track.” 

COLLABORATION AND RISK-TAKING 

When asked what makes DC unique, the scholars don’t just point to the facilities; they point to the culture. 

For Lucia, a student passionate about Physics, DC is a rare sanctuary where academic risk-taking is celebrated. “Something that makes DC special to me is its community,” Lucia says. “I would say that the school community and environment is a place in which you don’t have to be afraid to be yourself, explore, or take risks, because there will always be people there to support you along the way.” 

The scholarship programme actively channels this supportive environment into collaborative, real - world experiences. Lucia recently partnered with a group of fellow scholars to take part in a STEM competition, an opportunity she notes helped the team “grow and develop passions for engineering and enterprise”. 

Mahirr, a golfer with a low single-figure handicap, who was part of the same STEM competition agrees with Lucia, describing DC as a “very strongly tight-knit community that encourages students to engage with one another both inside and outside of school”. Tasha adds that DC’s vibrant atmosphere makes it “a great place to make new friends and have new experiences”. 

BIG DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE 

As these scholars look toward life after graduation, their diverse aspirations reflect the rich, multidisciplinary foundation fostered by DC. 

Alexander plans to take his analytical skills to a top university to pursue higher education in law or a law-related field. Mahirr aims to stay local to Hong Kong's world- class institutions, targeting HKU and HKUST to study Business or Economics. 

Lucia is looking to merge her love for logical and creative thinking by studying biomedical engineering, where she will learn about the application of physics and mathematical concepts to the healthcare industry. Tasha, meanwhile, is keeping her options open: she plans to keep up with the subjects she enjoys, while taking some time out to travel and play rugby. 

Whether it is Tasha bringing her 3D models to li fe on Fusion 360, Alexander competing in local HKSSF and ISSFHK sports tournaments, Mahir r interpreting government policies through economic theory, or Lucia applying her passion for engineering to real-world challenges, these scholars are demonstrating how talent, when paired with the right support and opportunities, can flourish into meaningful achievement. 

The Discovery College Academic Scholarship Programme is doing exactly what it set out to do. It isn't just funding education; it is actively fuelling the passions, resilience and future successes of Hong Kong's brightest young minds. 

You can find out more at Discovery College’s next Open Day on August 29, or by visiting discovery.esf.edu.hk/en/admissions/ scholarship_programme