A warm corner of Hong Kong: President’s Awardee Ma Jingwan’s path to success at Lingnan University

For Sociology graduate Ma Jingwan, the journey to receiving the 2025 President’s Award was never purely about the pursuit of grades, and while achieving the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.87 in the Class of 2025 is a formidable achievement, Jingwan remains refreshingly grounded about the accolade.

"I am truly surprised at winning the President’s Award," she says. "I really want to thank my friends and my family because they gave me a lot of support."  

When asked to distil her university experience into just three words, Jingwan paints a vivid picture of the campus atmosphere: "Cosy, warm, and peaceful."

For Jingwan, Lingnan was more than just a campus—it became a second home. She cherished the simple moments most: attending lectures with close friends, having easy access to professors who knew her by name, and feeling part of a tight-knit community. 

But how does one achieve the highest CGPA in the graduating class? Jingwan’s strategy is rooted in discipline, especially in mastering course materials. “You really need to do the pre-reading before every week’s courses—or at least before the finals," she advises.

Jingwan also shares a balanced perspective on study tools, and while she recognises the value of Artificial Intelligence (AI), she cautions against relying on it too heavily. “AI can help you summarise,” she notes, "but if you only use AI, you’ll miss details that could be crucial for exams or final papers."