Best UGTA & PGTA Awards and Academic Excellence Scholarship for 2024-25

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) proudly announces the recipients of the 2024-25 Best Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UGTA) Award, Professor Samuel Chanson Best Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) Award, and the Professor Samuel Chanson Academic Excellence Scholarship. These awards recognize the exceptional contributions of teaching assistants and academic excellence among students, highlighting their dedication to enhancing the learning experience at our university.

Best UGTA Award Recipients

The Best UGTA Award celebrates undergraduate teaching assistants who have demonstrated exceptional teaching, dedication, and impact on student learning. This year's awardees are:

• LI Yu Hong Harry
• LUI Ka Kit

Both Harry and Ka Kit have shown remarkable commitment to their roles. Harry, with his near-expert knowledge of C++ programming, consistently provided high-quality answers on Piazza, often including example code to clarify complex concepts. He also made notes to aid student understanding and was always ready to assist. Ka Kit excelled in delivering thoughtful feedback on assignments and labs, often going beyond regular hours to support students. His ability to explain complex material clearly and share best practices with other TAs has significantly enhanced student performance and satisfaction. Their interpersonal skills and dedication make them highly deserving of this recognition.

(From Left) Prof. Raymond WONG, Dr. Desmond TSOI, Harry LI (Awardee), Dr. Brian MAK, and Prof. Xiaofang ZHOU

(From Left) Ka Kit LUI, Prof. Raymond WONG

The Best UGTA Award (Honorable Mention) recipients are SO Chun Hin William, WONG Erastus, POON Lok Sang, and TANG Chiu Yeung, whose contributions are also greatly appreciated.

Professor Samuel Chanson Best PGTA Award Recipients

The Professor Samuel Chanson Best PGTA Award honors postgraduate teaching assistants who have shown outstanding dedication and impact. The 2024-25 recipients are:

• CHEN, Yijia
• YAN, Yinzhao

Yijia has been an exceptional PGTA for the Modern Compiler Construction course, managing tutorials, grading, and projects with remarkable initiative. He single-handedly handled complex tasks, including detecting plagiarism in open-ended projects, and earned high praise from students for his helpfulness and approachability. Yinzhao, supporting Exploring and Visualizing Data, demonstrated efficiency in grading, leadership in exam logistics, and clear communication in tutorials. His prompt updates to resources like the coupon sign-up sheet and quick responses to student queries significantly improved the learning experience.

(From Left) Prof. Raymond WONG, Dr. Lionel PARREAUX, Yijia CHEN and Prof. Xiaofang ZHOU

The Outstanding PGTA Honorable Mentions go to SON Moo Hyun, Asif KHAN, CHEN Jingyi, CHEN Qixu, CHUNG Tsz Ting, LAI Wing Yin, LI Chun Chai Elton, SHUM Ka Chun, TANG Zheng, and DENG for their commendable efforts.

Professor Samuel Chanson Academic Excellence Scholarship

The Professor Samuel Chanson Academic Excellence Scholarship, valued at $20,000, is awarded to a Year 2 local undergraduate CSE student who demonstrates outstanding academic performance by the Spring Term of their Year 2 studies. The 2023-24 recipient is SO Chun Hin, a DDP-COMP student, recognized for his excellent academic achievements.

(From Left) Prof. Raymond WONG, Mr. Chun Hin SO, and Prof. Xiaofang ZHOU

The CSE Department extends heartfelt congratulations to all award recipients for their exceptional contributions and achievements. Their dedication to teaching, academic excellence, and student support strengthens our community and inspires others. We look forward to their continued success and impact.