In autumn 2025, the Georgetown University Alumni Association (GUAA) announced its annual alumni awards. Among the honorees was an educational exchange event organized earlier this year by the Georgetown University Hong Kong Alumni Association (GUHKAA) and supported by Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College (MLC), University of Macau (UM), which received the 2025 “Educational Program of the Year” Award.
The Georgetown University Alumni Association has long upheld the value of “care for the whole person”. The award recognizes alumni associations that demonstrate excellence in leadership, event planning, and innovative program design, as well as outstanding contributions to lifelong learning and sustained alumni engagement.
Rewinding to February this year: the delegation from the Georgetown University Hong Kong Alumni Association visited the UM and participated in a cultural and educational exchange event thoughtfully curated by MLC. Under the guidance of MLC students, the guests were welcomed by College Master Prof. YANG Liu and Associate Master Dr. Ka Wai FUNG, who led a tour through the College.
The visit included the Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam sculpture, the “Patriotic Poetry Exhibition of Mr. Ma Man Kei”, and the “Grand Beauty Art Exhibition” at the Academy of Aesthetic Education. The programme offered guests an immersive experience of the UM’s “4-in-1” education model, highlighting the integration of arts and humanities in whole-person education. This meaningful exchange not only showcased the distinctive character of UM’s residential college education but also became a central highlight of the Hong Kong Alumni Association’s annual activities.
The project was co-chaired by Georgetown alumni Valerie Ma and Shaun Ho, with generous support and creative input from the MLC team. Valerie (Ma Kin-yee), great-granddaughter of Mr. Ma Man Kei, was visibly moved as she stepped into the College and said, “I am Ma Man Kei’s great-granddaughter—I’ve come home!” Her heartfelt words deeply touched everyone present, symbolizing a beautiful dialogue between heritage and the new generation, and reflecting the shared educational ideals of Georgetown University and the University of Macau.
Winning Georgetown University’s “Educational Program of the Year” Award is a strong recognition of the project’s creative vision and educational significance, while also underscoring MLC’s international outlook and innovative spirit. Faculty and students of Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College felt truly delighted and inspired by this meaningful exchange.
Looking ahead, the College will continue to remain open and welcoming guests from around the world and will continue to serve as a platform for global students and alumni to connect, engage, and exchange ideas. Through such encounters, new sparks of thought and culture will continue to illuminate Macau.