Scholarships worth over $41,700 pledged for science students in Vietnam

The initiative, announced on Thursday in partnership with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, will provide 118 scholarships to disadvantaged students and 20 awards to outstanding individuals or student groups.

Bernard Ho Dac Tan, founder and chairman of the fund and son of Ho Dac Cung, said the scholarship aims to inspire creativity, perseverance, and a passion for learning, which are values embodied in his father’s life.

The program will recognize students with exceptional academic achievements and innovative projects acknowledged by schools or professional organizations.

Tan added that the fund intends to expand beyond university students to include disadvantaged middle and high school students, helping them continue their education.

He said Tuoi Tre was chosen as a partner due to its credibility, nationwide reach, and experience in managing youth-focused scholarship programs.

Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, deputy editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre, said the newspaper’s long-standing mission centers on serving young readers and supporting their education, career development, and daily lives.

He added that each year, Tuoi Tre receives support from businesses, organizations, and individuals who contribute funding and create career opportunities for students through scholarships and related programs.

He believed the scholarship will encourage students to pursue science and engineering, giving them confidence to overcome challenges and succeed in their studies.

Nguyen expressed hope that the scholarship fund will continue operating long-term, providing sustained support to students passionate about science and technology.

The scholarship fund honors the legacy of Ho Dac Cung, an inventor born into a farming family in Cai Lay, now part of Dong Thap Province in southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.

After studying electrical engineering in France, he returned to Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, with a determination to build an aircraft and realize his dream of flying in Vietnam.

With support from others, Cung successfully piloted his first Vietnam-made aircraft from Tan Son Nhat Airport on October 26, 1935.

He later conducted additional test flights in southern Vietnam and is widely regarded as a pioneering civilian pilot in Indochina.