A group of YNU Students awarded funding by the Yunnan-based Hong Yun Hong He Group pose for a photograph at a ceremony held at the university, on Dec 26. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

A ceremony to award outstanding teachers and grant funds to talented students was held at Yunnan University (YNU) on Dec 26. The funds given to students and awards given to teachers were provided by Yunnan-based tobacco company Hong Yun Hong He Group. 

Chen Huaxia, deputy Party secretary of YNU; Yang Zeyu and Liu Xiaojiang, vice-presidents of YNU; Chen Yanlin, director of the human resource department of Hong Yun Hong He Group; Liang Hao, deputy director of the group’s publicity department, as well as other representatives from both sides attended the ceremony. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Chen outlined the achievements of YNU over the past year and extended her thanks to Hong Yun Hong He Group for its support. 

She encouraged winners of the award to strive for even greater achievements over the next academic year.

The winners were represented by Yang Shouchuan, a lecturer from YNU’s Institute for Development Studies and Wang Wanlei, a student from the university’s School of Tourism Management. Both spoke at the ceremony about what the awards meant to the group. 

During the ceremony, a total of 30 YNU teachers were given awards and 325 students received funds for further study from the Hong Yun Hong He Group. 

So far, the firm has donated more than 17 million yuan ($2.48 million) to YNU, with 2,700 teachers and students benefiting from the company’s generosity.