Some 371 outstanding students from universities in HCM City and neighbouring provinces received Lawrence S.Ting scholarships on Saturday in HCM City.

The scholarship awards ceremony was jointly organised by the Lawrence S.Ting Fund and Phu My Hung Development Corporation. The scholarships were worth a total of VND2.65 billion (US$114,000).

This is the 16th year that the scholarships have been given to outstanding students in the country. Nearly 100,000 scholarships have been offered to students, with a total value oft VND106 billion ($4.5 million).

At the awards ceremony, the fund also presented VND5.7 billion ($244,000) to funds including the National Fund for Vietnamese Children, HCM City Fund for Poor People, Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and school encouragement associations in 63 provinces and cities.

The fund on Saturday called for companies to join their programme to present wheelchairs to people with disabilities.

Along with scholarships to students, the fund takes part in many programme promoting education in the country.

Since 2006, it has carried out a programme to develop information technology in schools.

With the support of the Phu My Hung Development Corporation, the fund has provided equipment to 122 computer rooms in 93 schools in 63 provinces and cities, with total value of VND37.3 billion ($160,000).

To date, the fund has given VND152 billion ($6.5 million) in support to education programmes. — VNS