4 outstanding individuals were awarded the President's Scholarships on 12 August 2011.
Opening Address by Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman, Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Fund, at the 2011 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Award Ceremony
4 candidates have been awarded the 2011 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.
Opening Address by Chairman, Public Service Commission, Mr Eddie Teo, at the 2011 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony
Four outstanding individuals were awarded the President's Scholarships on 12 August 2011 at the Istana. They were Ms Xiao Yifei, Mr Fong Jie Ming Nigel, Mr Koh Zhan Wei Aaron and Mr Yoong Ren Yan.
Directors, Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Fund;
Distinguished guests;
Lee Kuan Yew Scholars, Past and Present;
Ladies and Gentlemen
1 Welcome to the 2011 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Award Ceremony.
INTRODUCTION
2 Singapore’s only natural resource is its people. We need good people to helm the public service - people with both intellect and empathy - in order to formulate and implement sound policies to serve the needs of Singaporeans. We also need good people in the private sector, to head businesses and to contribute to Singapore’s economic growth. The key objective of the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship is to recognise and nurture such talent.
3 The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 in honour of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Thus far, 32 scholarships have been awarded to outstanding Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds. Apart from their achievements in their respective professions, what distinguishes the Lee Kuan Yew Scholars is their passion to serve the community and the public and their desire to contribute towards improving the lives of Singaporeans.
2011 LEE KUAN YEW SCHOLARS
4 Today, I am pleased to announce 4 recipients of the 2011 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship. They are Miss Delphia Lim Hui Min, Mr Chng Kai Fong, Mr Hoe Wee Meng and Mr Tan Ken Jin. They were selected from a pool of 74 applicants. Wee Meng and Ken Jin are not able to join us today, as they are already overseas pursuing their post-graduate degrees.
5 These 4 scholars, like all those who came before them, have displayed the passion to serve their fellow Singaporeans.
- Delphia, a lawyer in private practice, will be reading a Master of Laws at Harvard Law School. She has been offering pro bono legal services at the Law Society Legal Clinic and the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations.
- Kai Fong, who has been working in the public sector in the past 10 years, will be reading a Master of Science in Managament at Stanford University. He has been concurrently awarded the Administrative Service Postgraduate Scholarship and Fulbright Scholarship.
- Wee Meng, who spent 8 years in the Education and Manpower Ministries, will be reading a Master in Public Administration at Harvard University. He has been concurrently awarded the Administrative Service Postgraduate Scholarship. During his time with MOE, Wee Meng researched extensively on innovative pedagogies to bring back to the classroom.
- Ken Jin’s passion is also in teaching and nurturing the young. He opted out of the Management Associates Programme, a talent development programme which grooms young public officers for leadership positions, to return to teaching. Ken Jin has been concurrently awarded the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship and will be reading a Master of Education (Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation) at Lynch School of Education, Boston College.
6 I am confident that they will continue to excel in their professional disciplines and will remain dedicated to serving the public and the community.
7 Please join me in congratulating the 4 distinguished recipients of the 2011 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.
8 Thank you.
This year, 4 candidates will be awarded the 2011 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.
- Miss Lim Hui Min, Delphia - Pursuing 1-year Master of Laws, Harvard Law School, USA, starting in Academic Year 2012
- Mr Chng Kai Fong - Pursuing 1-year Master of Science in Management, Stanford University, USA
- Mr Hoe Wee Meng - Pursuing 1-year Master in Public Administration, Harvard University, USA
- Mr Tan Ken Jin - Pursuing 1-year Master of Education (Educational Research, Measurement & Evaluation), Lynch School of Education, Boston College, USA
Launched in 1991, the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship was set up by the Tanjong Pagar Citizens’ Consultative Committee to commemorate the contributions made by Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to Singapore. This year’s 4 candidates will join the ranks of 32 outstanding Singaporeans who have previously been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to pursue law, life sciences and specialised medical courses.
Applicants must be Singapore citizens, have outstanding academic records, demonstrate leadership qualities and be active in social or community service or sports. Outstanding Singaporeans can pursue postgraduate studies overseas or locally to develop their potential as leaders in their respective fields. There are no restrictions on the course of study.
While there is no bond associated with the Scholarship, Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship holders are expected to actively contribute towards the betterment of Singapore, Singaporeans and the community.
Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister in charge of the Civil Service and Minister for Home Affairs
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
1 Welcome to the 2011 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony. Today’s event has a special significance, as we commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Public Service Commission. My congratulations to this year’s new cohort of PSC scholarship recipients as well as their parents, principals and teachers.
2 PSC scholarships are awarded to top students who demonstrate a passion and commitment to serve in the public service. There is no annual quota for the number of PSC scholarships we award each year. All deserving candidates who meet the PSC’s high standards will be made an offer, regardless of his or her background.
3 It is a privilege, but also a responsibility to receive a PSC scholarship. You are expected to have, above all, high standards of integrity, the right values and genuine commitment to public service. Beyond intellectual qualities, what should distinguish you is your sincerity in wanting to make a positive impact to the lives of your fellow Singaporeans and your potential to lead with humility and empathy.
2011 Selection Exercise
4 This year, the PSC received more than 2,000 applications. Between January and July, the Commission interviewed more than 320 candidates. I am glad to announce that 72 have been selected this year. Amongst them, 39 will be pursuing their studies in the UK, 25 in the US, 5 in Singapore and 3 in China. They will be reading a diverse range of courses including Economics, Engineering, International Relations, Law, and the Sciences.
Profile of Scholarship Holders
5 As Singapore’s education landscape and policies change, we are now seeing more and more applicants from different educational backgrounds. Our award recipients today include the first batch of students from the integrated programme of River Valley High School, as well as the first batch of students from NUS High School who completed the entire 6 year programme in their school.
6 You will be heading to a diverse range of more than 20 top local and overseas universities and colleges. I am pleased to note that 3 of you have picked China to do your undergraduate degree. Mr Won Cheng Yi Lewis will be reading International Relations at Peking University, Ms Long Qian Qian will be reading Economics at Tsinghua University, while Mr Koh Liang Wei will be reading Finance at Fudan University.
7 The three of you will add to the diversity of our talent pool and strengthen the Civil Service’s ability to respond to global changes. We hope that this trend of taking the path less well travelled will continue.
Development of Scholarship Holders
8 The PSC believes in investing in the development of all our scholarship holders. You have completed a 2-week Preparatory Course, which includes learning journeys to a Community Development Council, dialogues with senior civil servants, workshops as well as a 3-day Outward Bound course. The programme exposed you to real community issues and gave you a sense of what it is like to serve the public.
9 There will be many more development opportunities for you as you embark on your studies. And after you graduate, there will be more structured milestone programmes to equip you with the right public service values and skills.
Conclusion
10 As Ambassadors of the Singapore Public Service, I am sure that you will do us proud, not only by excelling in your studies but also by actively contributing to university life and the community you are in, whether in Singapore or abroad. I wish you every success in your studies and look forward to having you back in Singapore and the Public Service.
11 Thank you.