jdelpiero
24-08-2006, 12:38 AM
SINGAPORE : Special awards have been presented to 89 students for their outstanding academic achievements.
The annual awards are for excellence in bilingualism, math and science and others.
Dr Mukesh Shah uprooted his family from their hometown Penang in 1990.
They became Singapore citizens four years later and have integrated well with the local community.
Their son Monish has also done well in Raffles Junior College, benefiting from a system of meritocracy and reinforcing his father's decision to move to Singapore.
"One of the motivators was the good education system which I thought was good for my kids to grow up in. Then it was also for my personal career in anesthesia. And the huge Indian population here as well, so I felt I'll be culturally rooted to this place," said Dr Mukesh Shah, Monish's father.
"Singapore clearly recognises ethnic diversity; I've been able to take my mother tongue Gujarati which is fantastic considering the size of the community here is extremely small. Yet the local government sees it important enough that each one of us have a chance to learn about our roots," said Monish Shah, Prime Minister's Book Prize winner.
Another award winner is 19-year-old Li Hongyi from Raffles Junior College.
Currently serving his national service, Hongyi said his parents, PM Lee Hsien Loong and Ms Ho Ching, played a big role in his academic pursuits.
"My parents gave me a lot of leeway in what I wanted to do, so all the things that I studied was due to my interest. Because of that, there were a lot less problems with motivation. Obviously, it's not fun to study all the time, unless it's something you want to do on your own accord," said Li Hongyi, winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Math & Science.
Like Hongyi, the first ever triple award winner Sim Jingwei believes in working hard when it counts.
She received the Prime Minister's Book Prize, the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Math & Science, and Lee Kuan Yew Award for All-Round Excellence.
But it hasn't been all smooth sailing for the former Raffles Girl's School student.
"Being able to rise to the occasion, to overcome the personal barrier of fear, of being in front and taking responsibility, leading everyone - those were the personal challenges I had to overcome," said triple award winner Sim Jingwei.
Many of the award winners have pushed personal boundaries and prevailed over difficult circumstances, and it's hoped that they will use their talents to enrich the lives of those around them.
Presenting the awards, Minister of State Rear Admiral Lui Tuck Yew encouraged the students to share their abilities by getting involved in buddy-reading programmes, peer-tutoring projects or help the less fortunate, so as to build a more compassionate and caring Singapore.
- CNA /ls
The annual awards are for excellence in bilingualism, math and science and others.
Dr Mukesh Shah uprooted his family from their hometown Penang in 1990.
They became Singapore citizens four years later and have integrated well with the local community.
Their son Monish has also done well in Raffles Junior College, benefiting from a system of meritocracy and reinforcing his father's decision to move to Singapore.
"One of the motivators was the good education system which I thought was good for my kids to grow up in. Then it was also for my personal career in anesthesia. And the huge Indian population here as well, so I felt I'll be culturally rooted to this place," said Dr Mukesh Shah, Monish's father.
"Singapore clearly recognises ethnic diversity; I've been able to take my mother tongue Gujarati which is fantastic considering the size of the community here is extremely small. Yet the local government sees it important enough that each one of us have a chance to learn about our roots," said Monish Shah, Prime Minister's Book Prize winner.
Another award winner is 19-year-old Li Hongyi from Raffles Junior College.
Currently serving his national service, Hongyi said his parents, PM Lee Hsien Loong and Ms Ho Ching, played a big role in his academic pursuits.
"My parents gave me a lot of leeway in what I wanted to do, so all the things that I studied was due to my interest. Because of that, there were a lot less problems with motivation. Obviously, it's not fun to study all the time, unless it's something you want to do on your own accord," said Li Hongyi, winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Math & Science.
Like Hongyi, the first ever triple award winner Sim Jingwei believes in working hard when it counts.
She received the Prime Minister's Book Prize, the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Math & Science, and Lee Kuan Yew Award for All-Round Excellence.
But it hasn't been all smooth sailing for the former Raffles Girl's School student.
"Being able to rise to the occasion, to overcome the personal barrier of fear, of being in front and taking responsibility, leading everyone - those were the personal challenges I had to overcome," said triple award winner Sim Jingwei.
Many of the award winners have pushed personal boundaries and prevailed over difficult circumstances, and it's hoped that they will use their talents to enrich the lives of those around them.
Presenting the awards, Minister of State Rear Admiral Lui Tuck Yew encouraged the students to share their abilities by getting involved in buddy-reading programmes, peer-tutoring projects or help the less fortunate, so as to build a more compassionate and caring Singapore.
- CNA /ls