July 6 proved to be a significant day for 33 outstanding young individuals who were formally awarded with scholarships by the various agencies under the Ministry of National Development. Carefully selected out of 1774 applications, this group of scholars stood out, not just because of their sterling results or resumes, but because of their clear commitment, passion, engagement and energy, and most importantly, their desire to aim for the stars and to make a difference to Singapore.
some of the scholars.
Handing out scholarship certificates to the group of young scholars was the event’s Guest of Honour, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan, who warmly welcomed them to the MND Family. In his speech, Minister Mah reviewed how far Singapore had progressed in the 50 years since attaining self-government in 1959. He also touched on the critical importance of long-term talent development in MND.
“MND’s mission is to undertake long term strategic planning on behalf of the nation. We peer generations ahead, and we ask ourselves what kind of Singapore we wish to live in. But we cannot do this abstractly, and we cannot achieve this without the critical contributions from dedicated officers. They may be architects or urban planners, park rangers or housing officers, engineers or policy makers. Each staff has a vital part to play in the MND Family,” Minister Mah stressed.
He added, “We are acutely aware of the importance of harnessing and advancing the collective energies of the brightest of our population in the service of Singapore. There’s a Chinese saying which goes 长江后浪推前浪, and this means that the younger generation will surpass the previous one.”
(Left to right) SEATED - Kelvin Ho (AVA), Joanne Chan (BCA);
BACK ROW - Alisa Wee (NParks), Eugene Lee (URA post grad), Lock Hong Quan (HDB), Patricia Chia (URA).
Amongst the scholarship recipients was 19-year-old Lock Hong Quan. Awarded a scholarship by HDB, he will be flying off to Oxford University after his National Service to pursue a degree in Politics, Philosophy & Economics. Even though he has yet to start work for HDB, this earnest young man already has big dreams for the future.
One of his tasks while in National Service was to conduct visits to the homes of army recruits who went absent without leave (AWOL). It was then that he appreciated the importance of public housing in Singapore. “I discovered the reason why some recruits went AWOL was because their family income was low and they could not afford a roof over their heads,” he said. “They had to constantly move around, from one rented flat to another. I hope to build affordable flats for the low-income families so that they could have their own home. For the higher-income families, I wish to build flats that are comparable to the condominiums. I find this very meaningful.”
Hong Quan and other undergraduate scholars will soon embark upon studies in fields such as engineering, veterinary science, architecture, and the social sciences. Joining them at the ceremony were also a few serving MND staff officers who would be taking a break from service to pursue graduate degrees in their respective professional specialties.
Minister Mah wished all scholarship recipients well as they prepared to embark upon this phase of learning and discovery. “Keep an open mind and learn not just what you may find in the classroom, but in the wider world beyond,” he advised. “Meet new people, discover new places, and find new inspirations. But return soon, and we’ll look forward to your contributions to this country, this city, which you and I both call home.”
An Introduction to Some of the Scholars
- Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority’s Scholar:
Kelvin Ho
Knowing full well that theory alone will not ensure survival in this society, AVA scholar Kelvin Ho started job training in clinics, and worked closely with cats and dogs while schooling. Instead of being dissuaded, he even took pains to convince his parents that veterinary science was the right field for him… - Building and Construction Authority’s Scholar:
Joanne Chan
Unfazed by her family and friends’ criticisms, BCA’s Joanne Chan stood by her choice to take up a double degree in Engineering and Business Administration. “Let your head pinpoint your place amongst the stars, but let your heart lead you there,” she says… - National Parks Board’s Scholar:
Alisa Wee
She refuses to be confined within the boundaries of an office cubicle. She wants to be near nature, and hopes to surround herself with lush greenery. Certain of what she wants, Alisa Wee took up the NParks scholarship and looks forward to a future NParks where collaboration opportunities with other agencies are aplenty… - Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Post-Graduate Scholar:
Eugene Lee
Gaining exposure is often the reason why scholars go overseas for studies. But leaving their family behind to meet new people, and abandoning a familiar place for another country, can be tough. Fortunately for URA officer Eugene Lee, his wife supports his decision to further his studies on City Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston… - Housing & Development Board’s Scholar:
Lock Hong Quan
He wants communal services to be provided at the middle floor of every HDB block to facilitate interaction amongst residents. He plans to organise a house-warming party for all residents when they move into a new HDB block. He asks that HDB focus on the flat-buying experience, on top of just building flats. He is HDB scholar, Lock Hong Quan… - Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Scholar:
Patricia Chia
She was offered two scholarships – one by URA, and one by the Ministry of Education. But her passion was clear, and she accepted URA scholarship to embark on a journey of design…