SPEECH BY PRESIDENT S R NATHAN AT THE PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2010, 7.30PM AT THE ISTANA

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean
Minister for Education Dr Ng Eng Hen
Excellencies
Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission
Ladies and Gentlemen

          This  year  is  the  45th  year  of  our  independence. In   1965,  at   the  time  of  our  Independence, Singapore¹ had   a   population  of   2  million.  Singapore  had  to battle  racial  tensions,  security  threats  and  challenging  economic   conditions.   Through  the  years,   we    faced    many    challenges   as    a   country.

From economic recessions and security threats to international health outbreaks such as SARS and H1N1 were among them.  We overcame all these problems jointly with the help and understanding of our peoples.  Today, our GDP has grown more than tenfold – from $3 billion in 1965 to $265 billion.  Today, Singapore is a safe and liveable home for 5 million people.  We have built a thriving metropolis  that  is  brimming  with  opportunities.  

2          As a nation, we have our founding fathers to thank for the foundations they laid and the achievements we accomplished with their guidance and leadership. In times past, many responded to the call, to serve the people, develop the economy and do their part to build our nation.

3          Among our leaders of independent Singapore we had Mr S Rajaratnam – the ‘ideas man’ who wrote our national pledge. Mr Lim Kim San, also known as ‘Mr HDB’, who volunteered for three years without expecting any pay, to build our multi-storeyed apartments to provide liveable apartments and overcome our acute housing shortage.  Dr Goh Keng Swee – Singapore’s economic architect and one who dared to think and experiment to build our defence capabilities, also transformed our education and cultural landscape.  All their imprints can still be seen in many of our national policies today.   Besides them there were many other men and women, who followed in their footsteps and dedicated their lives to building Singapore in subsequent years. That spirit of public service is what inspired many more to come forward and give of their best. 

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP

4          The future beckons us to produce many more visionary, brave and dedicated leaders, committed to build a successful and vibrant Singapore.  I hope you, the recipients of this year’s President’s Scholarship – Singapore’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship – will carry that torch and like our pioneers serve the nation with greater distinction and passion.

5          Each year, our most outstanding young men and women from our schools are awarded the President’s Scholarships. The recipients are exceptional individuals with not only outstanding academic achievements and accomplishments in school. They are also of sound character, outstanding leadership qualities and a strong commitment to serve Singapore and the people of Singapore through a career in the Public Service.

6          The selection process for a President’s Scholar is stringent and rigorous.  This year the President’s Scholarship Selection Board interviewed 19 talented young men and women, shortlisted from several hundreds that made it to the PSC scholarships interview.  To add further rigour to the selection process and to provide the Selection Board with an all-rounded perspective, all candidates had to undergo a series of simulated exercises on the challenges and scenarios related to public service work to assess their suitability and commitment to perform as public officers and leaders in the future. Those who are successful were candidates who demonstrated outstanding leadership and intellectual qualities, as well as possessed fine values and people skills.

2010 PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS

7          Let me now present to you the four scholars awarded  this year’s  President’s  Scholarship.  They  are Ms Chow Yi Ling, Ms Sharon Tan Xin Hui, Mr Joshua Goh Koon Leong and Mr Joshua Rene Jeyaraj.  Yi Ling  will be reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Warwick University. Concurrent holder of the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarships, Sharon will be heading to Stanford University to read Earth Sciences and Political Science whereas Joshua Goh will be studying Chemistry at Imperial College. Joshua Jeyaraj will head to University College London to read law and will join the Legal Service when he returns.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS

8          To you, the recipients of this year’s President’s Scholarship, I want to say that society expects nothing but the best from you.  I would urge you to do Singapore proud by not only doing well in your studies, but also upholding yourselves in the most exemplary manner in everything you do.  Network actively with people from all socio-economic backgrounds, and be humble and open minded. This will widen your worldview and help you be a better person.   Sustain your integrity, passion and commitment to serve the nation, so that you can be an example to your colleagues in the Service. I am confident you will be able to live up to these high expectations. 

CONCLUSION

9          To the families, principals and teachers of this year’s four President’s Scholars, I offer my heartiest congratulations.  Their accomplishments represent the fruit of your dedication in nurturing and bringing out the best in them.

10         Yi Ling, Sharon, Joshua Goh and Joshua Jeyaraj, tonight marks a new chapter in your journey in life. Others have taken a similar path and have excelled in their pursuits.  I  know  you  will  strive  to  do  the  same.  I wish you every success in your studies and look forward to you serving with distinction in your Public Service  career,  on  graduation.

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