RADM(NS) Teo Chee Hean

Minister for Education and 2 Minister for Defence

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

Each year, we recognize at this ceremony the outstanding achievements of a special group of Singaporeans — young men and women to be conferred the most prestigious scholarship award in this nation. Today, four young Singaporeans will be bestowed this honour, and the responsibility, that comes with the award of The President’s Scholarship.

2          A reminder to them of the importance of taking on this responsibility could come at no better time. For Singapore stands at the threshold of a new stage of our development, facing a myriad of complex challenges in uncertain and changing times.

3          We are currently going through some difficult and challenging times. We have just come out from a recession, but beyond the immediate challenge of creating jobs for those retrenched during this last recession, we will need to make major and difficult adjustments to restructure our economy amidst intense global competition. The September 11 incident, though halfway across the globe, reverberated through our society. That, and the Jemaah lslamiyah arrests here, remind us of the unpredictability of events and the inherent racial and religious fault lines that we would need to handle with care and sensitivity.

4          Singapore’s future well-being will depend on each succeeding generation to be prepared to confront the future world and its challenges. In particular, we must have a cadre of Singaporeans possessing not only ability and drive, but the passion and tenacity of purpose to take Singapore forward and make Singapore succeed.

5          This is where, you, the recipients of this year’s President’s Scholarships, come in. This honour of The President’s Scholarship that is bestowed upon you this evening, is not without responsibility and tradition. You have been selected not just on the strength of your academic ability, but also on the basis of character and leadership qualities, and your sense of service to the nation. Like past President’s Scholars, you are inducted into a tradition of giving the best of yourselves to the service of our society and people.

6          Over the next few years, as you get a world-class education, you must prepare yourselves for that challenge. On your shoulders rest the task of helping to write the next chapter of the Singapore Story. This is a solemn responsibility that can only be undertaken by those with a heart-felt passion and dedication to this nation.

7          As you come to shoulder these responsibilities, you will not be alone. President’s Scholars before you have taken that same path. They have established a rich and precious tradition of service to this nation to help build up today’s Singapore. They will be there as your role models. They, having gained a wealth of experience, would be happy to share with you lessons from their successes and failures. Above all, they wilt share their ethos and sense of service and inspire you to continue this tradition of service to the nation.

8          At this juncture, let me offer my best wishes to the four new President’s Scholars - Miss Pao Peiyu, Miss Yea Wenshan, Mr Teo Shiyi and Mr Kevin Siew. Miss Pao, Miss Yeo and Mr Teo have been awarded the Overseas Merit Scholarships. Miss Pao will be reading Law in University of Oxford. Miss Yeo and Mr Teo will be heading for the United States. Miss Yeo will be reading Economics, Politics and Ethics in Yale University, while Mr Teo will read Biomedical Engineering in Duke University. Mr Siew has been awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship and will be proceeding to Stanford University for Bioengineering and Economics.

9          My advice to each of you is: “Forge ahead and take full advantage of the opportunities that the Scholarship affords you and pursue excellence. Bear in mind the faith and the hope that our nation has reposed on you as President’s Scholars, and bring honour to your family and country in whatever you do.”

10         I congratulate the families, principals and teachers of Miss Pao, Miss Yeo, Mr Teo and Mr Siew. It is they who have nurtured them and given them the encouragement and strength to achieve this distinction of being selected as President’s Scholars.

11         To the four President’s Scholars, I wish each of you the very best in your studies overseas. in the coming years, I, and many other Singaporeans, will look forward to hear of your achievements and contributions to Singapore, through your career with the public service and in public life.