Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for

Education

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

NEW BEGINNINGS

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Singapore story. Last night, Mr Lee Hsien Loong was sworn in as our nation’s third Prime Minister. Prime Minister Lee was awarded the President’s Scholarship in 1971.

2          The new President’s Scholars selected this year will also begin a new chapter in their lives tonight. They join the ranks of outstanding young Singaporeans who have been awarded the most prestigious scholarship in the nation.

RENEWED OPTIMISM

3          For Singapore, the new beginning is accompanied by a sense of renewed optimism. In recent years, we have been faced with the challenges of SARS, rising unemployment, and intense global competition. We have moved quickly to lay the foundations to restructure our economy and remake our nation. We have rallied behind our healthcare workers and continued to donate to the less fortunate, even as we fell on harder times ourselves.

4          Things are now looking up. Our economy is recovering strongly and looks set to do well for the rest of the year. Unemployment is falling as more jobs are being created. As a nation, Singapore is now better prepared to respond to challenges on many fronts, including terrorism.

5          However, we could not have done so without the selfless individuals who have dedicated themselves to the service of our nation. Their tenacity, drive, and passion have enabled us to weather the storm and to seize opportunities in adversity. These are individuals whom our Presidents Scholars should aspire to become.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP

6          The President’s Scholarship has a long and illustrious history. Over the years, it has enabled us to identify and develop some of our best talents who have gone on to make key contributions to the nation. Some have remained within the public sector, while others have chosen to work in the private sector after spending some time with the public service.

7          Amongst us tonight are several of our past President’s Scholars. I would like to thank all of you for coming to this ceremony. You serve as an inspiration and role model for the younger President’s Scholars. You may have taken different paths, but your contributions continue to be felt in Singapore and amongst Singaporeans. I hope the winners of this year’s President’s Scholarship will have opportunity to meet with you tonight, however briefly.

2004 PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS

8          The selection criteria for President’s Scholars have always been stringent and will continue to be so. Beyond academic ability and excellence in co-curricular activities, they have to be individuals who display a strong ethos of public service, who possess an unwavering and unfaltering dedication to improving the lives of Singaporeans, and who have shown a soundness of character and the potential to lead. The President’s Scholarship is awarded in recognition of these qualities. It is a great honour to be selected.

9          This year, two candidates have been selected by the Public Service Commission for the President’s Scholarship. They are Mr He Ruijie and Mr Tan Sherwayn. Mr He will be reading Aerospace Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. Mr Tan will pursue Economics at the London School of Economics in the UK. Both Mr He and Mr Tan have also been concurrently awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship. My heartiest congratulations to both of them.

HONOUR AND RESPONSIBILITY

10        As President’s Scholars, we expect you to make the most of the many opportunities made available for your development, such as exchange programmes and work attachments. You should seek out new challenges beyond your comfort zone and take an active interest in the country and community that you will be living in. You should also stay constantly in touch with Singapore.

11         Above all, you should conduct yourself in a manner becoming of President’s Scholars – as a representative of the government, an ambassador for our country, and a leader and role model for successive fellow scholars.

CONCLUSION

12         Today is the first step of a long and fruitful journey for these two young men. I congratulate the parents principals and teachers of Mr He and Mr Tan. It was your collective effort, steadfast support and encouragement that have brought these young men to where they are today.

13         To the two President’s Scholars, my heartiest congratulations once again. As you receive the country’s most prestigious scholarship today, remember that it has the humblest of intentions — that of public service. I hope you will bear in mind that we are a new Nation. Remember what we are striving to make Singapore. That journey never ends. It calls for men and women committed to ‘Public Service” for Singapore to sustain its success.

14         I wish you both every success in all your endeavours.