Opening address by Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman, Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Fund, at the 2010 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Award Ceremony on Monday, 4 August 2010, 12pm at Carlton Hotel Singapore

Directors of the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Fund

Distinguished guests

Lee kuan yew scholars, past and present

Ladies and gentlemen

1        Welcome to the 2010 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Award Ceremony.

2       In a few days’ time, Singapore will be celebrating its 45th birthday. We are a young nation, with less than half a century of independence. Over that short period, our people have built a modern nation where many opportunities are available to those willing to work hard. Our achievements as a nation are the result of the contributions of talented and outstanding Singaporeans with the heart to serve their fellow Singaporeans and their community. The key purpose of the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship is to recognise and nurture such people.

The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship

3       Established in 1991 in honour of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship is synonymous with a passion to serve Singapore. It is given out to the most deserving candidates in different professions and disciplines. We look beyond stellar academic and professional achievements to individuals with sound character and a strong sense of duty to serve their fellow Singaporeans. To date, 28 Singaporeans have been awarded the scholarship, of whom 17 were sponsored for masters programmes, 10 for PhD programmes and 1 for a post-doctoral fellowship.

2010 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Recipients

4       This year, the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Board received 85 applications for the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship. Of these, 8 were interviewed and 4 were selected for the award. Today, it is my pleasure to present the scholarship to this group of worthy individuals. They are Mr Chan Xiaohui Darius, Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC) Chew Chih Chiang Frederick, Ms Phua Puay Li and Mr Tan Jek Chen Kelvin.

5       All of them will be heading to the United States for their studies. Both Frederick and Puay Li will read a Master of Science in Management at Stanford University while Darius will pursue a Master of Law at New York University. Kelvin is currently pursuing his PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University.

6       It is an honour and privilege to be awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship. As recipients of one of the most prestigious postgraduate scholarships in Singapore, you belong to a small fraternity of outstanding individuals. I trust that you will continue with your good work and become the best in your professional disciplines. I have full confidence that your future contributions to society will be just as significant as those of your predecessors.

7       My congratulations to all of you. I wish you success in your studies, and look forward to your continued contributions to Singapore when you return.

8       Thank you.