<![CDATA[2011 President's Scholars]]>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1146719/1/.html


SINGAPORE: Four young individuals were recognised as this year's President's Scholars. They received their awards from President S R Nathan at the Istana on Friday evening.

The scholars - Xiao Yifei , Aaron Koh, Nigel Fong and Yoong Ren Yan - were chosen because they excelled not just academically but demonstrated their commitment to public service as well.

Speaking at the award ceremony, President Nathan said the President's Scholarships is one main avenue to build up a pool of people with the right calibre who could in future become public sector leaders.

\"As a new generation, you will have different values and perspectives from my generation. You will face different circumstances and challenges, but the same passion to stand up for Singapore, to serve our people and do your best for our nation, must still underpin all that you do as future leaders of Singapore,\" he told the scholars.

\"In all you do, always have the interest of our people at heart and never forget to show compassion to those who are less fortunate than you. For our society to remain strong and cohesive, we need public officers who listen and appreciate the problems faced by ordinary citizens and believe in the need to give back to society.\"

19-year-old Yifei came to Singapore from China when she was four years old.

Though she carries a dual citizenship, the former Raffles Institution student said she has always considered herself a Singaporean and will have no issues renouncing her Chinese citizenship when she reaches 21.

If she chooses to keep her Chinese citizenship, her scholarship will be terminated.

Yifei spent a large part of her school life volunteering and organising charity events such as a camp for disadvantaged children to boost their confidence.

She said: \"They didn't really have any role models in their lives. As JC students, even we could inspire kids who are in primary school. I felt that a lot more can be done to help them rise from circumstances and help these children fulfil their potential.\"

18-year-old Ren Yan of Raffles Institution also enjoyed the time spent with children as a volunteer. He said interacting with autistic students at St Andrew's Autism Centre was the most inspiring.

\"It's a very different education system for them....the fact they are in an autistic school, not a mainstream school. That's a big difference in itself. And the challenges that both they and their teachers face. And of course that leads me to wonder whether it's possible to develop policies in order to better serve their needs,\" said Ren Yan.

For 19-year-old Nigel Fong, the President's Scholarship is an opportunity for him to contribute, particularly on the medical front.

He said: \"I would hope to make a difference in the field of palliative care, because that is a very new field that many countries around the world also have difficulty coping. When it comes to policy, also, it is quite tricky. How do you help this group of people?\"

For 18-year-old Aaron Koh, the former Hwa Chong Institution student has used his spare time to help distribute food to the less needy. He was also awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship.

- CNA/ir

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/24836/2011-president-s-scholarsRSS for NodeSun, 19 Apr 2026 05:34:10 GMTFri, 12 Aug 2011 16:04:27 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:03:08 GMT]]>

vlim:
jtoh:

[quote=\"verykiasu2010\"]

my classmate's daughter got it ...

She must have had excellent academic and CCA records.

so they apply thru their secondary school.. :scratchhead:[/quote]They apply after A levels, no? And their entire academic and CCA records are scrutinized.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/548681https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/548681Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:03:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:09:37 GMT]]>

LittleAunt:
Then why not grant her the Singapore Citizenship when she's 21 and can give up her PRC Citizenship?


My Malaysian colleague who's a PR here think this is unfair.
she applied and obtained singapore citizenship

the malaysian PR got apply for citizenship or not ?

nothing unfair, give to the one showing more commitment lor

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/548483https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/548483Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:09:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:56:44 GMT]]>Then why not grant her the Singapore Citizenship when she’s 21 and can give up her PRC Citizenship?


My Malaysian colleague who’s a PR here think this is unfair.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/548423https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/548423Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:56:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:54:04 GMT]]>

jtoh:
verykiasu2010:



my classmate's daughter got it ...

She must have had excellent academic and CCA records.

so they apply thru their secondary school.. :scratchhead:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/544141https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/544141Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:54:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:25:15 GMT]]>

ngbrdad:
kabalevsky:

Anyway, happy that Aaron Koh got the scholarship cos it means grades alone not the most important..


Yeah happy for him but I'm surprised that he didn't realize that he did badly for his Econs paper (According to the newspaper he was expecting all As like his prelims).
At A level if your performance warrant only a C you definitely would sense things didn't go well for you during the paper.

i didn't take econs at A levels, not sure how this subject is like. but for subjective type of Qs like essays, sometimes you may think you did well cos you presented all your points but then the examiner may not think or agree like you.

or he read the Q wrongly and thought it was asking for something, and he gave that something, only thing, it was a totally different Q asked? so all out of point??

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/544062https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/544062Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:25:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 09:35:24 GMT]]>

jtoh:
verykiasu2010:



my classmate's daughter got it ...

She must have had excellent academic and CCA records.

She must be pretty talented and exceptional. Gaining admissions into Harvard as a full-paying student is already very difficult. Getting a bond free scholarship from Harvard is ....... Wow!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543837https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543837Sat, 13 Aug 2011 09:35:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 09:26:09 GMT]]>

verykiasu2010:


my classmate's daughter got it ...
She must have had excellent academic and CCA records.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543834https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543834Sat, 13 Aug 2011 09:26:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:25:24 GMT]]>

jtoh:
verykiasu2010:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]Harvard gives out undergrad scholarships to foreigners?


yes of course, bond free

Good hor? If only dd could qualify....[/quote]my classmate's daughter got it ...

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543786https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543786Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:25:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:21:51 GMT]]>

verykiasu2010:
jtoh:

Harvard gives out undergrad scholarships to foreigners?


yes of course, bond free

Good hor? If only dd could qualify....

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543781https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543781Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:21:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:41:39 GMT]]>

jtoh:
Harvard gives out undergrad scholarships to foreigners?

yes of course, bond free

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543742https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543742Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:41:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 04:00:36 GMT]]>A lot of American Universities/colleges do offer scholarships/grants to foreign students as they believe that diversity on campus is important.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543540https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543540Sat, 13 Aug 2011 04:00:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:53:29 GMT]]>Harvard gives out undergrad scholarships to foreigners?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543526https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543526Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:53:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:52:45 GMT]]>

kabalevsky:
Anyway, happy that Aaron Koh got the scholarship cos it means grades alone not the most important..

President's Scholars don't always have the most sterling of academic results. I remember a President Scholar from way back, maybe 20 years ago who didn't have a perfect academic record but was very active in her CCA.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543525https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543525Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:52:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:23:17 GMT]]>

kabalevsky:
Anyway, happy that Aaron Koh got the scholarship cos it means grades alone not the most important..

Yeah happy for him but I'm surprised that he didn't realize that he did badly for his Econs paper (According to the newspaper he was expecting all As like his prelims).
At A level if your performance warrant only a C you definitely would sense things didn't go well for you during the paper.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543506https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543506Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:23:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:20:18 GMT]]>

jtoh:


I'm a little confused. Was talking to a friend who's from China and a Singapore PR, who's married to a Singaporean. When her dd was born (in Singapore), she requested for a China citizenship but was denied the request by China saying they did not allow dual citizenship.
Some countries have law that child born by a female citizen with a foreigner oversea is not elegible for citizenship.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543503https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543503Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:20:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:18:42 GMT]]>similarly, if a singapore parent gives birth overseas, say, in the US, the child will be a US citizen. when the parent apply for SG citizenship for the child, it is not automatic approval, though usually approved because SG very lacking in babies mah …but they can reject the application because of the child’s US citizenship.


just an example

an if the SG citizenship is approved, the child must renounce the US citizenship upon reaching 21

so the scholar’s case is no different than any other "singaporean" born overseas…she is as singaporean as can be, helping in community services some more

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543499https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543499Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:18:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:17:51 GMT]]>Thanks vk2010. I figured that to be the case too.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543498https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543498Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:17:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:15:49 GMT]]>quote=\"jtoh\"]

3Boys:
kabalevsky:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]So she's a Singapore PR and a Chinese Citizen? She can't be a Singapore Citizen too can she?


Today's papers (ST) said she became Singapore citizen in 2005. :?

Dual citizenship, until age 21.[/quote]I'm a little confused. Was talking to a friend who's from China and a Singapore PR, who's married to a Singaporean. When her dd was born (in Singapore), she requested for a China citizenship but was denied the request by China saying they did not allow dual citizenship.[/quote]

that is because the dd was born a singapore citizen and when she apply for PRC citizenship they reject on the ground of existing citizenship of another country (SG).

for the president scholar's case, she is already a PRC citizen at birth, and migrated here at 4, got PR, then citizenship......and must renounce her China citizenship upon reaching 21, this is requirement of singapore citizenship regulation, by operation of law, and if she does not renounce her PRC citizenship when reaching 21, her SG citizenship will be revoked.

most countries do not allow renounciation of citizenship below age 21

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543495https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543495Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:15:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:10:52 GMT]]>

jtoh:
So she's a Singapore PR and a Chinese Citizen? She can't be a Singapore Citizen too can she?

she is already an SG citizen, below 21 years can hold both, because not capable of adult decision yet, based on citizenship regulation / constitution

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543494https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543494Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:10:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:41:44 GMT]]>

3Boys:
kabalevsky:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]So she's a Singapore PR and a Chinese Citizen? She can't be a Singapore Citizen too can she?


Today's papers (ST) said she became Singapore citizen in 2005. :?

Dual citizenship, until age 21.[/quote]I'm a little confused. Was talking to a friend who's from China and a Singapore PR, who's married to a Singaporean. When her dd was born (in Singapore), she requested for a China citizenship but was denied the request by China saying they did not allow dual citizenship.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543373https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543373Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:41:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:30:34 GMT]]>

kabalevsky:
jtoh:

So she's a Singapore PR ad a Chinese Citizen? She can't be a Singapore Citizen too can she?


Today's papers (ST) said she became Singapore citizen in 2005. :?

Dual citizenship, until age 21?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543349https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543349Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:30:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:27:38 GMT]]>Anyway, happy that Aaron Koh got the scholarship cos it means grades alone not the most important…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543343https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543343Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:27:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:26:19 GMT]]>

jtoh:
So she's a Singapore PR and a Chinese Citizen? She can't be a Singapore Citizen too can she?

Today's papers (ST) said she became Singapore citizen in 2005. :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543341https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543341Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:26:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2011 President's Scholars on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:19:08 GMT]]>So she’s a Singapore PR and a Chinese Citizen? She can’t be a Singapore Citizen too can she?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543335https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/543335Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:19:08 GMT