Speech by President S R Nathan at the 2007 President’s Scholarships Awards Ceremony

Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence and Minister in charge of the Civil Service
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education
Excellencies
Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission
Ladies and Gentlemen

1.     Each year, the Public Service Commission awards many scholarships to promising young Singaporeans.  Of them the President’s Scholarship remains the most prestigious.  Tonight, we confer this year’s President’s Scholarship to four outstanding students.  The award is recognition of their scholastic achievements, demonstrated leadership and character.     

2.     Singapore celebrated its 42nd birthday this year.  We have been fortunate to enjoy political, economic and social stability since our Independence in 1965.  To ensure that the next generation of Singaporeans continues to enjoy the same, if not higher standard of living, we cannot remain just satisfied with the status quo.  We must strive to do better.  As the world outside us changes, we will continue to need succeeding generations of capable leaders, with the vision and passion to serve the nation and lead our people.  We will need leaders who are able to anticipate problems, devise creative solutions, and implement policies that best serve Singapore.  Strong public service leadership is the key to good governance and so necessary for our continued prosperity.

3.     Towards that end, it is critical for Singapore to continue to identify and groom our best talent to assume leadership positions in the public service.  The PSC scholarships have played a key role over the years in identifying and developing our best talent in universities, local and abroad, for service to the Nation.  

4.     The President’s Scholarship is awarded strictly on the basis of merit.  Over and above academic excellence, President’s Scholars are selected for their leadership potential, soundness of character, and their sense of service to the nation.

5.     This year, the President’s Scholarship is conferred on 4 outstanding young persons.  They are Miss Kaan Hung Leng, Miss Stephanie Ko Qianwen, Miss Liu Chen and Mr Sergius Wat Zhiwen.  Both Miss Kaan and Miss Ko will be studying medicine.  Miss Kaan will be pursuing Medicine at NUS while Miss Ko will be reading Medicine at Cambridge University.  Miss Liu will be studying   Economics at the University of Chicago.  Mr Wat, who is a concurrent Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder, will be studying Government at Harvard University.  As recipients of the most prestigious scholarship in Singapore, Miss Kaan, Miss Ko, Miss Liu and Mr Wat are joining a select group of young men and women with infinite possibilities ahead of them.   

6.      I am confident that our four new President’s Scholars will work hard to achieve not just academic excellence, but also excellence in pursuits which benefit society and the community.  You will have a great deal of learning ahead of you.  Each of you will have to develop a sense of mission, and be prepared to connect with your community, and go beyond your comfort zone to understand the difficulties faced by other Singaporeans.  You must develop the maturity to understand their hopes and aspirations.  Take time and effort to personally help the less privileged in our society.  Only then can you truly shape policies that will help your fellow citizens.     

7.     I am heartened to see past President’s Scholars amongst us tonight.  While each of you may have taken different career paths, whether in the public or private sector, you continue to contribute to Singapore in your own ways.  I hope younger President’s Scholars will look up to you as inspiration and role model.

8.     I would also like to commend the families, principals and teachers of our new President’s scholars.  Your support and encouragement has surely been a key factor to their being here today.  You have been instrumental in moulding their character, their values, and their sense of service and duty.   You deserve to be applauded for your contributions that are reflected in the success of these children – our President’s Scholars.

9.     Once again, my congratulations to Miss Kaan, Miss Ko, Miss Liu and Mr Wat for being awarded the President’s Scholarship.  I look forward to hearing about your progress and achievements in your studies, and in later years, your contributions to Singapore when you begin your careers with the public service.  I wish you the very best in your studies and your future endeavours.