Colleagues, Award Recipients, Ladies and Gentlemen
A very good afternoon to all of you.
1. Let me begin today's event by congratulating all our Special Award recipients. This is a remarkable achievement, and congratulations to you. I would also like to congratulate all our parents or loved ones, principals, and teachers here, who have nurtured and supported our award recipients on their journey.
2. These Special Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of our students in various areas, including academic achievement, character and values, and contribution to the larger community.
- The 11 categories of Special Awards reflect our belief in holistic education and our commitment to providing multiple pathways in our education system.
- Today, we celebrate 195 unique individuals who remind us that excellence takes many forms. They exemplify the different qualities we seek to nurture in our young people who come through our schools.
3. Today, I would like to share three inspiring stories that show how young people like you are shaping our future - by learning with purpose, leading with your heart, and contributing to others.
4. The first person I would like to mention is Lim Hong Yi, 17, from Kent Ridge Secondary School. Hong Yi is one of the recipients of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for All-Round Excellence.
5. He is the President of the school's Media Club, and is recognised by his peers as an outstanding leader.
6. But what truly sets him apart is his heart for others. He saw something that many others might miss - that every person in our school community matters. He worked with fellow students to organise appreciation events for the school administrative staff, security officers, and cleaners. During those appreciation events, Hong Yi and his team prepared cards to thank the staff for their efforts and support; they distributed goodie bags with some essentials that would help them with their work, and also organised a games session for them to unwind together.
7. Through this, he helped to transform how fellow students view and value those essential members of our school family.
- Hong Yi continues to serve outside of school too, and has dedicated over 300 hours to community service. He demonstrates that learning is not just about pursuing academic achievement, but also about giving back to the community.
- Well done, Hong Yi!
8. The second person I want to mention today is Nadya Binte Ahmad. She's 18 from MINDS Woodlands Garden School. She is receiving the Lee Kuan Yew Exemplary Student Award.
- Once a shy student, Nadya has grown to become a confident young leader, one who strives to lead and also help others.
- When she was younger, she was reliant on her parents to go to school. But today, she takes public transport by herself every day.
- Every morning, as a prefect, Nadya guides younger students from their buses to the school hall, and she pays special attention to those who need extra mobility support. In class, she helps them manage their bags and lockers - turning routine tasks into opportunities to make life a little better, a little easier for others.
- Through work attachments with Tzu Chi Foundation and the National Library Board, she discovered a sense of purpose in her tasks, whether by packing sleeping bags, or arranging books, knowing that her efforts would bring joy to those who would benefit from them.
- Nadya reminds all of us that our own resilience and growth help us better support those around us. Good job to Nadya!
9. The third example is not about one student, but a group of them. Having a heart for others, and the desire to contribute to society, was what drove a group of students from Nanyang Polytechnic, who are receiving today, the Lee Hsien Loong Interactive Digital Media Smart Nation Award.
- When Dennise, Ezekkious, Jay, Rohan, Matthew, and Xavier learned about elderly residents falling victim to scams, they did not just shake their heads and empathise – they decided to roll up their sleeves and take action. Their solution is called Virage – this is an AI-powered simulation platform that creates safe, realistic scenarios for our seniors to practise responding to scam attempts.
- Since its launch in January 2025, Virage has grown from serving 350 users to reaching over 1,000 users today. The team also signed up to be an IMDA Digital for Life partner, and so, working closely with the People's Association, they conduct workshops to raise anti-scam awareness among our seniors in the heartlands, strengthening our community's defence against these digital threats. As the elderly participants interact with the tool, Virage, during the workshops, the learning became more interactive, and our seniors became more confident in tackling scams.
- I would like to congratulate the team. Well done!
10. These three are just some examples of the many fine, young people who are receiving awards today, who have made a difference to their own lives and to the lives of others.
11. So as you embark on your life's journey, allow me to offer some words of encouragement. The first is to encourage you to cherish the support and guidance that you have received from others – from your teachers, from your mentors, from your peers, and from your loved ones. They mean well for you and want you to succeed.
12. Second, to navigate our complex world, which is getting more complex by the day, continue to cultivate strong values and character. These are evergreen. Character provides the human foundation that technology cannot replace, helping you navigate change while staying true to your principles. They are your North Star.
13. Finally, view setbacks in life as stepping stones, whether setbacks in school, setbacks in life and so on. Every wrong turn, every misstep, every failed attempt carries with it the seeds of potential future success. Excellence is not about avoiding failure and mistakes – it's about learning from each attempt and rising stronger.
14. So on this note, congratulations to all our award winners, your parents, your teachers, your principals, and your loved ones, and I wish you all the very best in your continuing journey of learning, leading, growing, and contributing.
15. Thank you.