TOP AWARD (From left to right): National athlete Tan Yi Xun receiving the award from University Council chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Musa Mohamad accompanied by deputy vice-chancellor (Research & Postgraduate Studies) Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Nizam Isa.

GROUP PORTRAIT: UCSI Group founder and chairman Dato’ Peter Ng (front row, seventh from right) posing for a group shot with all award and scholarship recipients, UCSI’s top management and guests.

KUALA LUMPUR: To recognise its students’ achievements, UCSI University recently hosted an award and scholarship presentation ceremony. The ceremony saw the presentation of various academic and achievement awards, and scholarships to approximately 600 outstanding scholars and top achievers. 

These include the Presidential Award, Overall Achievement Award, Academic Award, Achievement Award, UCSI University Trust scholarships for each level – pre-university, diploma, degree and postgraduate study, a sports bursary for state and national athletes as well as UCSI’s premier scholarship, namely, the Tan Sri Ahmad Razali Merit Scholarship Award. Notably, this award was presented to Tan Yi Xun, a scholar with outstanding academic achievements. He is also a national athlete who represented Malaysia and won numerous medals in various international water polo and swimming championships including the SEA Games and SUKMA, to name a few. 

According to UCSI University Trust chairman Dato’ (Dr) Haji Mohd Karim Bin Haji Abdullah Omar, by offering such scholarships, the Trust equips youths with the (opportunity to pursue the) tertiary education they need to fulfil their potential, and make a difference in the world. 

“To date, the Trust has awarded over RM50 million in scholarships and bursaries, and more than 2,000 students have benefited from this since 2006,” he said. The amount is expected to escalate to RM68 million in the coming year. 

Apart from offering its own awards, the Trust also pledges scholarships every year to various education funds set up by media partners like The Star Education Fund and Sin Chew Daily Education Fund, among others; these are awarded to deserving students at the annual event. 

Also present at the ceremony was UCSI Group founder and chairman Dato’ Peter Ng, who pointed out that he was delighted to see so many achievers make their mark every year. 

In his speech, he highlighted various student achievements – from multiple wins in local and international competitions, being part of the Harvard Medical School’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Programme in Boston and being accepted into prestigious universities around the globe. 

“Such achievers are walking testimonies that reflect the saying, “excellence begets success,” he said. “I am certain they will continue to persevere in being the best in their respective fields.” 

Various award-winning scholars from UCSI’s Institute of Music also performed at the event. These include Jeremy Yeo who clinched first place in the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music 2013; and Cleryn Wong Hui Yun and Sharene Tang Suat Ting who bagged several top awards in the World Harmonica Festival, Germany as part of the Fresco Harmonica musical group. Renowned violinist and music producer Dennis Lau – who is a UCSI alumnus – also wowed the crowd with his upbeat performance. 

The award presentation ceremony was graced by UCSI University Council chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Musa Mohamad. Almost 250 guests – industrial partners, parents and family members of the recipients, academics and top management from UCSI – were also in attendance.