Speech - Address by Ms Low Khah Gek, CEO/ITE, at the ITE Student Achievers’ Awards 2022 Presentation Ceremony, on Thu 26 May 2022, at 1000 Hours, at the Auditorium, Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre, ITE Headquarters

Ms Ivana Chua, General Manager, Group Corporate Communications, Keppel Corporation

Award Recipients

Parents

ITE Colleagues and Students

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

We have cancelled this physical award ceremony in the last two years. So today I’m very pleased that we are finally able to have it here in this Auditorium and to see each other physically. It is a happy and warm occasion where we honour the outstanding achievements of 408 students and have their parents and lecturers here to share this proud moment with their sons/daughters and students.

Despite the various restrictions in the last two years, our students have nevertheless managed to rise above these challenges to seize new opportunities, explore alternative possibilities and compel themselves to grow, develop, innovate, serve and contribute.

Drive, Resilience, Compassion

Today’s awards recognise students for their accomplishments in and out of the classroom, their demonstration of drive and resilience, their expression of big-hearted compassion and their unstinting spirit of innovation. Let me illustrate with the stories of some award recipients.

Esther Joice Tan Xuan Ting

Esther pursued Nitec in Business Service in 2020 to 2021 and has now progressed to Higher Nitec in Early Childhood Education. Outside the classroom, music occupied a large part of her life. Esther was the Music Director of ‘That Acapella Group’ (TAG) in ITE College Central. She arranged music pieces, organised the song recordings, and directed the members. As a tribute to Esther and all awardees, Esther’s juniors from the TAG will be performing later.

Beyond her music talent, Esther demonstrated leadership as the President of Student Icons. In this role, she coordinated the production of marketing videos and oversaw content generation for social media posts on College events.

Esther demonstrated her big-heartedness through her passion to help the underprivileged and elderly. She participated actively in community projects, such as food donation drives which saw 640 donated items distributed to underprivileged residents of Ang Mo Kio and she created a video to encourage the elderly in a senior care centre to stay mentally and physically healthy by engaging in song and dance, physical exercises and take part in quizzes.   

We are impressed by how Esther went beyond her studies to lead, contribute and serve.

Mohamad Hilman B Mohamad Hatta

The next story is on Mohamad Hilman B Mohamad Hatta. Hillman’s story is a bit unconventional.

After sitting for his GCE ‘O’ levels in 2015, Hilman didn’t come straight to ITE or pursue further studies. He went on to take a few retail jobs then enlisted in National Service (NS) in 2018. Hilman progressed, matured and reflected in his NS years and became more determined and focused. He enrolled in ITE College West in 2020 after his NS, to pursue Higher Nitec in IT Systems and Networks. His choice of this course was compelled by his realisation of the important role that IT plays in helping people connect, work, play and transact. Hilman wanted to build his career in the IT industry. He has done exceedingly well and achieved a perfect GPA of 4.0!

Outside his studies, Hilman did part-time work to alleviate the financial situation at home but still managed to find the time to take on several CCA leadership roles. He was the President of the Service Ambassador Club, Chairman of Student Volunteer Corp and Chairman of Class EXCO.

Hilman, we are inspired by your determination to excel and your grit to rise above your circumstances. We are very pleased to note that you are now pursuing a Diploma in Information Technology at Singapore Polytechnic and have made significant progress in your goal to build a career in the IT industry.

Creativity and Innovation

I would also like to accord special mention to the 10 Lee Kuan Yew Technology team award winners. These students are driven by their passion to improve the lives of others and came up with new innovative gadgets. They were sharp observers who spotted gaps in meeting the needs of some groups of people such as the reshmen during orientation, people recovering from leg injuries or the hearing-impaired. In developing their innovations, they applied the skills they have acquired from their course of study. When their knowledge and skills were inadequate, they pushed themselves to do more research, acquire new skills, do more experimenting and exploration before arriving at their final successful solutions. I look forward to viewing your projects and I invite everyone to join me in honouring and celebrating their spirit of innovation by visiting their exhibition booths.

Conclusion

As we celebrate the achievements of our students today, I would also like to express my gratitude to all the parents and lecturers here. Our students’ successes would not have been possible without your belief in them, and your care and support for them. Thank you for standing behind them, beside them, in front of them, whatever way, in order to help them to succeed and shine.

I also wish to thank Keppel Care Foundation for your strong support for our students. Since 2019, a total of 92 Keppel Care Foundation Scholarships and Keppel Merit Awards have been given out. Today, three students will be receiving the Keppel Care Foundation Scholarships.  

To all award winners, we have at least four reasons to celebrate with you. We celebrate first, your achievements. Second, your strength of character to rise above the challenges. Third, your compassion and care for others and fourth, your constant search for a better solution for others. I am confident that all of you will find further success and achievements in life and inspire many others to follow in your footsteps.

Congratulations once again, and I wish all of you the very best in life. Thank you.