Hard work pays off
SECURING a scholarship was his chance to reduce his father’s financial burden.
It was always Kingsly Cheah Tian Chee’s dream to become a chemical engineer and now, armed with a scholarship from UCSI University, he is inching closer towards his goal.
Cheah was one of the 1,528 UCSI University students who recently received awards and scholarships to pursue their tertiary education with the varsity.
“I appreciate the university’s trust in me.
“This will really help me in lowering my parents’ financial burden as I have two older sisters who are also studying in university.
“My dad is supporting all of us but it is not sufficient to fund three children at one go,” said Cheah, 20, who is a first year chemical engineering student.
His father is a salesman while his mum is a housewife.
Cheah received the UCSI University Trust Scholarship and an award called the UCSI Prestige Scholarship Award.
The award is given to top students among the UCSI University Trust Scholarship recipients.
Indonesian Fonita Theresia Yoliando, 26, was grateful for her UCSI University Trust Graduate Scholarship. The youngest of three siblings, aspires to become an art and design lecturer.
“Coming from a single parent family, these scholarships will be really useful and beneficial for me.
“It wasn’t easy, I applied to other universities as well for
scholarship opportunities.
“As the youngest, I have a responsibility towards my family; to help them financially,” said Fonita, who is pursuing a Master’s in Art and Design.
She also received the UCSI Prestige Scholarship Award.
Eugene Low Yi Ming and Doris Lee Shuo Yu, both 23, were awarded with the Student Overseas
Visitation Programme.
The programme offers students an opportunity to engage in research at various renowned universities.
The final year pharmacy students spent eight weeks in the University of Chicago on a research attachment.
“We learnt pharmacogenomics and did hands-on practical
research work.
“It was a golden and an eye-opening experience,” said Low.
Lee said it was an impactful experience.
“Be humble in everything you do because it’s then that you will be more willing to learn,” she said.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching, who presented the awards and scholarships, reminded recipients that their journey does not end here.
“You have more to achieve after this.
“Aim high, reach higher and continue to push yourselves to be the best you can be.
“When you become someone successful tomorrow, don’t forget to return to the community, your peers and the future generation so growth is perpetual,” she added.
UCSI University vice-chancellor and president Senior Prof Datuk Dr Khalid Yusoff congratulated the recipients, saying it shows their tenacity to struggle and carry on despite their challenges.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal.
“This is a new springboard for something greater if you persist and believe in the future.
“It is critically important that we provide every means possible for our students to excel and have their potential to be fully realised,” he said during the ceremony.
UCSI University Trust chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Karim Abdullah Omar said since 2006, the trust has disbursed over RM150mil in scholarships and bursaries.
“We awarded 1,528 students with scholarships amounting to over RM20.6mil.
“This is our testimony towards providing a wholesome education to them.
“This is what UCSI University Trust stands for and it defines UCSI as Malaysia’s number one private university,” he said.
The varsity allocates RM30mil each year for this initiative.
Also present was UCSI chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad and UCSI Group Founder and CEO Datuk Peter Ng.