St Joeseph’s International student wins Harvard PBA
KUCHING: Ong Rui Yu, a Year 11 student at St Joseph’s International School, has won the prestigious Harvard Prize Book Award (HPBA), a recognition given to outstanding high school students.
According to a press statement, Ong was selected to receive the award by the Malaysia Harvard Alumni Panel.
Since 1910, the HPBA has been awarded by the alumni of Harvard University to topperforming students in selected schools around the world. In Malaysia, the HPBA programme was launched in 2011 by the Harvard Club of Malaysia.
Ong said she felt honoured and humbled by the experience of participating in the programme as well as winning the award. She is hoping to pursue her studies in social sciences and work towards giving back to society.
Meanwhile, St Joseph’s International School principal Brother Robert Teoh said the aim of the Marist education is to groom students to be good and responsible citizens who care about the society and community they live in.
“The criteria of HPBA aligns with this aim which can motivate students of St Joseph’s International School to work towards this award.
“This is also the opinion expressed by the teachers at the school who sees the award as an opportunity for students to be not only academically inclined but also active in extra-curricular activities and contributing to society through volunteer work,” he added.
This year, seven nominees from the school were selected to undergo an evaluation process in areas of academic excellence, involvement and contribution to the school’s extra-curricular programmes, community services and charities.
Out of the seven, three candidates including Ong were selected for an interview with the panel who said the three were eloquent and articulate in engaging and sharing their stories.
The top three finalists – Ong, Rachel Keng and Lydia Ting – were also presented with certificates of acknowledgement by HPBA.