TEN PRIMERS WERE CONFERRED e President’s Award by President S. R. Nathan at the Istana on July 20, 2009. is highest award in e Boys’ Brigade (BB) has been presented to the top percentile of the Boys from the Primers Programme (Post-Secondary level members) in the past five years.
In order to attain this award, recipients had to complete the demanding requirements in leadership and service in the community, and undergo two rigorous rounds of selection. eir achievements and contributions to the BB and the community, and the extent to which they have served as role models and an inspiration to other BB Boys and officers, are considered in the assessment process. e 10 are: Russell Chan Yandong, Kenneth Chan Shengjie, Japheth Eng Kian Hui, Nathanael Foong Zhu En, Sean Lai Maoqin, Timothy Liang Zhengwei, Caleb Lin Zhiliang, Elliott Ng Lu Kai, Bryan Ong Han Ming and Zhou Junyang.
Russell served as Chairman of his BB Company’s Primers Steering Committee. He received the Sword of Honour from his school for outstanding performance as Company Sergeant Major and active service in the Company Pipe Band. He was Class Chairman for two years, and was an organiser of a school community service trip to ailand.
Kenneth was the overseeing Primer for his BB Company’s Squad Council and Logistics Department. He also served as overall Primer-in-charge of the BB Sharity Gift Box, and as drums section instructor in his Company’s Pipe Band. He has written a new drum tune for the band’s repertoire.
Japheth served as his BB Company’s Squad Council Chairman and Recruit NCO, and was also Chairman of its Annual Parade Organising Committee. He is also active as a Student Councillor in his junior college.
Nathanael served as a bagpipe instructor for his BB Company’s Pipe Band, and is a representative in the Brigade Pipe Band Committee. In his junior college, he is a Student Councillor and a member of the Medical Society.
Sean was a mentor to younger Boys in his BB Company, where he also served as drill instructor for the Precision Drill Team. He is also the Social Secretary of his Polytechnic’s Ambassadorial Team, which plans and executes external and internal events for the polytechnic.
Timothy served as Vice-Chairman of his Company’s Primers Steering Committee, and led in community service in ailand and locally. He is also a volunteer tutor in his constituency’s community centre. He was a Senior Prefect in school, and represented his school in the Ministry of Defence Internship and World Scholar’s Cup.
Caleb was Band Major of his BB Company’s Pipe Band. He served as Chairman of the Community Service Committee, and makes weekly visits to the National University Hospital and Methodist Children Youth Centre.
Elliott served as Vice-Chairman of his BB Company’s Drill Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Pipe Band, as well as a Squad Primer mentor.
Bryan was his BB Company’s Training Committee Chairman. He was also Sports Representative for his class, and has led in projects such as an overseas class trip to Cambodia.
Junyang has led in the planning and organising of his BB Company’s Leadership Development Course and Company Camp 2009. He was also the National Education and Community Involvement Projects (CIP) Representative for his class.
ACS boy Vincent Ha gives valedictory address at SMU
VINCENT HA, an Anglo-Chinese School boy from ACS (Junior), ACS (Barker Road) and Anglo-Chinese Junior College, was the recipient of this year’s SPH Valedictorian Award.
Armed with a double degree in Business Management and Accountancy from the Singapore Management University (SMU), Vincent, in his valedictory address at the SMU convocation ceremony on July 11, 2009, credited his success to Lee Foundation for sponsoring his tertiary education, his parents and SMU classmates. Above all, he singled out his former principal, Mr Ng Eng Chin, as his mentor.
His academic achievements apart, he is ever willing to help the less fortunate. He rallied others to set up a community service club known as University YMCA (Uni-Y) in August 2005 where activities were organised to benefit the local community. He has also represented Singapore’s YMCA in forums in Mumbai and Hong Kong.
Currently, he is volunteering in “ e Kings of Freedom” project, an initiative to take home and house four panels of the Berlin Wall at Bedok Reservoir Park.
Vincent is also an entrepreneur. Besides engaging in the music and video production business, he is a founding partner of SCREME, a school café, which he started with fellow third-year students last year. He hopes, one day, to establish a charitable trust for Singapore youths.