NATIONAL YOUNG LEADER AWARD
These young leaders come from all walks of life and exhibit everyday influence and leadership, creating positive communities through modelling the way and empowering others to create positive change.
Click on their photos below to read more about their stories!
So Ee Cheng2018 Winner, Yishun Junior College
“Leadership is more than a role or workload”
Ee Cheng believes that it is important to break stereotypes and seeks to understand more about those who are underprivileged or disadvantaged. She spends time volunteering with different non-profit organisations as she is passionate about speaking up for those who are voiceless, especially the marginalised communities.
Ee Cheng is the President of Student Leaders in Yishun Junior College. She hopes to provide a different perspective for those who are being discriminated.
Evan Lim Shouwang2018 Winner, Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
“Leadership is handing over and sharing a vision.”
Evan believes that leadership encompasses having foresight and the desire to serve.
As a leader, he strives to serve the community and focuses on how he can develop the people around him. He spends most of his time volunteering at organisations dedicated to children or youth development.
Evan is the Head Prefect in Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road). He is passionate about ensuring children and youth have access to holistic education.
Justine Lai Wei Zhi2018 Winner, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
“Leadership is a combination of two whats. What someone believes in and what they do to advocate for it.”
Justine believes that impact starts with one’s beliefs and through acting upon that belief and exercising personal influence, one can make a difference in society. As one who values building her juniors, Justine constantly engages them through dialogues and encourages them to give back to the community by organising various community events.
Justine is the Service Learning Student Director in Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Business & Accountancy. She is always on the lookout for opportunities to mentor others, teaching them the importance of giving back.
Arunmozhi Varman Shanmugaram2018 Finalist, Victoria School
“Leadership is touching hearts, bringing joy and inspiring a common vision.”
Shanmugaram finds opportunities to inspire, develop, and unite people to accomplish the seemingly impossible. As a leader, he models the way for those he leads. In collaboration with Children’s Cancer Foundation, he and his peers created a video to raise awareness about cancer.
Shanmugaram is the Head Prefect from Victoria School. Affectionately known to his student body as Ram, his charisma brings people together behind a cause.
Vanessa Chew Wen Qi2018 Finalist, Serangoon Junior College
“Leadership is about building comrades and not about gaining faithful followers.”
Passionate about spreading positivity, Vanessa believes that little acts of kindness go a long way. All that is required is for one to have the courage to show that they care and want to make a difference. She has participated in various service learning initiatives, including serving the elderly and being a mentor to primary school students.
Vanessa was the President of Community Champions Council at Serangoon Junior College. She always seeks to make the world a better place.
Nur Masdiana Bte Roslee2018 Finalist, The Salvation Army
“Leadership is something that everyone has and can be flourished.”
Nur Masdiana believes that everyone deserves to be heard regardless of their age and we should create safe places for them to talk about their challenges.
Diana reaches out to children whose families are incarcerated and offers emotional support to them. She mainly serves the community through the Children Helping Other Children (CHOC) Ambassadors Programme.
Nur Masdiana is a youth from The Salvation Army. She is passionate about raising awareness of children’s mental and emotional health.
Chloe Wen Qian Michaud2018, ITE College Central
“Leadership is leading people to better themselves.”
As someone who believes that leaders should constantly be growing and develop their character through challenges, Chloe sees the opportunity to learn from every experience. Chloe seeks to reach out and build connections between people, especially among the elderly.
Chloe is the Vice-President of the Student Council in ITE College Central. She cares for the welfare of those she leads.
Haziq Bin Jafri2018 Finalist, Woodgrove Secondary School
“Leadership is a process of leading self and others towards the greater good of the community.”
Haziq believes that everyone deserves an equal opportunity and when we play our part, we can collectively make a difference. He was involved in projects dedicated to giving back to the underprivileged such as participating in food drives and charity events.
Haziq is in the Executive Committee of the Student Council from Woodgrove Secondary School. He often directs his energy towards ensuring the proper welfare of the people.
Richmond Sin Jing Xuan2018 Finalist, Anderson Junior College
“Leadership is about inspiring others and helping them to grow.”
Richmond believes that being in the position of privilege also entails the responsibility of helping those who are struggling, whether academically or helping them to improve their family situation. He spends his free time tutoring students from low-income families, hoping that it will encourage and motivate them in life.
Richmond is the President of Student Council in Anderson Junior College. He is always on the lookout to provide inspiration to rally people to effect change.
Trina Ng Hai Ling2017 Winner, Assumption English SchoolTrina believes that the basis of leadership is driven by mutual trust and respect. Graduating from Assumption English School, Trina’s leadership journey started when she wanted to help the voice of the student body be heard.
As the elected President of the Student Council, Trina is passionate about people and is seen as a people’s leader. Her members often approach her and share their woes. She believes that through cheering her friends on and supporting them, she can make someone’s day better, and perhaps even save someone’s life.
In future, she hopes to pursue a career that will allow her to continue this passion of impacting lives around her.
Hannah Wong Teen Teen2017 Finalist, Serangoon Secondary SchoolGenuine and cheerful, Hannah credits her positive personality to the challenging experience of being bullied in secondary school. Overcoming this tough period, it inspired her to be the source of warmth and support for someone who may be going through what she had.
As Serangoon Junior College Community Champions Council’s former president, she serves with a contagious passion, inspiring many others to see value in community service. She united her team together, leading them towards the goal of bettering lives.
Since working with the children from AWWA Special Student Care Centre, Hannah often shares her experiences in hopes of challenging the misconceptions surrounding children with special needs.
Noel Lim Jun Yao2017 Finalist, Serangoon Garden Secondary SchoolCompleting his final year at Serangoon Garden Secondary School, Noel believes that the best way to overcome challenges is to not give up. Through constant self-reflection and encouragements from his teachers, he persevered and successfully got promoted from the NT to NA stream.
He believes the smallest actions can create a ripple effect. Helping people comes in the simplest forms, such giving up his seat. Beyond his school positions, Noel is a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), devoted to educating the community on disaster preparedness.
He strongly believes the function of leadership does not lie in creating more followers but in grooming more leaders.
Joseph Johnathan Zhao Zhiwei2017 Finalist, National University of SingaporeJoseph’s leadership stands firmly on 3 values – courage, putting others before self and accountability. Pursuing a Degree in Medicine (NUS), he intends to pursue 3 different interests – humanitarian aid missions, medical entrepreneurship and sports medicine.
Since he was 14, he has also been representing Singapore as a long-jump athlete and won Singapore’s first Long Jump Gold medal at the ASEAN School Games. He seeks to empower the financially disadvantaged and has been passionately tutoring underprivileged primary school students pro bono for the past 4 years as well as mentoring an individual for 2 years.
Joseph’s passion, dedication and determination have led him to establish 2 of his own passion projects.
Puvanaswaran Manikam2017 Finalist, ITE College EastPursuing his second year in Applied Food Science at ITE College East, Puvan was appointed as General Secretary on the Executive Committee of the ITE College East Student Council.
Despite being the same age, his peers see him as a leader and a mentor. Being responsible, caring and discipline are his guiding values for both his leadership and his life. These 3 values are weaved into how he cares for his family, is responsible for his words and disciplined in his studies.
A believer in the power of second chances, Puvan aspires to be a prison officer to mentor inmates as well as change the perspectives that people have of convicts and ex-convicts.
Pearlyn Low Ling Hui2016 Winner, Victoria Junior CollegePearlyn is a Year 2 student at Victoria Junior College. She is the Secretary of the student council. A servant leader by nature, she is always the first to be wherever help is needed.
Pearlyn prefers to work on the ground, where she can give direct support to her peers. Empowering others to lead, she often tells her peers to have the courage to take up opportunities presented to them. She finds it difficult to turn down an opportunity to assist others, and when asked why, her answer was simple. “If I can, I should and I will.”
Darien Soh Zi Hao2016 Finalist, Temasek Junior CollegeDarien graduated from Temasek Junior College and his leadership journey started in Bedok Green Secondary School, where he took up multiple leadership roles, most notably, the President of his school’s student council. His belief to “Share, Love and Care” grew in Secondary School when he experienced how the sincere support from his peers and teachers changed his attitude towards life.
Supporting this personal motto, Darien volunteers for many various causes and is the Citizen Engagement Secretary of Kampong Chai Chee Community Centre, Youth Executive Committee (YEC).
Tiffany Chee Fong Yi2016 Finalist, Junyuan Secondary SchoolTiffany is a Secondary 5 student in Junyuan Secondary School. Even as the President of the student council, she believes there is no shame in following others because the goal is to serve the school and society.
Hard work and resilience are two values Tiffany lives by to overcome any challenges, from academics to life. Taking to heart the advice her father always tells her, she understands that falling is essential in order to get back up. With this spirit of resilience, she teaches her juniors to likewise never give up.
Lavanya Selvamani2016 Finalist, Meridian Junior CollegeLavanya is a Year 2 student at Meridian Junior College. She believes that relationship comes before leadership. The former Vice President of the student council had to step down when she repeated her 1st year in MJC. Embracing this setback, she overcame and inspired many others to remain positive in tough times.
In pursuit of different ways to influence positively, Lavanya created a public Instagram account “@lavquotez” where she would post motivational quotes to encourage fellow peers. Her favourite quote she lives by is to “aspire to inspire before I expire”.
Bryan Tan Guang Jun2016 Finalist, ITE College EastBryan believes that persevering and staying positive is key to overcoming difficult times. Graduating from ITE College East as the Top Graduate, he is currently in his second year studying engineering in Singapore Polytechnic. He aspires to become an engineer in the petroleum industry.
In his free time, Bryan serves as a Grassroots Leader in Yew Tee Constituency. His passion for serving the under-privileged community stems having been part of the same community. He feels that in any way he can help others, he should.
Amelia Tai Si En2015 Finalist, Crescent Girls' SchoolAmelia Tai’s drive to lead and make a difference in the lives of her peers has allowed her to be a student leader from primary school until present day; doubling up as both Vice President of Student Council as well as Vice CEO of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club in Crescent Girls’ School. As a lady and leader of tomorrow, she lives by the belief that “Everyone has leadership potential. All they need is a little push to show it.” Therefore, Amelia also takes on the role of a student mentor just so she could be the one to push her juniors to realise their leadership potential.
Daniel Lopez2015 Finalist, Innova Junior CollegeDaniel is the president of Change.pacer Council. According to his teacher mentor, Daniel stands out as a natural leader due to his charismatic demeanour such that his efforts to improve himself allows him to become a role model for his peers. Daniel’s passion lies in people. He hopes that people will not judge their self-worth on how well they do and thus limit what they do. Instead, he believes in the potential of everyone and works diligently to continuously improve himself. To him, he does not quit whenever he has committed to something. His motto in life is “Find your purpose and find your meaning.”
Shaun Seah Sheng An2015 Finalist, Anglo Chinese School (International)Shaun Seah is a scholar under the Humanities Scholars Programme, where he forges a deeper love and understanding for the humanities. Shaun is also a committed individual who ensures that he is able to fulfil the duties as a Venture Patrol Leader in Venture Scouts in ACSI as well as go back to his previous alma-mater Maris Stella High School to lead his juniors in National Cadet Corps (NCC) as a Cadet Lieutenant. Shaun is driven by the desire to exceed himself and believes that one should have the gumption to stand up for what he believes in. He defines leadership as the acknowledgment of the limitations of the human condition and balancing these human imperfections with the need to accomplish goals. To him, he stands strongly by the belief that “You do not have to be the best to try your best”.
Lincoln Lee Ming Tze2015 Finalist, Anglo Chinese School (International)Lincoln Lee is the president of the Student Ambassadors in ACS (International), where he was offered the opportunity to plan and execute large scale events for the school community. He moved to Singapore from Malaysia over a year ago and has very much learnt independent living here. Lincoln holds dear the particular value to expect more of yourself and less of others as he believes that everyone can do better than what they have achieved so far. Whenever he feels down, this quote comes to his mind: “Success is measured by how much you have done but how much you have learnt. Leadership is not how much you are obeyed but how much you are respected”.
Hay Choon Leong2015 Winner, ITE College CentralChoon Leong is the President of Library Club. His cheerful and positive can-do attitude is what makes him stand out as a leader. Despite having to work part-time by selling dumplings to earn his own keep, he ensures that his studies are not neglected and even received the Top Student Award in 2013. To many, selling dumplings would not be a glorious tale to tell but to Choon Leong, he is proud of his background and would even promote his stall to his peers. Choon Leong strongly believes in this mantra: “Take every opportunity as the last one, and that the opportunity will bring you far, and that you can do it.”
Su Thida Htun2014 Finalist, Crescent Girls’ SchoolThida, a Secondary 4 student at Crescent Girls’ School, has a dream to “make the world a better place than it is today”. She is Burmese and has been living in Singapore for almost 6 years now. She is currently preparing to take her ‘O’ Levels soon. In the future, she hopes to work in the areas of youth development, women empowerment or poverty alleviation. Her encouragement: “Live life fearlessly. Never doubt our abilities but challenge them. Make a difference to society and most importantly, do your best, be as bold as the night sky and let the stars shine with your power.”
Sean Teng Chi Yang2014 Finalist, Victoria Junior CollegeSean is currently a Year 2 student at Victoria Junior College. During his schooling years, he has championed various leadership roles in his school’s prefectorial board, National Police Cadet Corps, Senior Leaders and Interact Club. He summarises what he has learnt through taking up these roles in one sentence: “the power of leadership is found in influence, not authority”. He finds leadership enjoyable as it is through it that he has forged lasting relationships. He hopes to use his influence to make the lives of people around him “a little happier, and a little more interesting”.
Devesh Narayanan2014 Finalist, Meridian Junior CollegeDevesh, a Year 2 student at Meridian Junior College, moved to Singapore two years ago to pursue an ‘A’ Level certification. Through his college journey, he has taken up leadership roles, most notably, the president of his school’s Student Council. Through the various tasks that he has undertaken, he has learnt more about himself and picked-up many skills. He also cherishes all the bonds that he has forged along the way and believes that we should use what we have learnt “to make a meaningful contribution to society”.
Aimee Griffiths2014 Finalist, Anglo Chinese School (International)Aimee, a Year 5 student at Anglo Chinese School (International) has lived in countries all over the world. She was born in Zimbabwe, and grew up in Mozambique, Cambodia, United Kingdom and now resides in Singapore. She believes in the importance of servanthood and the ability to recognise various skills and talents of others. Aimee aspires to become a doctor, to use her skills and knowledge to “reach out to those who have less in life and help them find health and wholeness, as they fufill their God-given potential”.
Ray Tan Guan Rui2014 Winner, ITE College CentralRay has always been fascinated with all things aviation, which is why he currently studies in NITEC Aerospace Avionics at ITE College Central. Currently, as a Year 2 student and president of his college’s Student Council, he strives to make a difference in others’ lives and tries to achieve this by first scouting for opportunities to equip himself. As a leader, he aspires to set a good example for his followers by being responsible and reliable. His challenge: “I strongly encourage everyone to take the initiative and be involved in things they are passionate about, and make a difference.”
Lye Zheng Bin2013 Finalist, ITE College CentralZheng Bin, is a year two Aerospace Avionics student studying at ITE College Central. The President of the Black Knight Air Scouts loves aviation and hopes to one day, be up in the air. The pioneer of the Air Scout unit constantly imparts his knowledge to other youths during workshops and conferences.
Chia Yee Shin2013 Finalist, Hwa Chong Institution CollegeYee Shin, a year two student at Hwa Chong Institution College serves as the Vice-President of the Interact Club in her school. As an interactor, she is actively involved in various community services and has also led her entire school in projects such as the Sichuan Earthquake Fund-Relief Project when the earthquake struck earlier this year.
Shermaine Ng Xue Min2013 Finalist, Raffles Girls SchoolShermaine, a Secondary four student at Raffles Girls School, has a passion for fashion. As a leader and an active competitor of Odyssey of the Mind, an international creative problem-solving competition, her interest in fashion was first sparked during the costume-making segment of the competition. She is also a proud member of her school's Chinese Orchestra.
Nathaniel Loh Jun Jie2013 Finalist, Saint Andrew's Junior CollegeNathaniel, a year two student in Saint Andrew's Junior College serves his school as the President of the 35th Student Council. As part of his Project Work module, Nathaniel has started a project (along with the National Youth Council) to transform places such as void decks in Singapore into conducive study places for students.
Audric Ping Wei Xiang2013 Winner, ITE College CentralAudric, a year two Semiconductor Technology student studying at ITE College Central, is a Singapore National Karate Team Player, training towards representing our nation in the 2015 SEA Games. With the help of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the Stars of Shine 2013 participant hopes to use Karate as a platform for youths and their families to bond.
