As a lead up to the 50th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Singapore East (RCSE) in 2015 and with the aim of giving undergraduates from SMU financial support in their pursuit of education, RCSE donated S$12,000 to SMU in May 2012 to fund the inaugural Rotary Club of Singapore East Education Bursary. Six students from SMU were awarded the Bursaries during the Award Ceremony held on 1 June 2012 at the Goodwood Park Hotel.
The Bursaries are made possible by an endowment fund established by the current RCSE Education Standing Committee Chairman and President, Ms Low Wei Ling, and the generous contributions from members and friends of RCSE and matching grants from Rotary International.
"I am proud to be able to give to our inaugural Awardees a meaningful moment. Remembering it all that in the years of your life, to return to society, to pay it forward, to be a good person and citizen-the key path to success is to always act with a conscience and integrity," stated Ms Low Wei Ling, President and Chairman of RCSE.
The Bursary is intended to enable deserving Singaporean SMU undergraduates with demonstrated financial needs to achieve their educational goals. Recipients of the award will be also given opportunities to be involved in ongoing projects at the RCSE.
“The award will help me alleviate some of my educational costs, and enable me to pursue additional experiences such as overseas study missions. I am glad that the award offers me opportunities to further develop myself,” said Aloysius Lau, a second year student at the School of Information Systems and Lee Kong Chian School of Business.
Added Gerald Toh Wei Hao, a first year student at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, “It is an honour to be selected as one of the recipients of the inaugural Rotary Club of Singapore East Education Bursary. Receiving this award will go a long way in reducing the financial burden associated with pursuing a tertiary education and affirms my efforts within and beyond school, inspiring me to continue pursuing my passions in serving and engaging the community.”
The Rotary Club of Singapore East was chartered 11 April 1966. It is one of the 23 Rotary Clubs in Singapore within Rotary International District 3310 which includes part of South Peninsular, East Malaysia & Brunei.
The Object of Rotary is:
First - The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
Second - High ethical standards in business and professions
Third - The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life
Fourth - The advance of international understanding