The Singapore Management University (SMU) has launched the bond free Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship at its annual two-day Leadership Symposium on 6 December 2016.

Attended by 300 student leaders from Junior Colleges, Polytechnics and SMU, the third Leadership Symposium aimed to equip participants with fundamental skills and knowledge to become successful future leaders. Themed ‘Setting Your Compass’, the compass served as a metaphor for the personal values and leadership philosophy which guides an individual in his or her leadership journey. 

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, Director and Co-Founder, The Thought Collective and Nominated Member of Parliament, delivered the first keynote address entitled “How to be a leader that lasts” on 5 December. She touched on how leadership was a sum of actions that one chose to “fight in the arena” that one cared most about and shared tips on how to survive this fight.

After the keynote address and plenary session, participants attended interactive workshops centering around three main leadership tracks of self, self and team, and, self and community.

On the second day of the symposium, Mr Jason Wong, Board Chairman, Focus on the Family, gave the keynote address on “Serving from the front” where he shared how he merely wanted to serve but ended up leading and initiating two national movements – the Yellow Ribbon Project and the Dads for Life movement.

In line with the conversations revolving around leadership, SMU Provost, Professor Lily Kong aptly launched the Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship on the second day of the symposium, to recognise Pin Xiu’s personal journey as a leader and role model to all.

The Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship adds to a slew of over 100 scholarships offered to undergraduates of SMU. It will be SMU’s first full sports scholarship, and will be open to outstanding Singaporean athletes who have gained admission into any SMU undergraduate programme. These are students who have shown and will continue to demonstrate the spirit of excellence, outshining in sports and representing Singapore with pride and glory.

SMU will offer up to two scholarships per year, and each scholarship includes a full tuition fee waiver and a Growth Opportunities Allowance, that will allow them to enjoy a wide range of leadership and personal development programmes offered by the Centre for Scholars’ Development at SMU. These include special seminars and conferences, exchange and summer school programmes and other growth opportunities.

Articulating the scholarship’s objective, SMU Provost, Professor Lily Kong said, “SMU places strong emphasis on a holistic educational approach for all its students. The Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship will offer outstanding athletes the opportunity to pursue their undergraduate studies here at SMU in an athlete-friendly and supportive environment. Pin Xiu has shown exemplary results in her sport of swimming despite the odds. She is not only an ambassador for sports, but a role-model and inspiration to all Singaporeans. For these reasons, SMU has named a scholarship after Pin Xiu, to recognise her strife and personal journey, work and contribution to her sport, SMU and Singapore.”

For Yip Pin Xiu, Paralympic gold medallist and SMU undergraduate, having the scholarship in her name was a pleasant surprise, “I am very honoured and happy. SMU has given me the opportunity to train and compete at the highest level while still studying at the same time. Their understanding has allowed me to push sporting boundaries and I hope this scholarship will give others the chance and motivation to pursue sporting excellence.”

The application window for 2017 admissions is now open. The Scholarship will commence next year, from August 2017. More information on the Scholarship can be found here.

[Featured Photo: Professor Lily Kong, Provost, Singapore Management University launches the Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship at the Leadership Symposium 2016]

Media stories:

- SMU launches sports scholarship in Yip's name (TODAY)

- New SMU sports scholarship named after Yip Pin Xiu (Channel NewsAsia, Channel 5 News, Channel 8 News), 938 Live, Capital Radio 958 and Oli 96.8)

- SMU elite athletes get helping hand (The Straits Times)

- SMU establishes Yip Pin Xiu scholarship to encourage outstanding athletes (Lianhe Zaobao)

- SMU's bond-free scholarship named after swimmer Yip Pin Xiu (The New Paper)

- SMU introduces Yip Pin Xiu scholarship for athletes (Berita Harian)

- A scholarship in honour of sportswoman who won the gold medal (Tamil Murasu)

Addtional stories on Pin Xiu:

Lunch with Sumiko: Paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu's 'pretty happy the way I am"