We are proud to share that there are two recipients of the Koh Boon Hwee Scholars Award from the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) this year. Congratulations graduating students Lim Kai Yi (Eldeen) and Leong Sin Yuen, Lynnette! Eldeen and Lynnette have displayed strong leadership ability and exemplary conduct, demonstrated potential for contributing to society as role models for their peers.
To recognise the influence of inspirational teaching and the enduring bonds that are forged between teachers and students, both recipients will have to acknowledge a NTU faculty member and a teacher from his/her former junior college, polytechnic or equivalent high school/institution, who have inspired and contributed significantly to their education.
Let us hear more from them both!
Eldeen (Left), Lynnette (Right)
About Eldeen
In her time in SBS, Eldeen served diligently as President in the Biological Sciences Club, pushing out initiatives like the Clade (a house-like) system. She also took on multiple roles in the TOPs, from Group Leader to Chief Programmer, where she eventually organised and conducted training workshops for her juniors.
Biological Sciences Club AY19/20
In hall, she also participated in and led various activities, such as dance, where she partook in 3 different NTU Hall Olympiad Closing Ceremonies (HOCCs) atop many other performances.
IntoXXIcate HOCC team in 2021
As a second major student in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, Eldeen noticed a disconnect in the registration for Chemistry modules where students were unable to get the necessary modules. Thus, she took the initiative by providing and discussing potential solutions with the school, successfully improving the process.
Interested in pursuing a career in research, Eldeen has done several research attachments, in one of which she managed to collaborate on a review paper. Upon graduation, she accepted an offer from A*STAR under the Bioinformatics Institute as a project officer. There, she will be working on a collaboration project between BII and the Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging.
Could you share more about how a teacher from your former school inspired you?
Eldeen: I got to know Mr Murali while serving as a student leader back in NUS High, where he took over as the Head of Student Development in my graduating year. As he was stepping into the position, one of the first things he did was to understand the experiences of the current student leaders and the potential areas for feedback. The earnest way he went about it, trying to really improve the whole system and leadership board really knocked the idea that ‘leadership is all about the people’ into me. In that year, he also showed me that good leadership involves more than just smiles and pretty words, but also a firm guiding hand and clear directions. All these experiences, I think, has definitely made me a better leader and mentor that I am today.
Eldeen, with Singapore President Halimah Yacob, and Eldeen’s two nominees, Mr Murali (1st from left) and Dr. Wilson Goh (1st from right) at the Koh Boon Hwee Scholars Award Ceremony
Who is your biggest inspiration in NTU and why?
Eldeen: It’s definitely the amazing people that I got to meet and work with throughout my 4 years of education at NTU. One of them is Dr Wilson, who was the faculty advisor of the Biological Sciences club in my 2 years there. He had so much enthusiasm, taking the time to meet separately with the directors of each portfolio to share ideas on the initiatives we could do. He was also very supportive of our events, helping us be the bridge to the faculty members of SBS.
In my year as president, he was also the one who came up with the original idea of a Clade system for SBS. Though it was tough kickstarting the initiative and we spent many hours hashing out the different details in his office, he remained excited and energetic which helped get us through it as well. From him, I learnt that other than tangible advice and help, having an infectious energy and clear vision on shared goals is also very important.
A leader is only as much as their team. Without the wonderful directors and Exco of the Biological Sciences club, or my amazing proggies in the SBS TOP, I would not have been able to achieve so much. Each of them brought their own brand of passion and ideas to the work that we did, passion to execute their vision and goals and ideas to make experiences in NTU better. I particularly enjoy hearing fresh ideas from the people around me as it really gets my creativity running!
Finally, nothing inspires me more than having everyone on a team pushing through the hard times together. Whether it was rushing for deadlines or the gruelling late night dance practices preparing for HOCC, I love the way everyone supported each other. It is also with this support that my graduation is possible, and I’m extremely grateful for it!
Congratulations on your graduation! Would you like to share a message with your graduating friends from NTU SBS?
Eldeen: Happy graduation everyone! Thank you for walking this university journey with me, whether it was through sharing every waking hour or a kind smile or encouragement in the hallways. The past few years have definitely not been easy but y’all are truly warriors to have pulled through!! All the best for the paths that you choose to take and may you go far!!
About Lynnette
To fulfil her interests in the arts and sciences, Lynnette pursued a degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Music. She participated in several co-curricular activities, including NTU Chinese Orchestra, NTU Piano Ensemble, and Hall 2 Verve Productions.
Hall 2 Verve Productions group photo
With a strong belief in working alongside others to promote an enriching school life for her peers, she contributed as Business Manager for various hall committees, and Group Leader for multiple hall and faculty orientation programmes. Notably, she was Chairperson of the School of Biological Sciences Transition Orientation Programme (TOP) committee amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, during which she and her team tackled the challenge of the ever-changing restrictions to plan for an engaging and informative orientation for the freshmen.
SBS TOP photoshoot
Lynnette’s soft spot for animals led her to become a volunteer feeder with the NTU Cat Management Network, and she eventually adopted a family of kittens she found on campus. She is currently working as a veterinary nurse, with the aim to undertake a professional degree in Veterinary Medicine in future.
Could you share more about how a teacher from your former school inspired you?
Lynnette: Mr Jonathan Tee was my Chemistry teacher in my second year at Victoria Junior College (VJC). He was adept at explaining and organising chemistry concepts in a way that was both captivating and easily understood by his students. Most memorably, he was unafraid to dedicate time outside his official teaching schedule to present our class a more effective personalised lecture for demanding topics, instead of having us attend the common lecture with other classes. I admire his commitment towards writing specific and individualised feedback for each student’s tests and assignment, for which he balanced between giving constructive criticism and words of motivation, pertaining to both chemistry concepts and our holistic development. His encouragement allowed me to build my confidence in my academic abilities, which empowered me to persevere through ‘A’ Levels and even beyond, through my University years.
Eldeen with Mr Jonathan Tee, her Chemistry teacher in VJC
Who is your biggest inspiration in NTU and why?
Lynnette: It is difficult to pinpoint a single biggest source of inspiration in NTU, as I depended heavily on my professors and course-mates throughout my journey as in SBS. In particular, professors who inspired me greatly include Dr Shawn Lum, who taught me Tropical Ecology, and Dr Hideaki Onishi, who taught me a number of modules for my Music minor.
Dr Lum is a passionate educator who loves what he does and transmits his infectious energy to his students. Through the multiple field trips he organised for the course, he inspired a love for nature and the environment in me. Since the classes were conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, special care was taken to ensure that all social distancing measures were adhered to, while not compromising on the quality of his teaching.
Convocation photo of Dr Lum, with Eldeen and her family
Under Dr Onishi, I took Foundations in Musical Studies I and II, and Studies in Japanese Music. He went the extra mile by taking into consideration my passion towards the topics he covered in his classes, and offered me and my course-mate the opportunity to attend a further module Foundation in Musical Studies III, even though it meant that he had to review and grade more assignments as a result.
Studies in Japanese Music group photo
Congratulations on your graduation! Would you like to share a message with your graduating friends from NTU SBS?
Lynnette: Grad lo!!! Congrats to us for making it through Biophyschem and Bchem2, and through the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic. Congrats to us for making the best of our experiences at NTU (shoutout to SBS TOP 2020/21 seniors!), and for hard-carrying in group projects and presentations. Out of all the memories that I’ve made in NTU SBS, my fondest moments are when we’re just hanging out in the study lounge and in the classrooms, either taking a break and chatting between lessons, or mugging for mid-year tests and finals. I’m grateful to have met you here in SBS, and cheers to our futures ahead of us!