Dear Colleagues
Graduation – a very important milestone in the lives of our students. In late May, some 4,963 students from 48 Diploma courses took to the stage during Graduation 2009. We were present with them, as they celebrated this occasion with their family and friends. In this special edition of Newsbytes we bring you the highlights of this happy occasion, with a glimpse of some very special graduates from the Class of 2009.
Warmest regards
Liang Hwee Ming
COMMS Division |
Our top graduates with Guest-of-Honour for Session One, Mr S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade & Industry and Education ((6th from left), Mr Tan Pheng Hock, Chairman of the NYP Board of Governors, PCEO and other NYP Senior Management staff. |
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 They Have Got GOOD JOBS!
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Despite the tough economic climate, some graduates from the Class of 2009 have already secured good jobs. This certainly shows the value of an NYP diploma! Take these graduates for instance: |
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Selected From More Than 500 Job Applicants
Immediately after graduation, Toh Kai Feng found a job as a Human Resource Coordinator at Sheraton Towers Singapore, despite stiff competition. She found the job through an online search, and after she was hired, she learnt there were more than 500 applicants for the job. The hotel shortlisted about 10 best candidates before selecting Kai Feng eventually.
“I must say that I’m quite lucky,” said a humble Kai Feng, who graduated with a Diploma in Hospitality & Resort Management. But it was more than just luck. Kai Feng’s passion for the hospitality industry – coupled with her NYP education – helped her secure the job.
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Kai Feng (left) beat more than 500 job applicants in her job quest.
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Hired by Previous Internship Company
Melvin Mah, a Mechatronics Engineering graduate, was hired by his former supervisor from First Engineering Limited. “I enjoyed my internship tremendously, and had always hoped to return after my studies. True enough, just a fortnight before my graduation ceremony, I received a phone call and was offered a full-time position at the company. Of course, I gladly accepted; it was an offer I couldn't refuse,” said Melvin, who begins his promising career as an Assistant Business Development Engineer this June.
Kai Feng (left) beat more than 500 job applicants in her job quest. |
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Hired On the Spot
Like many graduating students, Diploma in Accountancy and Finance graduate Dorcas Tan was worried about securing a job in the current economic climate. Despite her fears, Dorcas managed to snag two job offers: one from an audit firm and the another from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). In fact, the job interview panel at CAAS was so impressed with her confidence and credentials that they offered her a job as Corporate Services Officer on the spot.
Dorcas' (right) prospective employers were impressed by her confidence and credentials. |
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Tears of Joy
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It was tears of joy for Diploma in Nursing (Accelerated) graduate Siti Zawiyah Mohamed when she received the Ministry of Health Gold Medal during her graduation ceremony on 26 May 2009.
Some years ago, Siti was doing well as a creative and talented TV producer, involved in numerous commercial TV programmes and projects. Therefore, her colleagues from the media industry were puzzled when Siti switched from a promising media career to nursing. But Siti knew what she wanted. “I enjoyed doing TV production work but I had also wanted to learn something new. I wanted to upgrade myself with new knowledge and skills to help others. I helped to look after my sick grandparents and at the time, I wished I knew the right things to do for them,” said this bubbly 29-year old.
Siti’s hard work and perseverance paid off when she topped her course. She explained, “I cried during the graduation because I was just so overwhelmed by the care and support given by my parents, lecturers and coursemates. In particular, I’m very grateful to two of my SHS lecturers – Ms Janet Chua and Ms Asma Ahmad. They have a lot of faith in me. During all those times when I wondered whether I made the correct decision to take up nursing, they reassured me that I was on the right track. It meant a lot to me.”
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| All tears…Siti was so overwhelmed by the support she received that she cried when receiving the Ministry of Health Gold Medal. |
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| All smiles again…Siti with her family, her pillar of support. |
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A Second Chance in Life
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Veenotth aced his course with a GPA of 3.8 |
Veenotth N Balakrishnan first enrolled into NYP’s Diploma in Accountancy & Taxation programme in 1999. However, he did not focus on his studies, obtained a GPA of 0.7 and subsequently left NYP. Thankfully, Veenotth got his second chance from Mr Lee Tong Nge, then Deputy Director at the School of Business Management. “Go to the army, prove yourself there and show me that you have learnt how to appreciate opportunities and be responsible. Only then can you come back to me for a place in NYP,” was Tong Nge’s challenge to Veenotth.
Veenotth did not take this advice seriously, until he realised he could not sign on with the Air Force without a polytechnic diploma. “Suddenly I remembered Mr Lee’s words. I decided to take up his challenge and turn my life around,” said Veenotth.
After his national service, Veenotth went back to see Tong Nge, and was re-enrolled into NYP in 2006. This time, he gave it his best shot and aced his course with a GPA of 3.8. He was even admitted into the Director’s List and awarded a Diploma with Merit. Tong Nge, who is currently Director of the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS), was so pleased that he roped Vennotth in to work with SIRS.
“I am very grateful to Mr Lee for inspiring me and giving me a second chance in life. People make mistakes, and all we need is that second chance,” said Veenotth.
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Glad to Have Graduated!
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Ronald Fong Ren Kai is glad to have obtained his diploma, despite a chronic back problem, and having to undergo a major operation during his final year.
Ronald, a Diploma in Digital Media Design graduate, developed a chronic back pain during Year One when he was actively playing football. The pain got worse, and eventually he suffered a slipped vertebra. As a result, he had to undergo a major operation and skip school during the final critical months of his Year 3 studies, when he was supposed to complete his final assignments for his graduation portfolio.
Thankfully, Ronald managed to complete his course. In fact, he did very well, scoring a total of 18 Distinctions and 8 ‘A’s. He attained the MediaCorp Silver Award, the Lucasfilm Animation Singapore Award for Outstanding Project Work (Animation) and a Diploma with Merit. “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve all this without my lecturers’ help,” said a grateful Ronald. “I missed many classes as a result of my operation. My lecturers gave me make-up lessons and made sure I could keep up with my studies.” |
Budding Entrepreneurs Among Us
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Go-getter Genevieve with samples of accessories and clothes that she sells at her blogshop. |
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| Naimin ropes in 16 friends, including 13 NYP students, to help him create games. |
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The Class of 2009 has its share of budding entrepreneurs. Take, for example, Diploma in Nursing graduate Genevieve Goh. In the midst of doing clinical attachments, Genevieve would be designing clothes, meeting up with suppliers or sourcing for the latest fashion accessories.
Genevieve, the co-owner of a blogshop www.trooops.blogspot.com, runs this shop together with her cousin Jamie Goh, a commerce student in Australia. The blogshop offers hip and trendy male and female clothes, sun shades and accessories. Genevieve also successfully designs her own clothes.
Business has been brisk, especially after an article on Genevieve appeared on the NYP student portal last year. Nowadays, she sells more than 100 items every week. She has also developed a loyal customer base.
Another budding entrepreneur is Koh Naimin, who graduated with a Diploma in Information Technology. Naimin’s dream is to create a much-talked-about online game he can be proud of. He became so good in programming that after his first year, he was confident enough to set up his own company. He created and conceptualised ‘Soul Zephyr’, a fantasy role-playing game with a complex and intriguing storyline. This game is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, which also has an offline single-player version.
Naimin’s enthusiasm has been contagious, and he has roped in another 16 friends to help him achieve his dream. Of these, 13 of them are NYP students. His friends take on different roles in games development, such as web design, programming, 3D graphics, character developing etc. Naimin is Managing Producer and overall in charge. |
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Not just a top student, but a linguist too! Ziyou speaks four languages.
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That’s my girl, my champion! Tay Xin Yi, from the Diploma in Business Informatics, was thrilled that her former teacher from Kuo Chuan Presbyterian School brought her favourite drink.
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