OCTOBER 2011

Singapore's 1st Poly I’m a Scholar  Meet SP’s Super 7  Can you befriend your teacher on FB?  SP students @ Yale, Harvard & MIT  SP Dragonboat Hunks Scholar So What? VOLUME 02/ 2011

SPirit2 Cover.indd 41 9/28/11 4:04 PM Celebrating SPirit

Hi, How’s it been at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), so far? For those in your first year, it must have felt very different compared to those days when you rushed to school in uniforms. For some of you, it’s a different headache now – what should I wear to SP today? But we made it easier for you – I see many of you proudly wearing the SP tees . The final year students - you have one more semester to clear, you know what to do ;). And to those of you taking the ‘O’ level exams soon, my best wishes to you and I look forward to welcoming you at SP. Life at SP is not just lesson after lesson. That will make you a dull Jack, or a bored Jill. SP has a green and beautiful campus. The lecture theatres are nice and lessons are not chock-a-block the whole day. During your breaks, you have choices. You can retreat to Starbucks, McCafe, Polar’s Cafe, or maybe Koufu. How about chilling out at Moberly or the new EcOasis and Butterfly Sanctuary? Take advantage of these wonderful facilities while you are here. You will discover even more as you flip through the pages of our inaugural SPIRIT magazine (whether you are already in SP or planning to join us). There’s a throbbing and vibrant SPIRIT embedded in each story. Our cover story on the SP Scholars will give you an insight on a breed among your peers who are bright, yet humble in SPIRIT. They are much sought after and clearly far from being nerds. Check out the top graduates from the Class of 2011. They are living models of C.A.R.E. – Confident, Accomplished, Ready, and Excellent in ways big and small. Don’t miss “One stroke, one heart” and hear from our very own dragon warriors. You will be inspired by their words of wisdom that will come in handy while you are in SP or even beyond. For a peek into the mind of one of our more “adventurous” lecturers, check out the pages peeled from Howard’s Facebook wall. You’ll be amazed how he uses Facebook to connect and communicate with his students. I trust that you will have sufficient reasons to pour your eyes over the pages of SPIRIT. I hope you will enjoy reading how the first polytechnic in Singapore endeavours to bring out the best SPIRIT in each one of you. The BEST thing to do after ‘O’ levels Viva SPIRIT. Experience the SP Journey with

Inno, Imagi and Inspira Tan Hang Cheong (The SPirit Principal) Singapore Polytechnic More than 12 hou r s of exhilarating adventures Chillout under the stars The SPirit Team Lunch dinner goodie bags + + Advisor: Henry Tan Just be there. Simply Perfect, isn’t it? Editor-in-Chief: Andy Kwan

Awesome? Assistant Editor: Shamus Lee Because it’s SP. SPIRIT Journalists: A’liah Ibrahim / Angie Pay / Asyraf Aziz / Benjamin Tan / Bernard Lim / Darren Ng / Register now at www.escapade.sg Denise Yeo / Esme Khoo / Evon Kua / Farah Aquila / Jarad Lim / Kylie Chia / Nicholas Lam / (open only to secondary school students Nur Quamarina / Stephanie Kim / Tan Jit King / Terence Yeo / Wendell Wee taking ‘O’ levels this year) SPIRIT is a quarterly publication published by the Department of Corporate Communications, Singapore Polytechnic. All rights reserved. No information herein should be reproduced without the permission of Singapore Polytechnic. All information correct at time of printing.

For editorial or advertising enquiries, please email [email protected] or call 6772-1742.

01

Escapade2011_SPirit.indd 1 9/23/11 3:18 PM content highlights

COVER 30.STORY Scholar So What? What makes a Scholar and are they really a big deal? I’m a 24. Scholar The Paradise Experience Roughing it out in one of the world’s most beautiful places. One Stroke One Heart 46. How SP Dragonboaters become No. 1.

Student Agency Super 7 Where creative students do the SP's top graduates this year is a diverse bunch. 14. real work. 06. Find out who they are. 22. SP Students in New Diploma Course Yale and MIT The fi rst diploma to combine business 63. with design.

Sweet Pairs Stirring 64. Love blossoms on campus. 16. up a Go MAD 42. passion App Me Please! These students have every reason How to turn your passion 67. SP rolls out mobile apps. to do so. into a successful business.

03 Speaking Sharing By Lee Wen Juan, Personally Diploma in Tourism Winning entry! This letter wins a O.D.M. Necklace Before I graduate, I would like to and Resort Management Pictures Watch worth $145, courtesy of Teenage magazine take this opportunity to thank all my Winning entry! This picture wins a lecturers for their generous support O.D.M. Necklace Watch worth $145, and motivations throughout the I'm in love with an amazing Las Vegas courtesy of Teenage magazine band called Panic! At The Disco. They're years. They not only educate me but unique - crazy awesome lyrics and also taught me values and attitudes. song titles go with their extraordinary With their immense patience and tunes. I've been their fan for six years, guidance, they have moulded me starting from when they fi rst started. SP is the place where I know I can into a person with positive values and Despite their split in 2009, I've stuck fi nd comfort when I am tired and the inspirations. And I am truly grateful with them and I'm glad I did. P!ATD place where I know I can satisfy my for that. Mr Ng Eng Poh ,Ms Edna, makes me happy; their music videos thirst for knowledge. Food Court 6 - and songs bring joy to me. When I saw OH HUI QI Mr Neo Chip Chuan, Mr Martin, Mr Where our friendship blooms them live in concert for the fi rst time in Diploma in Food Science Caleb Lye, Mr David Chee, Mr Kong - 2008, it was the best day of my life. The and Technology they aren’t just any ordinary lecturers. overwhelming excitement and fan girl They are my extraordinary lecturers. hormones felt great. SEE YI LIN Chicken Talk is one of the stalls with NURQISTINA ISKANDAR the longest queue in Singapore Poly Diploma in Accountancy Diploma in Digital Media food court 3. This stall can sell up from 500-700 plates per day. Among all the chicken set choices, chicken Dover MRT. Where the I love SP because it gives me a home By Muhd Nursyazwan Bin Rasidi, coolest kids alight. away from home. Being Malaysian, cutlet rice gets the highest ratings The best dish to have for lunch at SP Diploma in Biomedical Science I never thought I'd fi t into a foreign as it never fails to whet students’ is the chicken cordon bleu from the country. But somehow, I've found appetite. With 13 kinds of sauce, western food stall in FC3. The dish By Lee Teck Cheng, Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering a second home here. SP cares for such as sambal, black pepper, sweet features a chicken fi llet stuffed with Rays of the sun at SP international students too. The staff Thai, rendang and mayonnaise, ham, cheese and mushrooms that are friendly and the facilities are great. students are being spoilt enough, not would defi nitely appeal to anyone! The great variety of food caters to to mention the delicious variety of It also comes with a side dish of every race and culture. Some of the side dishes.The chicken is tender and your choice to complete the meal. food really strikes the right chord incredibly juicy. Beside chicken cutlet, I recommend this dish to anyone with international students who the stall also offers chicken horfun, who likes an exciting combination of miss mum's cooking. Pursuing an ayam penyet, chicken porridge and fl avours and textures in their food. So education overseas has never felt so chicken macaroni. Enjoy all goodness if you’re looking for something around easy. Thanks SP! at really cheap prices. campus to tickle your taste buds, do NICOLE LOH LYDIA ARTAN give this a try! Diploma in Media and Diploma in Media and SAYAKA TATEKURA Spectrum, a place where By Lee Yu Hui, Diploma in By Adhianto Suherli, Communication Communication The Clarinet and I we study and have fun! Engineering with Business Diploma in Biotechnology Diploma in Biomedical Science

If you have something to say about anything in SP, let us know. SPIRIT welcomes Take a picture of your favourite place / object / people in SP with your smartphone. Email contributions from SP students which should be less than 100 words. Submit your entry to the photo to [email protected] with your full name, admission number and a caption in [email protected] with your full name and admission number. One entry will win less than 10 words of what the picture is about. One entry will win a special prize and other a special prize and other published letters win a consolation prize. published photos win a consolation prize.

Published letters in this issue win an ACNES Hamper worth $20, courtesy of Mentholatum and Teenage. Published photos in this issue win an ACNES Hamper worth $20, courtesy of Mentholatum and Teenage.

05 Diploma in Business Information Technology Sean Lee Formerly from Singapore Sports School Teik Ren Who Am I?  I’m a national sailor and have sailed in places like Uruguay and Australia.  I won medals at the Southeast Asian Games and international sailing competitions.  I was Singapore's Young Ambassador at the 1st Youth Olympic Games.  I was the fi nal torch bearer for the YOG Journey of the Flames, Southwest District.  I was a SP Sports Scholar and groomed under the SP Outstanding Talent programme.  I am the reigning SP Sportsman of the Year.  I can sail; I can write. I was a SP student journalist.

My Next Stop:  I’m a Nanyang Scholar and will be pursuing a business and accountancy degree at Nanyang Technological University.  My biggest wish now is to be selected for the Olympic Games 2012 in London.

My Awards  Lee Kuan Yew Award  IDA Gold Medal  Keppel Housing Prize  OCBC Prize  Shell Companies in Singapore Prize  Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Prize SUPER

They are the smarties of Singapore Polytechnic Graduation 2011. For the seven of them, the journey to the top is not merely scoring good academic results. What’s behind these super-achievers and things that we don’t know about them? investigates the magnifi cent seven who unanimously put SP as their fi rst choice three years ago.

07 Thng Kai Yuan Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering Formerly from Gan Eng Seng School

Who Am I?  I did my internship at Pratt & Whitney in Beijing.  I taught kids how to use the computer in Timor Leste.  I had dialogue sessions with our Ministers as part of my eadership programme.  I was a liaison officer at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit.  I tutored final-year students in my alma mater Lim Gan Eng Seng Secondary.  I received the Kampong Glam CCC Scholarship Hui yin (Polytechnic) for two years.  I also helped needy children. Diploma in Aerospace Electronics My Next Stop: Formerly from Presbyterian  I aim to study at a prestigious overseas High School university with a Scholarship.  I want to be an outstanding leader, Who Am I? a role model father and a good friend  I know how to build amazing flying machines because to others. I won awards designing them.  I helped visitors at the airport as a Changi Youth My Awards Ambassador.  Lee Kuan Yew Award  Don’t play with me; I know taekwondo and kickboxing.  SIA Engineering Aeronautical  I went to China for my aerospace internship; I can now Engineering Gold Medal survive China because I passed the aviation test Alfred Robert Edis Prize  conducted in Mandarin.  Eurocopter SEA Merit Award  I swallowed a bug during my community service in OCBC Prize  Cambodia. It actually went down my throat!  Shell Companies in Singapore Prize  I’m a perfectionist.  The Diploma-Plus Book Prize The Institution of Engineers,  My Next Stop: Singapore Prize  I want to take a one-year break to do community service, upgrade my wushu skills and learn to play the guitar.  I plan to study electronic and electrical engineering in Nanyang Technological University after my break.

My Awards  Lee Kuan Yew Award  European Aeronautic Defence and Space Gold Medal  OCBC Prize  Shell Companies in Singapore Prize  Shell Merit Award Singapore Technologies Aerospace Prize

CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES AND HEELS FROM MUSE @ PACIFIC PLAZA CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES AND HEELS FROM MUSE @ PACIFIC 

09 Kang Kok wei Diploma in Clean Energy Formerly from Hougang Secondary School and ITE College East

Who Am I?  I’m a never-say-die person who joined SP from ITE. I made it!  My sister also graduated from SP; she told me it’s a good poly. I listened to her and she’s right.  I gave tuition at the Clementi Student Vicki lau Service Centre. Diploma in Digital Media  My final-year project got a Gold (Now renamed Outstanding Display Award at Diploma in Interactive Media) Spinnovex 2011. Formerly from  My secondary school teacher made a CHIJ Katong Convent big difference in my life. She motivated me. Who Am I?  My dad is my role model; in future I  I was a bullied teenager in secondary school; want my kids to see me as one too. my classmates made me eat pencil shavings.  I received help when I was in primary  I’m now a confident youth who wants to be a school, now I help others by doing successful film-maker. community service.  I went to Hollywood to learn video production  I love archery. It's physically and under the NUS-MDA Hollywood mentally challenging. Attachment Programme.  I was the SP Rotaract Club President.  I won the Sony-SP I.C.E Award and the prize came with an all-expenses trip to attend the NAB My Next Stop: Show in Las Vegas.  I’ll proceed straight into second  I was the President of SP Videography Club. year in Nanyang Technological  I believe in 3Ps – Passion, Poise and Perseverance. University to study electrical  I want to bring major changes to the local and electronic engineering after media scene. national service.  I want to be a part of the My Next Stop: fast-growing sustainable  I was awarded the MDA Scholarship to pursue a energy dustry. degree in Visual Effects at the Savannah College of Art and Design in USA. My Awards  The college has also awarded me with the  Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal Academic Honours Award and an  PCS Silver Medal Artistic Scholarship.

My Awards  Chua Chor Teck Gold Medal  Media Development Authority Gold Medal  Monstrou Studio Award  Shell Companies In Singapore Prize

11 CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES AND HEELS FROM MUSE @ PACIFIC PLAZA CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES AND HEELS FROM MUSE @ PACIFIC Li Yan Diploma in Business Technology Formerly from River Valley High School

Who Am I?  I’m a member of the Microsoft Student Thomas Lim Partners, an international programme.  I have free access to Microsoft technologies and softwares. Ting Wen  I developed mobile web apps for SP Diploma in Applied Drama that will be implemented soon. and Psychology  I developed three mobile apps for Formerly from Windows Phone 7. Check out Today Catholic High School Across Time, SG Taxi and NRIC Validator.  I enjoy doing assignments. Who Am I?  I’m very vocal. Nothing scares me.  I love to perform. I enjoy spending time in the arts.  I dare to do presentations to big shots.  I took part in two Singapore Youth Festival Competitions. I’ve already done it before.  I switched from a top JC to join SP because of my passion for applied drama. My Next Stop:  I attended the International Drama Educators’ Association  I want to be a developer evangelist World Congress in Brazil as an SP student. An with Microsoft after completing my amazing experience! university education.  I staged H, a devised performance for Celebrate Drama!  I will pursue an Information System organised by the Singapore Drama Educators’ Association. degree at NUS under the Kent Ridge  I’m now a drama trainer at inwardBOUND School of Drama Undergraduate (Merit) Scholarship. until my national service.  If I can, I would start a social enterprise. My Awards  Low Guan Onn Gold Medal My Next Stop:  IDA Gold Medal  I want to be an applied drama practitioner to help  Microsoft Singapore Award margainalised communities.  Shell Companies in Singapore Prize  I will pursue further education in drama-related  Singapore Indian Chamber of degree programmes. Commerce and Industry Prize

My Awards  Toh Chin Chye Gold Medal  School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences Gold Medal  Shell Companies in Singapore Prize

13 thestudentagency.blogspot.com The Stude nt Agency To design I wanted to see We are a team of creative students hungry for good act as advisors and mentors. Azhar, our Account something if I can match up to designs. As members of The Student Agency, a Director and Sarah, our Creative Director, help ensure awesome out of the industry standard student-run advertising agency at SP Design School, that we are on the right tracks in managing our clients’ something *ugly; I love TSA as well as to gain restrictions are because I love more exposure in we get exposed to the intricacies of real agency works projects while providing creative guidance. We work really the worst challenging myself. the working design – all while juggling schoolwork, play and family. We get on brand design and brand communication projects thing you have to Being an Account world, plus to handle but that’s Executive enables ignited when cracking clients’ campaign briefs. Our - anything from brand identity design to full- edged experience global My presence where the challenge me to meet new cultures through itself inspired me team consists of Designers, Art Directors, Visualisers, integrated campaigns. The Student Agency is powering lies. That’s why TSA people and handle study trips! to be in TSA. Copywriters, Account Executives and an Account into its 5th year, and we don’t intend to slow down. is so darn fun. a variety of clients! Coordinator. We work very closely together as a team We believe in design integrity, hard work and above Eng Sui kee Hakim Nur Foo Kai Ling Dana Lim on all our projects. Our two very passionate lecturers all, passion. Our ideas only get bigger. And better. Year 2 Year 2 Year 2 Year 3 Junior Designer Visualiser Junior Copywriter Account Executive

While there are many challenging tasks To learn, to challenge myself and I love The Student A family of 3.22am: To work on a I joined TSA The reason why It heartens me to The most memorable out there, the most dif cult one is when to deal with the real world. It has Agency because it passionate Rushing visuals seemingly unexciting because I I joined TSA was work with students moment I had in TSA you have to deal with people who give helped me to visualise and improve on brings me a step people who work, for a presentation brief into an exciting wanted to learn and because I wanted who are unwavering is the Last Super you a hard time. I once had all my design my designs. Afterall, design is not all closer to everything share ideas, the next morning project together with know what it is like to experience how in spirit and photo shoot, I’ve ideas thrown back at me several times. about self-indulgence. It’s thinking and that I can and want and create with oldies music really awesomely to work in a creative it feels like to work enthusiasm, and learnt 2 things; However, it takes experience and a communicating through visuals. to be in the future as awesomeness playing in the cool people in the agency. Working in a student agency show great attitude TSA uber fun and positive mind to understand that a designer! together. background! agency. That is why with others, sharing and working with in the face of I sure know how to design is subjective. Lee Xin Ying TSA is so amazing and listening to live clients. deadlines and other take “good” photos. demands of school. Year 2 Aishah Mohd Anson Cheng Justin Tan different ideas, Elaine Tham Junior Designer Year 3 Year 3 Graduate Chrisvensia Layhadi being exposed to Michelle Rachel Koh Jia Ling Year 3 Designer Art Director Senior Art Director Year 2 many projects and Year 3 Sarah Michelle Lee Year 2 Designer Junior Designer making new friends Designer Lecturer Visualiser are very interesting, What do you get Creative Director fruitful and enriching I joined TSA so I can experience when you have 20 to me. I would say my I think the most the “outside world”, it’s not really I decided to join passionate students The person who I joined TSA so that Being in TSA has TSA feels like a most challenging challenging part in TSA something you can experience TSA for the under 1 roof? inspires me the I’ll be able to learn exposed me to the family living at home, To leap and task would be the for me, is having to deal just sitting in the studio all day. I experience and I Fireworks. It can get most is Azhar. His valuable lessons Farrah realities of the design with a dragon. face my fears, SP Open House with a lot of different now know more about how typical believe it will bene t highly stressful yes, caring demeanor that are not taught Year 3 and advertising Except dragons TSA is my cliff! project right now people. It’s unexpected design agencies work, and the me in the long run. but along with the never fails to guide in the classroom. Designer industry. The longer don’t exist so TSA because it’s a totally but really, really exciting. kind of friendships you experience stress, you uncover us in each and every I stay here, the feels like a family Chloe Ong new experience along the way. Sabrina Khong gems among these project, which I Clarice Choy more driven I am to living at home, with for me. kids that will sparkle aspire to emulate. Year 2 pursue my goal to all the warmth and Samantha Tan Year 2 Year 2 the industry one day. Visualiser be a copywriter. the bonding that Year 3 Jesylnn Ong Account Coordinator Junior Designer I have been very you would expect Sng Jia Rong Account Executive Year 2 Jacqueline Teo humbled by them. from one. Year 2 Junior Copywriter Year 3 Syarini Asa’ari Visualiser Art Director Year 3 Noor Azhar Copywriter Qomarul Ari n Senior Lecturer Year 3 Account Director Copywriter

TSA_DPS.indd 2-3 9/28/11 2:57 PM Serious Projects Serious Projects Wearing the MAD HAT Go MAD? Perry Shen and Amanda Foo, both fi nal-year students Go M.A.D.: Behind The Scenes Our experience as the account directors behind the entire promotional campaign of GoMAD from the Diploma in Media They will Make A Difference! Why Not? and GoINSPIRE was – no pun intended – maddening. Exhaustion aside, this entire project is and Communication, are nevertheless a student’s dream. the account directors in the What a madness it was! SP students were accepted last year, we were encouraged to part of the fi ve-year conservation program encouraged to go MAD but retain their take part again.” launched in 2007. Team leader Amanda The purpose of us going to a polytechnic is to experience reality in a vibrant educational Go M.A.D. Committee. They sanity. The initiative, fi rst launched last year, Yeo Qian Yu said: “We will use the funds environment where we can learn and make mistakes. This project most defi nitely fulfi lled share with about their that purpose. The fi rst stage of the project involves dividing ourselves, all 101 of us from the was to get students to Make A Difference “A lot of people think that words and to plant more trees. Our original aim was to experience organising the (M.A.D.) in the lives of people around them. English are beyond them but we want plant 1,400 trees but it was reduced due to Diploma in Media and Communication, into small groups. Each group had to come up with an Ideas that are adopted will receive funding to clear that misconception – if you can a lack of funds. With the new funding, we idea to promote GoMAD and GoINSPIRE. annual event which is also to see them to fruition. Now in its second feel, you can defi nitely say. If everyone can get back on track.” This team also plans their fi nal-year project. year, Go M.A.D. was organised by 101 fi nal- benefi ts from the project, we’ll have a to educate children in these communities Our group’s idea was chosen and we were assigned as student directors of different year students from the Diploma in Media more democratic society because we are about the environment. “They’re the next functional groups that include Account Management, Creative and Production, and Communication. all expressing ourselves,” explained team generation of leaders, so we want to help Engagement and Outreach, Publicity and Event Management. These key groups would leader Abdul Azim Bin Awalludin. them become more conscious about help and guide the rest of the cohort in executing our functions. WHAT IS Go M.A.D. This year, 10 teams made their pitch with protecting the environment,” added Amanda. revolutionary ideas and four teams won! They Green Vending Bank There were a few things that made this project incredibly realistic. First of all, we were given Go M.A.D. (Make A Difference) is an were decided by a panel as well as audience An innovation by fi ve fi nal-year Mechanical Project WeShare a real budget for the campaign. We know this might sound silly to some of you but in schools, initiative by Singapore Polytechnic voting during the open pitching session that Engineering students, this special vending The idea is to raise awareness on literature we are seldom given real money to run our projects. We are normally asked to write a to encourage its students and staff took place at the SP Open Plaza. machine gives you instant cash rebates in amongst the children. Spearheaded by 19 proposal or come up with an idea. Hence, the consequences of failure are minimal. to develop ideas that will Make A exchange for used drink cans and bottles. students from the SP BP Mentoring Club, However, with real money comes real responsibility and that is the reality of the working Difference in the lives of others – SPIRIT profi les the four winning teams. When asked how their product would help the team hopes to set up an English library world and we experienced it fi rst-hand! whether on campus, in the community shape recycling efforts, leaders Fong Ee Jie at a student care centre and hold a book fair. or in the society. The Out-Word Expression and Yogendran said: “Some people think Team leader Lim Shi Yan hopes the project Secondly, we were given freedom. Some wise man said that the role of a teacher is not to hold the hand of his student but to show him the direction. However, the wise man was This team won seed funding for the second recycling is too troublesome. By giving will inculcate the spirit of reading in children. WHAT IS GoINSPIRE time, the fi rst was their project Poetry incentives, there is more motivation. This is “Many children don't appreciate books wrong. This time round, we, as students, made most of the decisions and directed the Slam Revolt. They decided to take one step on-the-go recycling: once implemented, you because they are not introduced to the joys of functional teams. There were times that we had to make judgment calls and make critical GoINSPIRE is a seed funding initiative further by reaffi rming the beauty of words can fi nd them all around.” reading. We hope that this can spark off their decisions. To make a decision without full knowledge of its consequences is hard but that is, that helps fi nance the ideas from in the Internet age where youth emote with interest to read,” said Shi Yan. again, so real. students that will bring about social acronyms and abbreviations instead. Green Desert @ SP Fall 2011 changes. It allows students to take “GoMAD gave us this platform not Four students will make their way to Beijing Overall, speaking on behalf of SP’s Diploma in Media and Communication Year 3 cohort, charge and turn their own ideas into found anywhere else. Since our idea was and Inner Mongolia to plant trees. This is a conceptualising and executing GoMAD and GoINSPIRE was enlightening. We have learnt so reality. If their ideas are good, they will much from this project and the experience would certainly go a long way after we graduate. be selected for funding.

17 Social Platform

 Useful for getting feedback and discussion with students My Teacher is my on improving the module at Facebook the end of semester. Friend Like

Should our lecturers befriend their students on social media?  ... and to graduates, whom I’ve never taught before! SP Business School lecturer Howard Yap didn’t hesitate to do so. He tells why.  Intense and healthy exchange on ethical and privacy I believe most educators would ask occasional news articles that spoke on are expected to conduct ourselves issues between my student and a friend who is a business themselves the same question. To be how content posted by educators “came in a manner that upholds the high advisor in a multi-national company. A good avenue for honest, it did not cross my mind when back to haunt them” and in more extreme standing of the profession, both in a students to test ideas with the industry. (Actual exchanges too long to be printed) I fi rst started using Facebook back in cases, like the one reported on BBC News personal and professional capacity. 2007. I would just add my students when recently, that one-third teachers in UK are the friend requests came in and made it victims of cyberbullying, largely attributed So then, should educators befriend  A convenience a point to accept every request almost to connections with their students on students on social media? store for appraisals indiscriminately. social media. and testimonials. Before answering the question, Every year, I Understandably, not every educator Furthermore, as educators, we do need take a look at these exchanges that get around 30 embraces the idea of befriending students to be mindful and sensitive on what we took place on my Facebook account, to 50 requests from students for on Facebook, much less adding every share and discuss on social media as re-printed with permission from those applications to student in their class who requested. The most students look up to us, to a varying who posted and names blurred to local universities. reservations are further justifi ed by the degree, as role models. Therefore, we protect their identities. Including those from graduates whom I’ve not kept in touch for years!

 NUS, NTU or SMU? It’s the same question every year. While I may be able to share what I know about the three institutions, it can’t compare with the fi rst-hand experience of our  Becoming a personal helpdesk to students:  Getting encouraging feedback and affirmation graduates who are Student asking question on lecture over Facebook from students that the module is on the right track. currently pursuing chat in the evening their degrees. And credit to our SP Business School  ... as well as those who may graduates, they So, back to the question whether educators should befriend students on social media. I think the decision rests not be quite as excited about the are extremely module. on individuals. If they choose to do so, better with eyes open wide. The reason why the question did not cross my responsive and mind was because connecting with my students was the very reason that made me create a Facebook account. eager to share their experiences with I hope the personal experience I shared here will not deter those who were previously apprehensive or undecided. their juniors.

19 Stunning Picture Space, Please Simply Mind Blowing!

These SP folks dare to express themselves; you Give me can too at SPACE. Teenagers like you need SPACE. So SP will give you all the SPACE you need! Last month, SPACE was officially declared open to any one who wants to be seen and heard.

This is beautiful photo, isn’t it? also learned how to conduct filming in renowned for storm and tornado chasing SPACE is a portal set up by SP’s School of extreme weather conditions. Nothing in and a specialist in 3D stereoscopic SPACE Communication, Arts and Social Sciences The location is in Tucson, Arizona, USA. a classroom can come anywhere near to production. He has produced a one-hour for people like you to express yourself and The people behind the lens are eight SP replicating the experience. special on tornado chasing for National display your creativity. It could be a music students from the Diploma in Visual Geographic and has also worked for CNN, composition that you want others to hear and Effects and Motion Graphics and Lynus Providing valuable guidance was Discovery Channel, BBC and many other give comments. Or the holiday pictures that Hee, their lecturer. Their mission was to American Alister Chapman who is television broadcasters around the world. you wish to share. How about that self-made chase storms. spoof video that you created and you think it’s so funny? Join the forum space if you need to HUH? seek opinions about something. Or perhaps get What has storm chasing got to do with a poll on who’s the hunkiest Korean star now. their course? Aha! This is the unique You can also tune it to SPACE radio, an internet SP experience. radio station run by SP students where aspiring DJs take to the mic and play your favourite The students have to learn, among music. Managed by students from the Diploma other things, 3D stereoscopic filming in Media and Communication, SPACE aspires and production and photography during to be the virtual playground for sharing and idea their three-year course. So documenting exchanges amongst not just the SP student storms in 3D is a realistic learning journey population but anyone out there. for them, our future bunch of visual effects artists. Besides experimenting on Now that we have it, don’t say we didn’t give how to capture natural phenomena, they you SPACE! Go visit www.spspace.sg now.

The SP storm chasing daredevils.

21 So Prestigious So Prestigious

How can Junliang not take a pic at the iconic Yale! MIT dome? Yeah! How has SP’s Diploma in Biomedical Science helped you in your education so far? T: I have a better understanding of health sciences. R: I understood the basic concepts, skills and techniques required for lab A day at the research work. Wingaersheek Beach for Huixin What is it in Biomedical Science 4 July At work in the MIT lab. interests you the most? Touched down in Boston after a long 26-hour fl ight. It’s also Independence Day in the USA. T: Right now, it would be how the We’re in We have a day to settle into our cosy Harvard Street apartment. mechanisms of genetics work. R: The potential to lead me to a career in Rabiatuh (left) with Tiffany and their fi rst winter experience 5 July Research & Development, and that I could It’s a 30-minute walk to the Koch Institute at MIT, our new workplace. Yes! We’re fi nally at possibly make a difference in the world. Two SP students from the Diploma in Biomedical Science went one of the top universities in the world! Our friendly supervisors, Jordi Mata-Fink and John The study of genes and immune system to the famed Yale University for their overseas Internship. Prior Rhoden took us on a tour of the Wittrup Lab. to this, another two students headed to Harvard for a similar in particular interests me. I fi nd it amazing MIT! how the smallest change can make a programme. More will land at other prestigious universities that Life Science students at SP are 12 July drastic impact. include Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Imperial becoming the envy of others. We were give our own MIT IDs and brought to the lab to be briefed on our projects. Jun Liang will be working on a molecular cloning project, whereas I will be working on the College. They will work with the undergraduates, PhD students Why did you choose SP? They have been getting creation of a HIV vaccine. Our supervisors are extremely helpful and patient with us, and researchers from all over the world. catches up with T: Because SP has a good reputation in attachment opportunities at guiding us through the interesting experiments we have to run. We get to put the Biomedical Science. Our seniors have Tiffany Goh and Rabiatul Adawiyah Minhat on their techniques we learned during our practical sessions in SP to good use! Yale experience. gained admissions into medical and dental prestigious overseas universities. schools in NUS. The pair that landed in MIT are 16 & 17 July R: And easily accessible by MRT too. We spent our Saturday at the SoWa open market. Each stall has a unique set of goods What is it like being selected for this doors and lead me to better opportunities Yap Junliang and Yu Huixin, on display, from vintage and handmade crafts to trendy, modern apparel. internship at Yale? in the future. Who inspires you in your studies? both second-year Diploma in An eventful Sunday was spent at the Cambridgeside Gallera, one of the best shopping T (Tiffany): I’m truly honoured to be given T: My lecturer, Dr Tan Eng Lee and Biotechnology students who were malls in Boston and a must-visit for shopaholics. the opportunity to experience what life is What did you accomplish from this everyone in the R&D industry. So that like at a prestigious university. Being in Yale internship at Yale? includes Einstein! selected for the 11-week long 23 July & 24 July is something we thought we could only T: We were exposed to doing lab research R: The feeling of wanting to make my attachment. Under the supervision of Visited two of Boston’s main attractions – The New England Aquarium and the Faneuil dream of. Honestly in the beginning, at university level. We learned many new parents proud and to be someone my sisters research scientists, both of them will Hall Marketplace. The aquarium is defi nitely worth a visit for marine life enthusiasts. I was unsure if I’d be able to cope with the things not covered in the poly syllabus. can look up to, motivates me to be better. My favourite exhibit is the giant tank housing huge sea creatures. Each exhibit is created to stress of being in such an environment The supervisors and laboratory colleagues undertake research projects such resemble the natural habitat of the different animals. The Marketplace is probably the best without family members and good friends there were all very helpful. Any advice for students who will be as a molecular cloning. got place to get Boston souvenirs such as the classic Boston tees, pullovers and sweatpants. by my side. The trip has taught me to make be going for internships at prestigious We didn’t miss out on the magnifi cent horse carriages. sacrifi ces in order to achieve my dreams. What is it about Yale that interests you? institutions? them to pen short notes on their trip. R (Rabiatul): Yale is one of the top T: Defi nitely the rare chance to learn from T: The most important thing is to enjoy 14 August universities in the world. Even though it’s the people at Yale, a top class institution what you are doing, because that is what We’re halfway through our internship programme in Boston and already missing Singapore! just an internship, I felt really honoured with a long history and legacy of producing will push you to strive harder towards your Dr Jonathan Loh, an SP alumnus now attached to Harvard Medical School, to be selected. I’m grateful for this top nobel prizes laureates. goal. Also remember to work hard and was sooooo kind! He brought us to a popular restaurant in Chinatown where we opportunity and hope it will open new play hard! tucked into Singaporean-style dishes.

23 Shangri-La Paradise

If I were to suggest a two-week stay in Shangri-la, one would probably think of a luxurious stay in an extremely comfortable fi ve-star hotel, or maybe even seven-star. In a 1933 novel by James Hilton, Shangri-la has been described ‘to have certain congruence to a sort of utopian land where there is perpetual harmony and happiness’. Simply, it’s heaven on earth.

For two weeks, I was in Ringha Valley in Yunnan Province, China, with fellow SP students and lecturers. Google describes that the place was given the Shangri-la label to attract tourists. Their mission for the 25-strong team was to build some toilets for families living there. You see, even in paradise you need proper sanitation.

Setting foot on the mountainous terrain for the fi rst time, we defi nitely weren't convinced that the place - ground littered with animal waste and houses made with earth and wood - was any sort of paradise. Hygiene would laugh and spur each other on to was not a prime issue to the villagers. come up, acting noticeably shy as they Many were in the same attire day did and subsequently blew us away with after day. Taking a shower was not a their amazingly powerful voices. daily routine for them. fi nish building the toilets on schedule, much to our satisfaction. I am truly awed by the strength of the Their houses lacked almost everything that villagers. Despite all the harshness of living in we think is basic. Electricity was intermittent Despite the less-than-desired conditions, it Ringha Valley, the villagers always had a smile and cooking was done over a wood stove. was still a lovely experience. We discovered on their faces. If anyone needs a helping There were no such things as a video game soon enough that the true beauty of hand, there’s always one stretching out. They or computer. Shangri-la was not the weather, are generous with cheerful calls of tashidelek, architecture, or environment. Rather, it’s the which means a blessing of good fortune in The altitude was a killer too. It wasn't easy people. Look at the picture of the kids and Tibetan language. working over three kilometres above sea their happy faces! destination: level. The air was cold and thin. The nights We urban folks learned so much from Simplicity were freezing and the accommodation was We had the chance to mingle with the them. The trip has taught us to appreciate (ironically) a far cry from the comfort of a villagers in the evenings for cultural life in Singapore. Although the villagers live Shangri-la hotel room. sharing. Even though they spoke little a simple life, they are happier than many CHINA Chinese and we couldn't understand their of us. It certainly taught me that simplicity is Happiness There were hardly any power tools to aid native Tibetan dialect, the sharing was is happiness. story by: JARAD LIM/DIPLOMA IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING us in our work. Instead, there were only particularly enlightening to us. Whatever humans, a bunch of pickaxes and shovels. barriers that existed collapsed and we Whatever James Hilton wrote back in 1933 writer Jarad Lim recalls his rudimentary experience in The work was strenuous and we were out ended up singing - alternating between is probably true. Shangri-la does exist. of our comfort zones. Still, we managed to the Tibetan and Singaporean singers. They a place that is believed to be paradise on earth. It’s in the people.

25 Silat Player

For those who are clueless, what is Silat all about? Silat is a form of martial arts of with Malay origins. In the olden days, it was One of the practised purely for self-defence. Today, it is practised for fi tness and passion for the culture too. There are hundreds of different styles of Silat but most are World’s Top focussed on strikes, joint manipulation, bladed weapons, throws, animal-based Warriors techniques, or combinations of these. In competitions there are usually two is in categories, the artistic and the match. For SP! match category, two competitors have to One look at Nur Fazlin Juma’en and compete in three rounds and whoever wins two rounds is declared the winner. The you would never suspect that she’s artistic category is the total opposite. The a martial arts expert. The petite entire category is choreographed into a three-minute performance and is made up and soft-spoken lady is a member of two or three participants in a team. The of the national Silat team and is fi rst component is a solo demonstration by the currently ranked third in the each team member, while the second is a choreographed sparring item. The last is a always gave me extra help when I needed What’s your fi ve-year plan? world. chats with a group demonstration by all three members. it and they will make sure that I was not left I plan to continue my studies in the university world class winner. behind in my studies. I will maximise my and become an engineer when I graduate. Silat is one of the sports included in the time and take the opportunity to catch up I’m already the resident engineer at home story by: Southeast Asian Games and other region- on my school work every night before I go when my family members run into problems WENDELL WEE/DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION wide competitions. I hope it’ll be eventually COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY to bed. with their broadband network. My other included in the Olympic Games. ultimate wish is to be the world champion Wow, you sound like someone who’s in Silat. I guess that is achievable if I put my Congratulations for achieving the Number 3 world To be crowned the SP Sportswoman of very dedicated to both studies and heart and soul to it since I’m almost there. ranking! How did you get there? the Year means you did well on both the sports. What else do you do apart from It came as a surprise to me actually. I was up against favourites academic and CCA fronts. How did you studying and Silat? from countries like Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia at the World manage to balance both? (Laughs) I actually hang out like everyone Pencak Silat Championship held in Jakarta just a few months back. I’ve been juggling studies and sports even else. During non-competition periods, I Most of the competitors were in their twenties and naturally they before I came to SP. I was taught how watch movies. Cartoons and comedies are Nur Fazlin is a fi nal-year student from the had more competition experience. It was my fi rst senior competition. I to manage my time properly when I was my favourites! I also go to Starbucks with Diploma in Information Communication prepared myself well by training very hard and keeping to a healthy diet. with the Singapore Sports School. It was my friends, you know! But unfortunately Technology. I had to forgo junk food and ate more meat and vegetables to maintain my tough at fi rst but since it’s for my own for me, these times are rare as training and stamina. It also meant that I had to sacrifi ce my time with my friends. It was good, I have to be disciplined enough to school took up most of my time. Heartiest congratulations to Fazlin for school, training and more training. I’m glad that all my efforts paid off  keep to my schedule. achieving two Gold medals (for doubles Since Silat is a contact sport, what’s the event and team event) at the 1st Asian When did you fi rst start out in Silat? Although I’m away once a month for worst injury that you’ve sustained? Pencak Silat Championship held in July. Way back in Primary 2, I always thought that Silat was a fun sport. Someone competitions, I never had any special Sorry to disappoint but I only suffered a passed me a fl yer, I just signed up for it. The training would be tough if you’re treatment in class nor get extended sprained ankle. When I was in the junior That’s not all. She also brought back not disciplined. As I grew older, I love the sport even more and I really don’t deadlines from my lecturers. I’m very team, I was competing in the match another Gold medal (women’s doubles) know what I’ll do if I’m not practising Silat now. thankful for the wonderful lecturers and category but shifted to the artistic category at the International Pencak Silat classmates who kept me in the loop when when I joined the senior team. That means Competition 2011 held in Kuala Lumpur. I was away for competitions. The lecturers I would be less prone to serious injuries.

27 Soaring Plane Socializing Pleasure

An eventful and Einstein, Not glamorous but he’s three-year Intelligent journey too This boyish student was secretly wishing that by the time he graduated from SP, he would be involved in a glamorous event that would blow his mind away. After all, it Albert Einstein was born in 1879. in Aeronautical was his interest in organising events that made him take up the Diploma in Integrated Ng Yi Ming came to this world 112 years Engineering as my fi rst later in 1991. It was impossible for them choice. Today, I’m certain Events and Project Management at SP three years ago. fi nds out. to cross paths although the latter dreamt to say that I’ve made the Muhammad Zulfaldi Bin Yazab was part Hollywood new fi lms and showcased Asian presentations. about learning from the genius. Not right choice," declares Ng Yi Ming and his course mates were of the student team that was tasked to content to the world. The event was hosted too long ago, they met in Hong Kong, Yi Ming who made the the only poly students invited to display help out at Screen Singapore, a week-long by the Media Development Authority of “In just a few days, all the hard and soft skills specifi cally at the wax museum where decision to join SP after their works at RSAF Open House 2011. international cinema event that premiered Singapore. that we learned over three years were all put Einstein was immortalised. being impressed with its learning facilities when he visited the displayed at this year’s RSAF Open to good use. Organising events takes more House. I also travelled to Beijing for an Never mind that Zul and his team were not than just socialising with people. It’s also Back to reality. Yi Ming has every reason campus during its Open House. industrial attachment with Pratt and involved in conceptualising this major event about what you know and who you know,” to be happy although he didn’t win Whitney, a world leader in manufacturing that brought in big names like Tom Hanks says the ex-student from Coral Secondary. the Nobel Prize like Einstein. But he They say it takes two hands to clap. aircraft engines. I believe the strong and Zhang Ziyi. A signifi cant decision-making clinched the Nanyang Scholarship from While his lecturers believed that Yi Ming’s engineering foundation that SP has role like that would come in future when he Of course, Screen Singapore was not the the Nanyang Technological University self-motivation and positive attitude equipped me with, will surely put me in becomes a professional event organiser. only hands-on project Zul got involved in. to pursue a degree in Mechanical towards learning were the key reasons for good stead for my future endeavours,” Besides conceptualising and executing Engineering with Business. his success, the 20-year-old in turn credits his very passionate lecturers who would says Yi Ming. For Screen Singapore, Zul and his team school events, he was also an active were tasked to help in the media centre member of Sinema Show Off, a thematic It didn’t seem that diffi cult for him to turn up at 7am to help with his school While he’s not putting pressure on which gave constant updates on the event movie screening event that SP organises win the scholarship. After all, he got 29 work and projects. himself to become a genius like Einstein, via social media platforms such as Facebook with the Sinema Old School. His role distinctions out of 43 modules over the he certainly wants to create an impact in and Twitter from the offi cial venue, Capella involved working with his lecturer to curate three years in SP. This is a signifi cant “If I have one word to describe my time the fi nance industry with his engineering Singapore on Sentosa. They made the suitable fi lms for screening. achievement for the ex-Monfort at SP, it would surely be ‘awesome’. skills. No confl ict there, because he has most out of their time stationed there. From Secondary School student who joined SP Besides learning about engineering done his research and knows very well the sides, they witnessed how the event Zul is now serving national service and he with 11 points aggregate score. concepts in lectures, I also had the opportunity to develop a miniature that engineers do fl ourish in the world of organisers worked with various parties to get hopes to study for a degree in marketing or “Three years ago, I chose SP’s Diploma afterburner as a project which was banking and fi nance. things done. Anything, from receiving VIPs fi nance thereafter before plunging himself to ensuring banquet rooms were ready for into the world of events, once again.

29 hat’s the big deal with being a scholar besides not paying school fees? They still have to queue up for their meals at food courts. They still take the MRT to Singapore Polytechnic (SP). For many CALL ME A of the SP scholars, it goes beyond Wshouldering the scholar tag. After all, this elite bunch had the choice SCHOLAR of joining top junior colleges after their ‘O levels. It might have been one of their life’s key decisions (at 16!) to join Singapore’s fi rst polytechnic. And since they got their fi rst choice, why not make the best out of it by taking up the scholarship and enjoy the SP Scholar experience?

SCHOLARS Each year, scholarships are given out to students with stellar ‘O’ level results and CCA records. Besides tuition fee and notebook laptop subsidies (did you know new students can buy either PCs or Macs?), the scholarship package also includes participation in the SP Outstanding Talent SO (SPOT) Programme, a talent development and enrichment programme that will turn even the timid ones into leaders. They don’t call this SPOT for nothing!

The pioneer batch of SP Scholars graduated this year. WHAT? Among them is Jonathan Tan, the Mechanical Engineering graduate who is aiming for a place at a prestigious overseas university. He describes his experience in SP as “meaningful and memorable.” We are sure he’s not referring to fi nding dates for movie outings.

“I found my passion and drive during my three years here. I’m pretty sure that played a part for me to do well. I was recently offered the DSTA Are scholars a royal breed? Is it still a (Defence Science and Technology Agency). Scholarship. This is an affi rmation that SP prestigious tag? After all, don’t we often has the capabilities to produce top notch students,” says the ex-Victoria School associate scholars with nerds? writer student who joined SP with an aggregate Shamus Lee discovers that SP scholars are score of just fi ve points. way too cool to be called nerds! There’s no such thing as a free lunch. The SP Scholar has to shoulder great story by: responsibilities and expectations. SHAMUS LEE/DIPLOMA IN BIOTECHNOLOGY In class, the notes and tutorials of a scholar are frequently sought after as revision materials. On the other hand, lecturers set high expectations on scholars to ace and score distinctions in the modules. Outside class, a scholar has to juggle both his academic and non-academic commitments SIM EE LIANG; completely. Sometimes, the First-year Diploma in scholar hears Applied Drama and Psychology student 31 and SP Scholar remarks like “they all nerdy nerdy ones!”. Well, these are challenges that will defi ne and stretch the potential of our scholars.

Lim Yi Hao, a recent Banking and Financial Services graduate and member of the winning team that won the recent SIM National Management Competition, feels that the holistic approach in the SPOT curriculum had prepared him for the upcoming challenges in life. He said: “SPOT has equipped me with the right tools to deal with anything thrown at me.”

See the world. Isn’t this the dream of all youth like you? SP Scholars are also globetrotters. DON’T Under the COPY MY NOTES! SP Scholars 2011

These are just some success stories of our SP Scholars. Want to be a SP Scholar? Inspired? Motivated? With these glowing testimonials from his  Singaporean or Permanent Resident predecessors, newly-anointed Scholar Sim Ee Liang is confi dent  Have outstanding CCA records (B3 and above) SPOT programme, they participate in community service that SP will provide him a well-rounded learning experience and  Show strong leadership potential projects in countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh. They also develop his potential to the fullest.  Outstanding GCE ‘O’ Level results of 10 and below for L1R4 get industry exposure through internships in China and get to visit places as far away as the United States for study trips. Adds the Diploma in Applied Drama and Psychology student What are the different SP Scholarships? who took his ‘O’ levels at Clementi Town Secondary and scored  SP Scholarship Final-year Aerospace Engineering student Brandon Wong A1 for Maths, A-Maths and Literature: “I think the scholarship  SP Engineering Scholarship had the opportunity to be in Beijing, China, for his Industrial is a great incentive for us to work hard. With so many exciting A passion for Engineering and good grades in Maths and Science Attachment Programme (ITP). “I grabbed the opportunity to opportunities in SPOT, I am looking forward to be groomed as a  SP-ITE Scholarships do my ITP in China in order to gain exposure and experiences well-learned scholar.” He hopes to participate in the Model United Excellent NITEC or Higher NITEC results that will be useful for my further studies. Scholars are usually Nations Conference held overseas, an annual event arranged for (ITE’s gold medalists will automatically qualify) “I think the scholarship given priority for overseas attachments and sometimes with those in the SPOT programme.  SP Sports Scholarship additional subsidies as well,” reveals Brandon, who joined SP  SP Music and Arts Scholarship is a great incentive from Damai Secondary with an aggregate point of seven. So you see, being a SP Scholar has its privileges. It’s not for us to work hard. about getting a blank cheque to buy all that you want. Neither What you will get During her graduating year in SP, Sue-Ann Lee, an alumna does it get you a bigger frappuccino at Starbucks@SP.  Full tuition fee sponsorship With so many exciting from the Diploma in Aerospace Electronic, ventured to It is all about turning you into a CAR – a Confi dent, Accomplished  Notebook PC subsidy of $1,000 opportunities in SPOT, Bangladesh for a community service project. She felt the and Ready individual who will create a positive impact and make a  Participation in exciting local and overseas SPOT programmes importance to reach out to the community as a youth. difference anywhere in the world.  Subsidies for enrichment and training programmes I am looking forward to “The SPOT programme provides us with opportunities to  A rewarding future, new friends and loads of fun! be groomed as a well- give back to society,”she shares. Sue-Ann, who joined SP Sure? Of course! At SP - its So Possible. from Tanjong Katong Secondary, will be pursuing her degree learned scholar.” programme at the newly set-up Singapore University of SIM EE LIANG Technology and Design. 33 SPOT students on Brooklyn Bridge in MY SP snow-capped New York City! SCHOLAR JOURNEY Jonathan Tan, a fresh graduate from the Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, sums up his feelings as a SP Scholar in this speech that he gave at the SP Scholarship Presentation Ceremony held in July. It’s so well said that the editor did not even need to edit it.

“I am humbled to be given this opportunity day, it is essential, and it is over them that Lastly, have a hunger for more. For to speak at today’s ceremony. I would like you will put on the clothes of teach-ability, most of you, a diploma will offer only an to share with all of you three key learning competence and responsibility. intermediate level of challenge. I challenge points for me while I was in SP, and the you to take up more side activities to possible challenges that you might face as Secondly, build relationships. During improve yourself. For me, I took up the WHAT IS a SP scholar. your three years in SP, you will observe challenge of the WorldSkills Competition, a very special breed and subsidiary of an international competition that displays Firstly, always be humble. When I was fi rst homosapiens – polytechnic students. Poly the best vocational skills. I clinched the gold awarded the Scholarship three years ago, students are a very varied bunch, in terms medal and got the opportunity to represent it gave me a new confi dence. But somehow, of scale for academics, physical, vocal Singapore at WorldSkills London 2011. this stimulated a growth in my head size, levels and even fashion. in a way that science cannot explain. Let me I have many friends who have this similar Bernard Lim, a SPOT student from SPOT? share more about my humbling experience. Somehow, everyone will know you’re a hunger for more than a diploma. I have a the Diploma in Creative Writing for scholar, and you will be one of the fi rst friend who is a national sailor, and despite TV and New Media, went to New What if I’m SPOTted? In my fi rst year, I was given the opportunity to be approached for consultation during his long hours of training at sea, was able York for the Princeton Model United Basically, you undergo a specially structured talent and enrichment curriculum that includes to participate in the Poly Forum. Being the exam periods. Your tutorials will be highly to do well academically and became one of Nations in December 2010. exposures to current affairs, leadership development programmes, and public speaking only Year 1 student to attend the Forum, scrutinised and photocopied. In this, you’re this year’s top graduates. I know of people and presentation training. You will also get many exclusive opportunities to participate I have to admit that I felt proud, and to in a greatly advantageous position to help who have stepped off the beaten track and What is SPOT? in overseas community service projects, high-profi le youth conferences and dialogue some extent, arrogant. It was in this your friends. But don’t just give. Teach. chartered their development and success, Certainly not the prints on a leopard’s sessions both locally and overseas. setting that I was taught the great lesson of Each semester, I would compile my notes fuelled by this hunger. The opportunities torso. Nor is it designed to put you in a humility. for certain more diffi cult topics or modules, given by SP are endless. And all the more, tight spot. The SPOT programme focuses on three domains to groom individuals of character. and I would share these with students who as scholars, you are at an elevated starting As a engineering student, one of the request for them or require assistance. But point. So make full use of the opportunities! SPOT, or SP Outstanding Talent, is a Leader: You will go through a customised leadership camp that is held overseas. modules I took was Mechanics 1, which I would leave blanks in some of the main specially-tailored programme developed The camp features a value-based leadership model using Sean Coveys’ 7 Habits for Highly is a very fundamental topic in my course. points and spaces for diagrams. These I would like to share this little nugget as in 2008, as a platform to develop SP’s Effective Youths to hone your Leadership soft skills. At the camp, you will do activities like Towards the end of the Poly Forum, when are just little ways to engage and help the I conclude. I have always believed in the I received my Semester 1 results, I realised people around you. strengths and merits of a polytechnic brightest students into well-rounded Jetty Jump (where you can jump of a 9m jetty deck!) and participate in an outdoor camp to to my horror, that I had scored a C+. And it education. Polytechnics are the places individuals who distinguish themselves help you get out of your comfort zones and learn about teamwork! was in this instant that I realised my pride More importantly, treasure your friends. where you fi nd people with the real passion as Leaders, Humanitarians and had grown out of proportion. I do have a deep regret for not making the and drive in what they do. Communicators. Humanitarian: You are encouraged to help the less fortunate via overseas community effort to get to know some people better, service trip. There are many openings to take part in service learning activities that will Although many of you will soon fi nd that as like my fi rst year classmate who passed As SP scholars, never settle for mediocrity. All SP Scholars are automatically develop your heart and mind. long as you put in suffi cient effort and time away recently. If we think that the best Use every opportunity given to develop placed on this exciting programme. In in your studies, an A is never out of reach. things in life are the little things, then we’re and challenge yourself and strive for the addition, with so many bright sparks at Communicator: From 2012, SPOT students will undergo a tailor-made General Education But always remember to be humble and wrong. The best things in life aren’t even best. In this way, I’m sure you will fi nd SP, another group of fi rst-year students module that is modeled after the Model United Nations programme. You will obtain a wider gracious in your accomplishments. Humility things, they are people. your SP learning journey a meaningful and with outstanding O-Level results and and deeper understanding of current affairs and signifi cant global issues under the special is like the undergarment we wear every memorable experience.” CCA records are also invited to enroll in module. You will get a chance to go on a 10-day study trip to complete the GenEd module - JONATHAN TAN this prestigious programme. and also represent SP at the Model United Nation Conferences held in China Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2011 and United States! Formerly from Victoria School 35 SCHOLARLY PROOF Lye Yi Hao, from the pioneer batch of SP Scholars who graduated this year, gives

Shamus in Dubai (left) and Boston. evidence on how his SP Scholar journey has moulded him into a confi dent and THE GUY ready individual. SPOT When Lye Yi Hao joined SP in 2008, he set expectations on himself to do well. But things didn’t go his way – he did far better. Many would call it an WELL- TRAVELLED excellent performance. Recapping his SP experience would result in a long Shamus Lee, a fi nal-year student from the Diploma in Biotechnology, list but it would defi nitely inspire the batch of new SP Scholars. a SPOT student and a journalist. He shares how the programme 2008-2009 has given him a truly holistic experience as a poly student.  Awarded the SP Scholarship.  Inducted into the SP Outstanding Programme (SPOT). I joined the SPOT programme in 2009. Early this year, I was also privileged to Singapore in a global conference held in  Participated in dialogue sessions with government leaders. Why bother, if u asked me. Why not, I will represent SP at the Harvard Model United Dubai for university students. The SPOT  Took part in Leadership Camp held in Malaysia. tell you. After all, it’s not every day that Nation Conference held in Boston, United programme had also taught me to think  Expressed his views as a participant in Poly Forum. someone will offer to make you a confi dent States. The conference was a huge eye- analytically, a skill which came in handy leader. Simply, I just want to develop my opener to all of us. All the participants, when I had to write a critical analysis 2009-2010 potential beyond getting good grades for which came from universities all over the paper to qualify the conference. Perks  Participated in various business and management competitions at tertiary level. world, had to take on the role of diplomats of being at the conference? Besides the my diploma course.  Group Leader for Pre-University Seminar. “The SP Scholar and SPOT from different countries to present and networking opportunities and attending  Awarded Certifi cate of Merit in NUS National Economics and Finance Programme have given me As a SPOT student, I was given aplenty debate on current issues. Fortunately, keynote addresses by accomplished Management Quiz. of opportunities to attend prestigious we, the only students that came from a world leaders likeTony Blair, we were  Taught children English in Siam Reap, Cambodia, under a community a truly holistic experience. youth leadership events held here and polytechnic, held our grounds as SPOT all invited to Abu Dhabi for a gala-dinner service programme. The breadth and depth of overseas. Throughout my fi rst two years has trained us to be well-versed in world accompanied with dazzling fi reworks and the Programme moulded me in SP, I have taken all three modes of affairs. We applied critical thinking and cultural performances! 2010-2011 into a well-informed person transportation to different places – a bus reasoning skills when we stood in front  Completed Diploma-Plus Programme in Applied Psychology. in areas from arts to critical ride to Malaysia, a bumpy boat-trip to of a committee to address an issue. Most If I have to fi nd an analogy to describe  Participated in Islamic Banking study trip in Kuala Lumpur. Telunas in Indonesia and fl ying more than importantly, it boosted my confi dence in my SPOT journey, it is like riding a roller- thinking to world affairs.  Led SP champion team in the SIM National Management Competition. Stepping out into the real 4,500km to New York City! public speaking to higher level. coaster. It is fi lled with ups and downs.  President for the Dear Bintan Community Service Project. world, I can confi dently say The ups allow me to see the world from  Obtained admission into NUS to study Business Administration and Together with 20 other SPOT students, Being a SPOT student also gave me a different perspective. The downs keep accepted the University Scholars Programme. that the Programme has I was in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the priority to attend other exclusive me grounded to the reality that there are equipped me with the right teaching English to some 140 primary seminars like the annual Polytechnic other people less fortunate. As future tools to deal with anything school students, as part of the English for Forum. The fi ve-day forum in Malaysia leaders, we must stretch our hands to Lye Yi Hao joined SP from Damai Secondary with an aggregate score of thrown at me.” Everyone Festival inauguration ceremony brought together students from the fi ve reach out to them. six points. With his outstanding ‘O’ level results that include 4As, he took organised by Mercy Relief. We designed polytechnics to discuss national issues up the Diploma in Banking and Financial Services and applied successfully - LYE YI HAO our own curriculum and teaching related to Singapore. I’m going to be SPOTless soon when I to be a SP Scholar. Just recently, he was accepted into the National SP Scholar who plays football materials from scratch. We taught using graduate in a few months’ time. To all University of Singapore’s University Scholars Programme. games and interactive activities to impart Challenging ourselves to go beyond our my SPOTty friends and the unbelievably (supports Arsenal) and the speaking and presentation skills to the comfort zone is also one of the many intelligent yet caring lecturers who guided guitar too. Vietnamese students. qualities of SPOT students. I was the only us, thank you for making my polytechnic 37 polytechnic student selected to represent experience different from the rest.  Celebrating the SINGAPORE Spirit! Let the SPirit fl ow! Scenic Personification Snow Peaks

Pura Vida! Ahoy! From SP to Harvard! Alaska Second-year Nautical Studies student Yeo Zi Jun went on a six-month attachment Hola!Time flies and I’m now a sophomore at Harvard. I am currently attending summer school in Costa Rica with a fund from Harvard’s David Rockefeller International Experience Grants. on board the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl bound for Alaska. She wrote back to her With its phenomenal endowment, Harvard has not only opened its doors to students like instructor Captain K Nirmal Raj. got hold of the email. me who otherwise would not have had this chance to study at this prestigious university. It also opened other doors of great opportunities like this Costa Rican experience. My training officer is 1st officer Vicente Victoria BC. I will go visit Alaska when I'm Dear Capt Raj, Amicone from Uruguay. He's only 25 but a less busy. Surprisingly, I'm more excited Being at Harvard is already an overseas experience for me but studying at Costa Rica is I flew to Hong Kong and Los Angeles really good navigator. The Captain always staying back in the ship and learning from totally different. For one, I need to use Spanish to be understood there. The country is a before landing in Seattle and fetched to goes along with the decisions that Vicente the bridge officers than going ashore. tropical paradise known for its great beaches, rainforests and mountains. The people and the ship. makes,so that is really quite impressive. Take care! culture of course add to the natural beauty. Costa Ricans or Ticos in particular, are known to

be very positive, friendly and full of life. The national catchphrase is pura vida which translates This is my second week on board the I live with three cabin mates from India, to pure life and a phrase to convey “everything’s great!” Norwegian Pearl and I am already learning South Africa and the Philippines. The girls This beautiful picture was Best regards, a lot of things. Bridge instruments, mooring from India and South Africa are really nice taken by Zuriakin Zeng, an SP While here, I’ve been backpacking on weekends to places like Manuel Antonio National Park, stations, and a great mix of accents from all and we are actually quite close now. I've Monteverde and Arenal and experiencing some of the most breath-taking sceneries that I have Yeo Zi Jun alumnus who is also the first over the world. I worked eight hours a day, made friends with so many people - chief ever seen in my life. I chanced upon the few remaining squirrel monkeys in the world. I had a crash getting up at eight and getting off at five carpenter, staff chief engineer, deck polytechnic student admitted course on tropical biology in the rainforests. I went on a canopy tour. I learned how to surf. because there’s a rule that bridge officers boys, pilots, and even some musicians

to Harvard University. cannot work for more than eight hours a day! from Poland and Saint Lucia. It can be I was travelling alone most of the time which can be quite dangerous as there are opportunists Besides being awarded a overwhelming sometimes but I'm quite who prey on tourists. And this is where skills and the street-smart sense that I developed from The ship is departing from Glacier Bay and used to it now. Being from Singapore is full scholarship from the SP’s Community Service Project in the Philippines have come into good use. Compared to the heading towards Ketchikan, Alaska. We will a BIG deal here. For reasons unknown friends that I knew here, I think I’ve been experiencing more and yet spending less. I’m glad I prestigious university, he also reach there by 6am. to me, I have people looking at my came out to explore and I would encourage you to do likewise when the opportunities come. nametag and saying, "Oh my God, you're clinched another grant to This is not what you can learn from a classroom. The Captain of the Norwegian Pearl is Capt. from Singapore!" study Spanish at Costa Rica Rune Edvin Myre and he's from Norway. during summer. He took time I never really spoke with him but he seems These are pictures that I took when moving Saudos, to pen a short note really friendly and instils confidence in all into Glacier Bay, Alaska. It's really beautiful Kuriakin Zeng the officers like a true captain. but cold. So far I've only gone ashore in from the beautiful Latin CLASS OF 2009, DIPLOMA IN ELECTRONICS, COMPUTER AND America country. COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

41 Sheer Passion

it into a business? It originally started off as a pastime selling cards on the net all by myself. During peak periods, business became so good that I had to work late nights and over the weekends and holidays to fi nish the orders. But I was unsure whether to start taking this My more seriously, so I kept my full-time job for awhile.

What makes you turn this into a Hobby full-time business? My It started when I participated in the Enterprise Challenge 2009 organised by SP and won the Enterprise Winner and Most Creative Business Prize in the alumni category. Thereafter, SP encouraged me to take part in the Young Business and even help to publicise Stirring Hearts; world would help. For sure you can start Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) managed they just want to see my business fl ourish. a business without working experience or by SPRING Singapore which provides I’m really grateful. formal business education, but the path funding for business startups by young would defi nitely be harder. entrepreneurs. I took a big leap of faith You studied Business Admin in SP. when I applied for the scheme by quitting Was it helpful to your business startup? What advice would you give my job before I even got the funding. I Of course! The knowledge and skills I budding entrepreneurs? actually started 2010 jobless! My family learned from SP Business School were When starting a business we would pressured me into getting the business very useful, especially accounting and surely face hardships. What counts is the up and running or fi nd a new job. Ereen Toh graduated from SP Business School with a Does it take long to make cards? marketing. However, theoretical learning right attitude and perseverance until your Thankfully, I got the funding approved Diploma in Business Administration in 2005. After all, you need to mass-produce isn’t holistic enough. Experience is the other business takes off. in February. for retail and corporate orders. key factor. So I think a stint in the corporate She founded Stirring Hearts, a SP-nurtured business that We have moved into the corporate market makes greeting cards, gifts and runs creative workshops. instead of doing only retail. When we You quit your job before you got the get an order, the designer will come up grant from SPRING. Were you that For her, there is no better way to express love and with a prototype based on the client’s confi dent of your business? Editor’s note: emotions via a personalised handmade card. Judging requirements. Once approved, the No! On the contrary, it was never a sure Stirring Heart is nurtured by SP under the Young Entrepreneurship from the success thus far, writer Jarad Lim production team, which comprises mostly win; whether the grant would be approved, housewives and students, takes over. whether the business would take off. Scheme (YES) for StartUps. It was believes she is right! Depending on the order size, we may Let me tell you it’s not easy getting the featured in the main media that make the cards using an assembly line grant from SPRING; they don’t give it to includes The Straits Times, story by: JARED LIM/ DIPLOMA IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING format, which shortens the time we need you easy. You have to spend a lot of MediaCorp Ch 8 and Channel U. to produce each card. The cards are then effort doing up business plans, fi nancial What is Stirring Hearts about? own photographs. One of our bestsellers sent for quality control and packaged for statements – stuff like that. We produce handmade greeting cards is the customised pens where you can delivery. SP gave me much support throughout. that create heartwarming moments choose a colour and add your name. My lecturers mentored me and helped me for others. It could be for birthdays, For those who would like to make Why do you want to start this with the presentations by reading through expressing love, celebrating friendship their own cards, we run workshops on unique business? my documents and criticising them. or just a thank you. They also come in card-making and scrapbooking for I’d say it’s a combination of my passion The offi ce space was provided rent-free, the form of photo frames cards where everyone - children, students and in crafts and wanting to start a business. including renovation and furniture. customers can insert their corporate customers. I love cards and crafts, so why not turn They didn’t expect anything in return

43 Strong Physique

when you are older. You wouldn’t want to start feeling pains or panting when you are carrying your kids at, say, thirty something?

What are your long term goals for this business? Definitely to be a millionaire, if this is not too far-fetched! Seriously though, I hope to turn Body au Naturel fitness into a lifestyle. I want to inculcate a desire to work out not just for vanity sake but for personal wellness. We all live a It was just four years ago that Jason Chee graduated from SP. He’s only 23 and is already a hectic and stressful life, so sweating out is businessman. catches up with the hunk with the killer-bod. the best way to de-stress. In short, we hope to make you look good and feel good. You studied chemical process technology developed during my poly days is useful in SP but now you started a gym called to me now, rather than the technicality of With a better physique after years of Our gym is not a conventional gym BodiEs. How is this progressing? the diploma. hard work in the gym, I decided to give like the others. We want to develop a Back when I was pursuing my diploma in SP, I modelling and pageants a shot. I joined hub, where our clients can train, relax thought that Singapore’s sporting and fitness When do you start developing an Manhunt 2009 and won the Mr Physique or even hold their meetings here. We industry wasn’t doing well and didn’t have interest in fitness? Was it because of the title; I was Mr Physique and the overall have comfortable couches, a relaxing much potential. Hence, I took up the Diploma contest you joined? winner in Calendar Guys 2010; and the environment and a steam room to in Chemical Process Technology (now known I was already very much into sports when Cleo Bachelor 2011 where I was the unwind after a tiring day at work. as Diploma in Applied Chemistry with I was in secondary school and in SP. I Bachelor with the hardest bod. Joining Pharmaceutical Science) instead. I believe played all kinds of sports from basketball various pageants will keep me on my toes Do you think men who gym regularly the course offers good career options so I to rock climbing to swimming. I started and push me to maintain the best shape are vain? decided to try it out. However, my passion hitting the gym when my basketball team that I can have. To some extent, all of us are vain. for fitness got the better of me. After my mate proposed that we build ourselves up Otherwise there won’t be mirrors around most happy to offer $45 to SP students exercises to strengthen it. Cut down on fast national service, I took up courses related to physically for the team. However, I joined As a fitness enthusiast, I want to let people anymore. I wouldn’t say men who hit the since it’s my alma mater  food for supper. It might be quite a long and fitness and wellness. That was how I started an outside team as it provides more free know that anyone can achieve their desired gym regularly are there for the vanity factor. painful process but after seeing the results, everything. I started off as a trainer and just play than going for rigid trainings if I was in physique if they put their heart and soul If they want to build a nice physique, I think What are the most difficult muscles to you will never want to be your previous recently opened my own gym. Business the school team. The process was quite fun into it. Besides having a nice bod, you they are being smart! So, boys and men, develop in a man’s body? self again. is picking up. We just started BodiEs but and interesting and continued all the way will also gain self-confidence and a better and girls too, start going to the gym soon! It’s definitely the abdominal muscles, the BodiEs is at Yo:Ha@Jurong having worked as a trainer previously and my until now. posture which will help you in the long run much sought after six-pecs. The abdominal Jurong East Avenue 1 #03-01. Opening exposures in modelling and pageants helped Will you be interested to coach SP area has more organs than other parts of hours 7am to 10pm from Mon to Fri; students if approached? the body, so naturally most of the fats will give it a push. 9am to 5pm on Sun. Most definitely, I think poly students at be deposited there when ingested in order There are four of us in this business. We their age are at the right time to start gym to protect the organs there. In order to Full gym facilities including free weights, are all from the same field of expertise. training. They can take up gym training as a have a six-pec abdomen, you have to lose machines, lockers and steam room. Having more heads gives us more ideas at sport and engage in it religiously. After all, the overall fat percentage to around eight Enquires at 68998306 or times rather than an individual. you guys have a nice gym with a pool just percent and also do a variation of abdominal [email protected] next to it. As a SP alumnus, I would love to Do you think your diploma has helped get in touch with the current students and your business in any way? educate them about fitness. They are most SPECIAL PROMO FOR SP STUDENTS welcome to drop by at my gym. I had to be meticulous in the practical Instead of paying the $50 monthly membership, get a special pre-paid card for only $35 that training for my diploma course. So that part entitles you to 10 sessions in a one-month period. Card is transferable and you can share How much do you charge for personal actually helped in some ways because I it with friends. Each card comes with one complimentary personal training session if you training sessions? would go into minute details when I set up bring along a friend who signs up. But take note that if you come after 4.30pm, you can Our hourly rates for personal training is $70. my business. It is the attitude that I have use the gym for two hours in order to ease the jam after office hours (except for Sundays). For enquiries, call 68998306. For students we are offering $50. But I’m

45 Steering Power

group (abs), chest and back muscles. Each training session cannot go beyond three hours, otherwise fatigue and exhaustion will set in.

Surprisingly, Nigel says the arm muscle is not a core body area for them. “The strength that we need comes from the bigger muscle groups, not the arms. This is a misconception because all of us have big arms which is quite natural after extensive training. Many people still think we depend on our biceps to row,” he explains.

Another myth – don’t assume dragonboaters are good swimmers. According to Nigel, the percentage of boat capsizing is really low and they put on life jackets all the time. And there’s also the safety drills that they practise during training.

These boys are rowing boats but definitely not While we believe that a beefy body Nigel Lo, SP Dragonboat Men’s team captain. gently down the stream. The hunks from the SP equals strength, Nigel says it’s the Dragonboat Team is the reigning champion team mind over body. As Captain, he sets among the polytechnics and ITE. At the POLITE three expectations – personal and team Some of the team members are also in the national team and the national youth One Games 2011, their hungry spirit helped them discipline; commitment to training team. They train under Goh Poh Soon, an ex-national coach for the men’s team clinched the championship held on the waters and the desire to win. All of these, who is now training the national women’s team. off Marina Barrage. This is not all. The boys also he emphasises, are more important triumphed at the Singapore Dragon Boat Race. than strength. He gives an example, Nigel, who joined SP from Holy Innocents High, hopes that their recent victories Stroke “During competition months, we have will inspire more current ‘O’ level students to join the SP team. Those who rowed Sweet victories? Definitely, says Team Captain to discipline ourselves to avoid eating for their secondary school teams would be an easy fit but for those who have no Nigel Lo, a final-year student from the pioneer fried or oily foods. No gassy drinks and experience, it doesn’t matter. Nigel reveals that he only started after joining SP. batch taking the Diploma in Engineering with fast foods as these affect our blood During his secondary school days, he was a track and field athlete who once won One Business. This is their first victory in the POLITE circulation. We go for clean food such the 200m race for his school. Games ever since it was set-up. Last year, they as brown rice and lean meat, with soya only managed a third placing. It was not sheer luck bean, protein shakes or green tea.” Coming up next for the boys is the SAVA International Sprint where they will that steered their boats to victory but hard work participate in the IVP category; followed by the Singapore Regatta in November. and more hard work. The boys are a closely knitted bunch. They will also take part in the Malaysia Putrajaya Race where they hope to better Heart When asked to describe the team in one their third placing in the under 23 category last year. The 27 well-tanned boys trained a punitive six days a week during the competition word, Nigel says “Family.” It’s the family months, sometimes two times a day. The schedule alternates between land and spirit that unites them, not just in training Catch these hunks at the competition venues. If not, you could see them hanging out water training in the Kallang Basin area. Land training consists of hard core endurance but other times whenever a member in Foodcourt 5 or the gym. The beef bods and the tanned bodies – you can’t possibly exercises using weights to train the bigger muscle groups such as the core muscle needs support, emotional or otherwise. miss them.

47 Splendid Performance

With their triumphant win, SP Gusto will THE GUSTO BOSS represent Singapore and compete regionally Behind every club stands a group of dedicated doubts on school work. If you have worked out at the 5th Cheerleading Asia International leaders. SP Gusto’s President Yeo Song Rong, a a study method, you’ll be more productive,” Open 2011. final-yearDiploma in Aeronautical Engineering says the President. student, is one such person While managing SP Gusto is What’s in Cheerleading? who has led the club to many not an easy task, Song Rong SP Gusto is one of the 140 CCA Clubs in outstanding achievements uses his previous experience SP. Formed in 2007, the club currently has during his term of service. of managing a CCA club, about 40 active members who usually train which he had gained from 6.30pm to 9.30pm three times a week. As a SP scholar with a stellar during secondary school, When a competition draws near, the training accumulative GPA of 3.98, to help him deal with any becomes a daily routine. Song Rong has efficiently impromptu challenges. juggled his duties both as a What does it take to be a cheerleader? Song student and club president. “Since Cheerleading is a Rong said there are no hard and fast rules Despite his busy schedule, team sport, any dispute except that those who have background Song Rong has remained in within the team will definitely in athletics or dance would have an added the Director’s List for three affect our teamwork and advantage. The girls especially, have to be consecutive semesters. He training,” says Song Rong. nimble. “Teamwork and communication skills admits facing challenges “Any decision made – be are particularly important when executing when managing time between schoolwork and it good or bad, could affect the whole team stunts. If you’re going to fall, you will know CCA. He makes sure he stays focused in class because everyone has different views and how to fall correctly,” Song Rong adds. and does consistent revisions to keep an active perspectives on an issue. It’s hard but essential learning mind. to convince everyone about your decision.” The Except for floor mats and some wrist and ankle tapes, there’s no other training “It’s important to find the studying method Other than his contribution to SP Gusto, Song equipment. The tapes “act as a guard against Winning that suits you best. I usually head out to places Rong is also an active alumnus in his alma tension on your limbs during stunts because like the library or my friend’s house where we mater, Chung Cheng High School (Yishun), as there are a lot of sharp movements,” says form study groups to revise together and clear a cadet inspector to the NPCC unit. Toss and Turns Clement Lim, a senior team member. “Guys hurt their wrists or fingers when Gusto means vigorous enjoyment in the Besides winning the Overall Champion story by: KYLIE CHIA/DIPLOMA IN things go wrong, while girls performance of an action. And it was this title, SP Gusto was also first in two other MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION usually hurt their ankles and spirit that gave SP Gusto the victory at categories – the Competitive Stunts (Mixed back. Safety is paramount in the 2nd Singapore National Cheerleading Team) and Competitive High School. What does it take to be a cheerleading.” champion of a sport that Championships 2011 organised by the Singapore Sports Council and co-organised by Song Rong is particularly proud that SP Gusto throw and toss people in the Federation of Cheerleading Singapore. managed to beat the stronger university the air? writer Kylie teams. “It is quite a feat to scramble to the “This is the second time we’ve participated in top, judging by the performances put up by Chia speaks with SP Gusto, this competition. We made many mistakes last our competitors,” he says. Preparation for the the reigning national year, so we trained harder this year,” says final- competition was not as smooth-flowing as cheerleading champions. year student Yeo Song Rong. he had wanted. “I’m thankful to our alumnus who motivated the team through telling For those who don’t know him, Song Rong is stories when we were discouraged. And on all brawn and brains - he’s the President of SP the competition day itself, we were thankful Gusto and also a SP scholar from the Diploma to two Open category teams who were in Aeronautical Engineering. generous with dispensing advice.”

49 S P. News Singapore's 1st Poly SP. News 02

SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC 500 DOVER ROAD SINGAPORE 139651 COPYRIGHT © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Cheers to SP Scholars Smooth Ride On The Infocomm Highway

Securing careers in their desired fi elds: Tan Jia Lin (left) and Chan Yik Wai.

Seventy-nine SP students found new batch of scholars at the SP photocopied too. This is just a SP Scholars will receive full Tan Jia Lin from the Diploma in the SP Business School, SP Design in the digital media or Infocomm pursue their degree programmes. out that from now on, their Scholarship Award Ceremony. funny yet true anecdote. Read his tuition fee grants, laptop subsidy Digital Media and Chan Yik Wai School and the School of Digital industry. The scholarship package NIS Scholars will receive a job lecture notes will become precious The Mechanical Engineering speech on page 34. and opportunities to participate in from the Diploma in Games Design Media and Infocomm Technology includes fully-sponsored tuition placement with their sponsors commodities. Thanks to their graduate who intends to pursue a Of the 79, 37 were awarded the programmes under the SPOT (SP and Development are among clinched a whopping 23 out of the fees, an annual allowance, laptop company upon graduation. These newly-anointed status as SP degree overseas after his national SP Engineering Scholarship which Outstanding Talent), a leadership the elite group of 23 SP students 48 scholarships o ered by IDA allowance, and a local or overseas companies are all big-names in the Scholars, they would be highly- service, shared that somehow, is given to students who aspire to and enrichment programme. who were recently awarded the to the polytechnic students. Last attachment of up to six months with digital media and Infocomm sectors, sought after by their course mates everyone would know who the be the design-thinking engineers For insights on SP Scholars, Integrated Infocomm Scholarship year, SP clinched 16 out of the 32 a company or organisation related such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and for advice. This was testified by scholars are and they would be of the future. Three of them turn to page 30. (IIS) o ered by the Infocomm scholarships. The elite group will to their course of study. banks like DBS and UOB. Jonathan Tan, a SP Scholar and approached for consultation during received the SP-ITE Scholarships Development Authority (IDA). pursue a polytechnic-university IDA has also awarded three recent graduate who delivered exam periods. Their tutorials which are given out for the first And YES! Once again SP took path under IDA sponsorship, paving National Infocomm Scholarships an inspiring speech to his the would be highly scrutinised and time to ITE graduates. the lion’s share. Our students from the way for them to pursue a career (NIS) to three SP graduates to A STEP Further To Success Creative Gems First-year Diploma in Universities. SP alumnus Desmond They pursue their passion in music relentlessly and now they are reaping C o m p u t e r Engineering student Thiam, who is now a medical student their rewards. Four outstanding SP recent graduates from the Diploma in Lee Yu Qing was the top winner at in NUS, received the award in the Music and Audio Technology were awarded the Media Education Scheme the Ministry of Education’s Special Polytechnic category last year. Award by the Media Development Authority (MDA) to pursue degree Awards Presentation Ceremony The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship programmes in prestigious overseas universities. 2011 held last month. He scooped To Encourage Upgrading (LKY- Evan Low and Mandric Tan will be heading to Berklee College of up three awards, including the Lee STEP) Award was also presented at Music in the US, while James Lye will study in Keele University in the Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding the ceremony. The Award recognises United Kingdom. Stephanie Koh is already an undergraduate at Full Sail All-Round Achievement. This award outstanding Institute of Technical University, a premier American University famed for its degree programmes was presented for the rst time in Education (ITE) graduates who in arts, music and lm. 2010 to recognise the outstanding have performed well academically Graduates Vicki Lau, Justin Tan and Gavin Yeo also received the academic and non-academic and attained good co-curricular same award at a ceremony held last month. Vicki, from the Diploma in achievements of post-secondary activities records. This year, 15 Digital Media, will pursue her degree in Visual Effects at the prestigious students, with one student each LKY-Step awards were presented to

Picture courtesy of Ministry Education, Singapore. Savannah College of Art and Design. Creative Media Design graduate from Junior Colleges / Millennia ITE graduates now pursuing full- Justin, intends to study communication design at the Royal Melbourne Lee Yu Qing receiving his award from Education Minister Institute, Institute of Technical time studies at the SP. The creative bunch nurtured by SP. From left: Institute of Technology. Heng Swee Keat. Education (ITE), Polytechnics, and Gavin Yeo, James Lye, Evan Low, Grace Lee, Vicki Lau Capping the list of creative honours is Grace Lee Hui Min, a current and Justin Tan nal-year music and audio technology student who received the Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship from MDA. 03 SP. News 04

Tops In A Business Management Class Idea A team of students from SP fellow competitors from other Business School’s Diploma in tertiary institutions. The team, Banking and Financial Services which comprises (in picture from won the top prize at the annual left) Loon Fook Kee, Lye Yi Hao National Management Competition (team leader), Tan Jun Kiat and SP SIFE organised by the Singapore Institute Chan Ker Liang, won $6,000 in member of Management. SP teams have cash and will compete at the Asian with the been winning this competition for Management Game. The business native kids a consecutive number of years. The savvy teenagers intend to invest in Project gang of four spent ve hours daily part of their prize money and take DKSHA in India. Viva VivoStudio! over a two-week period to hammer a holiday in Taiwan. What’s spatial? Some of us might scratch critical and useful information out business strategies that beat our heads with this term. But for the presented in graphical forms which teams of SP students who took part in in turn lead to better data analysis. Three-Time SIFE Winner the Spatial Challenge 2011, the word was This is not all. The same project The SP SIFE team has done explore project possibilities for this Liau Min Yee, SP SIFE probably in their dreams for months. also clinched the top award in Singapore proud once again year’s competition. President and a nal-year student They grouped themselves into four teams the tertiary category at the SiTF by clinching the championship This year, Team SP submitted from the Diploma in Information and huddled together in labs to prepare Awards, organised by the Singapore trophy at the annual Students In two projects – Project DKSHA Technology who got involved in for the competition that challenged them Infocomm Technology Federation. Free Enterprise (SIFE) National and Project Hijau Bakau (Green SIFE projects since her rst year, to develop innovative ways of using the The annual event recognises Competition. SP teams had won Mangrove) which involved more believes that their projects go Geographic Information Systems (GIS) innovative IT applications and the local championship in 2008 than 100 students. For Project beyond performing community technology. Organised by the Singapore solutions developed locally. and 2009 and went on to take part DKSHA, the students initiated service. She says: “It involves The learning experience in SP Business School Land Authority (SLA), they had to It was an uphill battle for the in the SIFE World Cup, pitting activities that churned out small learning new skills and then is not just a staple mix of lectures, tutorials and think, reason and analyse information students who faced competition their skills against teams from pro ts for an organisation that runs empowering those with needs. exams. As much as possible, business students through GIS and seek, process and from more than 170 entries. universities all over the world. At a home for orphans and destitute Through SIFE, SP has enriched are exposed to the harsh realities when they apply the knowledge on real life issues. They will represent Singapore to the world nals in 2008, the team children in a little village in India. my poly life so much. It has turned take on special projects such as competitions. Team VivoStudio won the top prize compete in the Asia Paci c ICT came in fourth, the best results The second project saw the students me into a responsible youth, a Winning will be a bonus but what’s more of $5,000 in the tertiary category for Alliance Award later this year. for a Singapore team. Last year, creating an eco-tourism site out better leader, a better friend and important is the hands-on experience acquired their project Silver Radar. They beat Vivo Studio comprises Diploma the team took a break to carefully of a mangrove swamp in Batam, a better individual.” along the journey. 36 other teams from the polytechnics in Information Technology students Indonesia. The project created job Come October, Team SP Three teams from SP had their challenging and universities and also also won (from left in picture) Nguyen Doan opportunities for will meet their competitors from moment when they took part in the 5th FedEx the Best Presentation Award and the Hong Nhat, Gordon Lee, Yang the locals and the universities all over the world in Express / Junior Achievement International Most ‘Like’ Award. Their winning idea He, Liu Junhua and Tan Jian An. revenue generated SIFE World Cup 2011. While a Trade Challenge (Singapore). was to make use of GIS technology Liu Junhua also clinched the Best from tourists win would be gratifying, nothing For the competition, they had to research to provide civil defence agencies with Presenter Award at the SiTF Awards. was used to fund beats the gratitude shown to them information related to a speci c country to gain reforestation from the needy folks in India and a greater understanding of international trade efforts. Indonesia. and develop a marketing plan for that country. The team that comprised Diploma in Business Administration nal-year students Microsoft Darren Ong and Lee Qi Ni wowed the judges with their impressive idea of a space-saving Experts convertible bed suitable for space-cramped Hong Kong. They emerged as champions and Two SP Business School students were among 228,000 worldwide won a place at the Asia Paci c International participants in this year’s Worldwide Competition on Microsoft O ce. Good News For Trade Challenge held in Bangkok. The duo comprising Dominique Soon (Diploma in Banking and Financial Over in Thailand, the duo did not Services) and Gerald Wong (Diploma in Accountancy) won the national Accountancy Students disappoint. They faced sti competition from leg with four fellow local students and proceeded to San Diego USA for teams across Asia, including Australia, Hong the international competition. After a tough ght, Gerald emerged as the Good news for Accountancy students. Under a new collaboration, SP Business School and the Kong, New Zealand and South Korea. They put 1st runner-up for the Microsoft Word 2010 category while Dominique was Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) will offer Accountancy students the up a formidable ght and came in second after the 5th runner-up in the Microsoft Excel 2010 category. They were tested chance to get their professional qualifications during their three-year course. They will be awarded Thailand. They won US$3,000 which came in on their knowledge and application of the various functions in Microsoft the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting and Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting handy for Darren who will use his share on a Word and Excel components. Other than an online test, the participants when they graduate upon completing the three required papers. CIMA will also offer scholarships to study trip to Washington USA this month. also had to re-create documents with speci cations given to them. two students pursuing this programme. Gerald Wong and Dominique Soon (fi rst and second from left) with fellow Singaporean participants. 05 SP. News 06 RoboCON 2011 RoboCUP International Win

2011 This picture called PlaySchool, is an international winner. Designed kids within the age group of two to six years old. It embodies an by SP fresh graduate The Yu Xuan from the Diploma in Interior interactive learning space, which is safe, controlled yet unguided with The glory continues to shine for Technological University and junior Design, it won the rst prize in the Interior Design Non-Professional most of the space visible to parents. Yu Xuan is now working with an SP young roboticists. Earlier in the teams from secondary schools. Category at the International Design Awards (IDA) 2010, which was interior design rm and she plans to study architecture in Australia. year, they won two golds, one silver Team SP walked away held in Los Angeles. The awards celebrate and promote legendary And she’s not the only winner at the same awards and three bronze medals at the with two second place awards design visionaries and to uncover emerging talent in architecture ceremony. Wu Rong, a current final-year student from the same Singapore Robotics Games. They in the Humanoid League. In and interior, fashion, product, graphic and fashion design. diploma won obtained a honourable mention for her project upped the ante and marched into the addition, the SP’s @Home robot PlaySchool is designed to reshape the learning environment for Room Zero : City Browser – Room of the Passing of Time. international robotic arena by taking was ranked world number 8th part in RoboCup 2011, dubbed among 19 participating teams. the Olympics of Robotics. Held in It was sweet victory for the SP Istanbul, Turkey in July, Singapore RoboCup team, especially those was represented by seven sta and hardworking students who worked 12 nal-year students, alongside past midnight and woke up at 6am participants from Nanyang during the competition period. Kelvin and Hei Kern (third and fi fth from right) were the only polytechnic student and graduate selected by SUTD to take part in RoboCon 2011 held in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in USA.

Second-year Diploma in Mechanical Kelvin Khoo and eight others, Engineering student Leong Hei Kern was they won an all-expense paid trip one of the youngest participants at the to Boston for the IDC Robocon International Design Contest RoboCon after winning the Technology 2011, a robot design competition held in July and Design Challenge organised at the renowned Massachusetts Institute by the Singapore University of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA. of Technology and Design. Since 1990, MIT and Tokyo Institute But this is not the rst for Hei of Technology have been organising Kern. He was also sent by SUTD this event where university students to take part in RoboCon 2010 held from all parts of the world compete in Shanghai. The rst experience in a di erent host country each year. injected much con dence in him Despite being younger than most to face o with his opponents of his competitors, Hei Kern displayed this time round, which included astounding maturity in his design teams from countries like Brazil, thinking and contributed to his team China, France, Japan, Morocco, winning the top prize. Together with South Korea, Thailand and USA. The SP Humanoid Robot Team won two 2nd Placing at Computer Engineering fresh graduate RoboCup 2011, the Olympics of Robotics. More Next Stop Winners Seven students from the School of Architecture and the Built London! Environment won the joint third prize at the Engineering Science, After winning ve golds at the Jonathan Tan Ze Sheng (Diploma Technology and Innovation Design Competition 2010 organised Singapore leg, a team of ve SP in Mechanical Engineering). by the ASEAN Academy of Engineering & Technology. The students and fresh graduates are The biennial event is the competition required them to come up with conceptual designs all geared up for the 41st World world's largest international skills for eco-friendly low income housing that provide a better quality Skills Competition to be held in competition with young people of life as well as meeting the challenges of climate. More than 33 London this October. Team SP is from across the globe competing entries from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines made up of Isabel Song (Diploma to be the best of the best in their took part in this competition which was open to undergraduates, in Experience and Product chosen skill. post graduates and young professionals below 30 years old. Design), Tang Chee Kit (Diploma Guys, keep up the SPIRIT in the The SP team received their prize at a ceremony held in Kuala Hui Ping from Diploma in Architecture; Aint Zar and Ei Phyu Phyu from in Aerospace Electronics), Chong other side of the world. We’re with Lumpur earlier this year. Diploma in Civil Engineering with Business, and Joshua Tan and How Kwang London bound (from left) Tang Chee Kit, Isabel Song, Jonathan Tan, Ting Wei and Yap Yu Zhi (Diploma you all the way! The team comprised Vincent Lai, Choo Xin Wenn and Toh Yi from Diploma in Environmental Management and Water Technology. Chong Ting Wei and Yap Yu Zhi. in Electrical and Engineering) and 07 SP. News 08 President’s Social Service Award Splashing Fun SP has clinched, once again, another and achieve environmental SP Principal of the nation’s highest award - The sustainability via its extensive Tan Hang President's Social Service Award green programmes that go beyond Cheong receiving (PSSA). This is a highly prestigious its campus at Dover Road. the Award award, conferred by the o ce As a recipient of the latest from former of the President of the Republic PSSA, SP will bring about President S R of Singapore. It honours and a higher level of community Nathan at the recognises outstanding voluntary involvement in Singapore in the Istana. contributions made towards the area of social service. It hopes to social service sector. serve as a role model for others In 2010, SP received the to emulate, having demonstrated President’s Award for the its commitments to the social Environment, in recognition of service needs of the community. its outstanding e orts to promote And One More... The caring spirit amongst SP staff and students has not gone unnoticed. SP received the Excellence Award at the People’s Association Community Spirit Awards 2011 in recognition of its contributions to the community. SP was also presented the Distinguished Defence Partner Award by the Ministry of Defence in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards national defence.

Hello Mr. President Don’t play with water. For a sunny day in July, this advice was o cially ignored by SP Principal more than 5,000 students from secondary Tan Hang schools, polytechnics and the ITEs. They Cheong receiving gathered at the Marina Barrage on for the the award, Singapore International Water Festival fl anked by Dr to play with water, literally, The annual Amy Khor, event was organised for the second year Mayor of running by SP and the Public Utilities SouthWest CDC and Board, in conjunction with the Singapore Dr Yaacob International Water Festival, to educate Ibrahim, then students on the importance of water. the Minister of This year, the festival was also Environment a Family Day for SP sta . Fathers, & Water mothers and children happily soaked Resources. themselves wet in various water activities while students competed for glory in various water-based competitions. The SP Civil Defence Lionhearters, up with the SCDF to train students A New comprising of student volunteers, were with emergency preparedness and invited by former President S R Nathan life-saving skills. They are also Green Feather to an appreciation dinner at the Istana. deployed overseas as part of non- SP was conferred the Southwest in the district. This is yet This was an occasion for the Singapore governmental organisations to Environment and Community another feather to its cap. Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to express undertake humanitarian projects (ECo) Award (Community It won the nation’s highest its gratitude towards their community and development programmes. The Category) in recognition of its accolade for its green practices– partners and volunteers. Formed in 2010, SP-CD Lionhearters were among the efforts towards environmental the President’s Award for the SP is the rst tertiary institution to team 500 guests at the Istana that evening. and community sustainability Environment – in 2010. 09 SP. News 10 Optometry Degree In 2 Years

The pioneer batch of The degree programme is undergraduates taking the jointly taught by a team of Bachelor of Science (with faculty staff from UM and In Milan Honours) in Optometry SP and they received hands- graduated in June. The two-year on exposure at the Optometry degree programme is jointly Centre in SP and National offered by SP and the University Healthcare Group Institute of Manchester (UM). All of at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. For Design them previously graduated Nine in 10 of them already Milan, one of the major fashion capitals in the world, became the from SP with a Diploma in found employment by the time playground for a team of seven Diploma in Experience and Product Optometry and they took only they graduated, employed as Design students from SP Design School recently. The unimaginable two years to get the honours optometrists by employers like became reality for them as they headed there as participants of the degree, which is similar to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the prestigious Salone Satellite 2011. The annual event brings together three-year programme offered National Healthcare Group and young designers under 35, showcasing new projects to manufacturers of future collaborations with European young talents. in UK. Among them, 14 proudly retail chain Capitol Optical. from all over the world. It is organised under the umbrella of Salone “Designers from all over the world exhibit their works here. received 1st Class Honours. Internazionale del Mobile 2011, a prestigious design exhibition in Europe. We wanted to provide exposure, open up more opportunities for Their presence marked the first time that a polytechnic team our students, build networks in the global design scene and use the from Singapore took part in this by-invitation only event. Besides international platform to showcase our works. Our booth captured You can call gaining creative exposure, they got the chance also to build up a lot of attention and was one of the more popular booths,” says 1st Class Honours him Joey now. their network in the global design scene, seeding the possibilities Winston Chai, Design School lecturer who led the students to Milan. In future, it will For Six Biotech Grads be Dr Seah. Only Poly Student In International Conference

We’re At Stanford USA Under the Overseas Youth Winner, Prof Douglas Oshero Science to accountancy? No sweat for Darryl Koh. Leadership Programme, 25 who spoke about sustainability students visited Stanford innovation and entrepreneurship. Not one but six SP alumni from the Even though Darryl Koh did What’s up Doc? University in California, USA. It wasn’t all work and no play Diploma in Biotechnology graduated not continue with Biotechnology The out-of-classroom learning for this study trip. The lucky 25 from NTU this year with rst class and switched to Accountancy, he Joey Seah is the second Diploma outstanding graduates. A experience exposed the students also toured the San Francisco honours in their respective courses. found the SP experience bene cial. in Biomedical Science graduate couple of them are now award- to the culture and heritage of not Bay Area and marvelled at the Graduating with degrees in “"The rigorous curriculum and accepted into the National winning scientists and several Shamus (extreme right) with fellow participants in Dubai. only this century-old university architectural landscape of the city, Biological Sciences are Goh Hui Tong, teaching pedagogy in SP developed University of Singapore’s Yong more are now pursuing their but also the state of California as well as took in the beautiful Lim Yok Zuan, Noel Sng Yanwei, Sean my time management skills, Loo Lin School of Medicine. PhDs either locally or overseas. SPIRIT writer and Biotechnology student Shamus Lee was in Dubai to and United States in general. sites of Yosemite Natural Reserve. Tan Yang Yi and Delon Toh Chengxu. analytical skills and inculcated His senior, Desmond Thiam With attachment opportunities participate in Education Without Borders 2011, a biennial international At Stanford, they were inspired Also making a successful transition a strong sense of responsibility from the class of 2010, is now at world-class universities like student conference hosted by the Higher Colleges of Technology. by a talk given by the Nobel Prize from Biotechnology to Accountancy is towards my learning. These helped a first-year medical student at Harvard, Imperial College, He was among 1,000 students selected from a pool of about 5,700 student alumnus Darryl Koh who graduated with in preparing me to meet the NUS. And from the class of Massachusetts of Technology, applicants around the world who applied to attend this prestigious event. As a Bachelor in Accountancy from NTU. challenges of studying in a totally 2007, we have Alex Chua who is Stanford and Yale during it was a conference for university students, Shamus was also the only delegate Among the conference highlights was a keynote address former All six are grateful to SP for di erent eld in NTU." the first poly student accepted their three-year course at SP, to represent a polytechnic. There were several other Singapore delegates British Prime Minister Tony Blair. But the most memorable moment grounding them with a solid foundation. Except for Daryl who will start by NUS to study Dentistry. our life science students can and many were surprised that he, yes, came from a polytechnic. Yes SP! for him was being selected as the  ag bearer during the opening "The modules and lab experiences at SP work in Citibank as a management Besides producing future look forward to an exciting Over the four-day conference, Shamus mingled with fellow delegates ceremony held next to Burj Khalifa, the world tallest standing building. gave me an edge over others, allowing associate, the other ve will doctors and dentists, the School future in the medical and from over 130 nationalities, discussing and presenting ideas to solve some of Being in the Middle East for the rst time, how could he not take me to progress well in my studies and be pursuing their PhDs with of Chemical Life Sciences has scientific research fields. the major challenges facing the world today. The experience opened up new in the sights of Middle East? He wasted no time to visit places like the research projects,” says Hui Tong. scholarships. over the years groomed many perspectives for him regarding world issues, besides forging new friendships. famous Jumeirah beach, Palm Island and the Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. 11 SP. News 12

POLITE Champions The victorious SP sports teams! Clockwise from left: Men Bowling, Woman Volleyball and Men WeiQi.

It was a fruitful harvest for the (Men), Bowling (Overall). rst season at the annual POL- Winning the Dragonboat ITE. As at end August, SP has race was really sweet for the boys clinched the championship in who touched the championship several categories – Dragonboat trophy for the rst time. Under (Men); Chinese Chess; Wei Qi; the leadership of SP Dragonboat Volleyball (Women) and Bowling Captain Nigel Lo, the boys put up a (Singles, Doubles and Team). erce ght in the waters o Marina Hi From High Up There Showing commendable Barrage where the race was held. SP ghting spirit are teams Read more about SP This is Muhammad Hasif bin there, so you have to take in quick way and also shared her Everest For Hasif, it was just chocolates, from Tchoukball (Women); Dragonboat Team on page 46. Othman proudly displaying the breaths. You can’t stay too long experience. energy bars and water. Tennis (Men); Volleyball SP  ag more than 5,000 feet above up there. We stayed for around On the rst day, they started The experience had toughened sea level. He is standing on top of 45 minutes,” recalls Hasif, who at 8am and stopped at 3pm to rest Hasif who is glad he signed up for Dafeng Peak, one of the four peaks is the Vice President of the SP a night at the base camp located the trip. Now he’s eager to go as in the scenic Shiguniang (Four Rockclimbing Club. Fortunately, about 3,000 metres high. The far as to climb Mount Everest. Dikir Barat In Maiden) Mountains in Chengdu, they had with them Joanne Soo, ascent continued the next day at But one thing at a time for the China. Hasif is among 15 students a member of the Singapore 3am for another six hours up to former Temasek Secondary who scaled this peak recently. This Women Everest Team who helped the peak. This, to Hasif was the School student who is now gearing Top Form is also the youngest team, and the the SP students to acclimatise to most di cult moment because towards his nal semester. rst from a polytechnic, to have local conditions before setting it was like a never-ending climb. made it to the top. o . She also provided valuable Each of them packed out own “The air is so thin and cold up mountaineering tips along the food and drinks in their haversack.

A Humble Calling Record-breaking band Second-year student Zheng to improve the infrastructure of Our students entered the Singapore rented  ats around the Eunos Jiang Ping from the Diploma in the village which is now marketed Book of Records last year with the area. Much as they strived to do Integrated Events and Project as an eco-tourism destination that SP’s Malay Language Society Club (Male On top of the team award, the SP largest mosaic made using used their part, it pained them to see Management had a real taste of will bring revenue to the natives Team), Keturunan Putera retained its glory male team also came in rst for Juara recycled banners. A new entry was many elderly abandoned by their what a hard life really is when she there. as they champions in Suara Serumpun, (lead singer), Awok-awok (voice of made this year with the longest own children, living alone with embarked on a community service. For the team of 20 students an annual inter-polytechnic Dikir Barat the team), Paluan (percussionist). kinship (friendship) band measuring no one to care for them. Thus, the It wasn’t quite a big shock for her who went on the trip, one of the competition organised by Andika. Although the female team, Seri 917 metres. The previous record club came up with this idea to raise as she already knew what to expect valuable lessons they learned was Since their triumph in the Piala Thera, did not win any awards, they was 462 metres. Crafted by students funds. After breaking the record, after taking up the Diploma Plus not to take things for granted. Katulistiwa competition in 2006, the improved their positioning from from the SP Welfare Services Club, the bands were disconnected Programme in Humanitarian “The villagers are already, yet SP team has not participated in any ninth in 2010 to sixth this year. the project has a higher objective of and sold at between $2 - $5 A airs. The two-week trip, a they are so ready to share with competitions until last year when they This victory is certainly a great promoting family ties and kinship, within SP campus and in public practical mission under the us what they have, such as food. nished fourth in the Suara Serumpun achievement for Keseri Puthera, the in conjunction with the Citi-YMCA places such as Orchard Road. programme, saw her breaking They give without expecting competition. But the long hiatus did not performing arts section of the SP Youth for Causes programme. Proceeds will go to the Sathya her back planting mangroves and anything in return,” says Jiang a ect the team spirit as they trained hard Malay Language Society Club. For an entire year, club members Sai Social Service to help sustain laying bamboo  oorings for a Ping who has previously gone and regained their form quickly to win spent many Saturdays visiting the its programmes for the elderly. village called Zambales in central on another community service four awards in this year’s competition. less privileged elderly staying in Philippines. The e orts were meant mission to Bangladesh. 13 SP. News 14 Think DESIGN This Is Your Learning Space…. Roger Martin For Students In Business with SP Students at the Design Thinking Forum. Innovation And Design

Businesses looking to reinvent themselves picked up a tip or two on DesignWorks, a part of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School Design Thinking at the Business Design Fiesta held at SP in July. of Management, to set up DesignWorks Singapore at SP in September Featuring Roger Martin, Dean of the University of Toronto’s Rotman 2010. The partnership is the first-of-its-kind in Singapore and is also School of Management, the event was one of the initiatives organised Rotman DesignWorks’ first overseas collaboration. The set-up will by DesignWorks Singapore to promote the integration of Design help local enterprises identify new opportunities faster and more Thinking in enterprises, education institutions and policy making. effectively; foster fresh insights into new areas of consumer needs; Design Thinking requires the individual to think like a designer and transform it into innovation that brings growth and success. and focus on generating user-centric solutions to new and perhaps SP Principal Mr Tan Hang Cheong said, “Even before the birth unprecedented business scenarios. The solution that emerges through of DesignWorks Singapore, SP has made a conscious effort to this approach is a powerful combination of the creativity of a designer embed Design Thinking into our modules and school programmes and the acumen of a business manager. Companies who are quick to since 2004. We teach our students that design transcends the catch on to Design Thinking can grow this new competitive advantage aesthetics, and we train them to see design as a strategic process and open up new opportunities for business growth, according to to drive innovation. Design Thinking will teach our students Dean Roger Martin, a pioneer in the field of Design Thinking. to be comfortable with ambiguity and to learn to explore the Recognising the role Design Thinking has to play in today’s fiercely unknown. This will help them greatly when they step out into SP will be launching a brand new diploma course - Business Innovation and competitive and globalised business landscape, SP partnered Rotman the working world. They will be more confident and ready.” Design – the first of its kind in Singapore. Offered by SP Business School, it will be first diploma course that fully embraces Design Thinking concepts and practices. Lecturers who are involved in this new diploma have gone through extensive training on Design Thinking at the Rotman School of Management, Do DESIGN University of Toronto, which is a leading institution in this field. Current and future SP students will customised a PC mouse for him as be amongst the rst in Singapore well. If you or your siblings are taking the ‘O’ levels’ this year and planning to bene t from a new methodology SP student Tan Wenhao from to enrol in a business diploma with a twist, look no further. The course will called Design Thinking. Simply, it the Diploma in Electrical and fulfil the desire for those who have the design streak and also want to learn means using practical yet creative Electronic Engineering who was about business fundamentals. It is also suited for young minds who want to solutions to solve problems. This part of the team said: “What I like be entrepreneurs from a young age but need guidance on how to design new creative thinking-in-action process about design thinking is that it has products or services. is casting a bigger in uence on 21st helped us to generate and explore education across disciplines from solutions to challenging real-life In a nutshell, the course will train students to create business innovations business to design to engineering. problems. It has made problem- by using the way designers think. It emphasises using a designer's approach or Design thinking will unleash the solving more systematic, practical design thinking to solve business problems and seize new opportunities. creativity of SP students who will and manageable, all at once!” study in multi-disciplinary teams. A new diploma course called One of the unique features of this course is studio-based learning. Did you remember an episode of Business Innovation and Design Students’ creativity will be unleashed in an inspiring space specially built to Channel 8’s Dream Potter where will be launched be SP Business inspire them to work on innovative business ideas. They will also participate SP students designed a customised School in 2012. This will be the in a business innovation boot camp at a prestigious foreign university and a laptop table for a boy a icted with rst business course in SP that fully 15-week internship programme with forward-looking companies. muscular dystrophy? The concept integrates design thinking into its of design thinking was applied. course modules. Turn to page 63 Get more information about the course at SP Open House on 4th – 6th Not only did they design and for more details. January 2012. You can also pick up a flyer on this course when SP visits your build the laptop table but they Are you thinking already? secondary school. For quick facts, visit www.sp.edu.sg. Sweet Pairs

I  U! I looked in your eyes. Was it in LT1A? My heart was beating fast. I told myself One day, you will be mine.

Indeed, two hearts become one. SP is not just a learning ground. Love blossoms in the green and serene campus too. Many of them are thankful to their alma mater. This is where they found their life partner. And this is why they want they wedding pictures taken here.

Oh…. So sweet!

65 virtual LIFE me please! Search “SP” in the iPhone’s App Store and you will fi nd quite a few interesting and useful apps. App writer Terence Yeo checks them out! me  The Impossible Quiz! (US$0.99) It’s not the "diffi cult quiz". It’s not the "really hard quiz". It's the IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ! The internet and my sensation with over 50 millions plays is now available in your pocket, anywhere!

 SP. Time Table  SP. Exam Timetable  SP. Alumni *NEW*  SP. Cam S  The Straits Times (Free!) Simply key in your SP Exam periods are not the right Graduated from SP and want to This app lets you check the App writer Terence Yeo snoops around SP to fi nd out admission number and voila! time to fumble. Don’t panic if you stay connected? This app keeps crowd situation in the Food Have our national newspaper in your what are the top 10 apps downloaded by the students pocket. All the latest news updates details of your timetable will can’t remember which exam hall you updated with the latest news Courts (FC) and other eating (and some staff even). with just one touch! Who needs a instantly appear! With a direct you should go to. Simply key in and upcoming events organised joints. You’ll get live feeds from newspaper anymore? feed to Blackboard, you can your SP admission number and by the SP Alumni Relations Offi ce. the camera installed in the FC as Story by: TERENCE YEO/DIPLOMA IN BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES also view announcements details of your exam timetable Get instant access to the latest list well as popular hangouts such relating to your modules. Go will instantly appear! If you have of participating merchants that offer as Colours and Hilltop Haven. green with this app as you no SP Map app installed on your exclusive deals and promotions, Now, don’t complain about not longer have to print out your iPhone, you can use it to fi nd your and update your particulars enough seats anymore! timetable. way to the exam hall! instantly at your fi ngertips.

 Facebook (Free!)  Twitter (Free!)  Angry Birds (US$0.99)  Plants vs Zombies FB mobile makes it easy to stay Follow the latest updates from your One of the most popular games (US$2.99) connected and share information friends, favourite celebrities and now. The survival of the Angry Birds A mob of fun-loving zombies is with friends. Now you don’t need what’s happening around the world is at stake. Dish out revenge on about to invade your home. Use your a computer to access your FB on your phone. Very useful when the green pigs who stole the birds’ arsenal of 49 zombie-zapping plants account anymore. Frequently used delivering ‘breaking news’. eggs. Use the unique destructive to get rid of 26 types of zombies in between classes, while waiting powers of the Angry Birds to lay before they break down your door. for friends or during those waste to the pigs’ fortifi ed castles. boring lectures!

 Sneezies (US$0.99)  Cut the Rope (US$0.99)  WhatsApp Messenger  Cover Orange (US$0.99)  SP. Library  SP. Next Bus  SP. Map  SP. Courses Sneezies is a game overloaded with Cut the rope and feed the little (US$0.99) A simple game that requires you to The SP Library has an app that If you’re a public bus commuter, This app is especially useful to For future SP students, here’s cuteness. The game play requires froggy called Om Nom with the WhatsApp is a smartphone messenger think through before you act; where allows you to check your loan you MUST download this app. all freshies, some blur Year 2s the app for you to fi nd out you to burst as many bubbles candy attached. Beware of the which allows you to chat and even have you have to safely cover the orange This bus schedule app will show and 3s and visitors to SP. The all about the diploma course containing these sneezies and while spider which will swipe your sweets. a group chat your friends. Good thing when the nasty acid rain comes in! status and search the library SP Map app is useful to fi nd you pop these bubbles, the rest of about this app is that iPhone, BB and catalogue while on the move. You you the arrival times of SBS you are after, from course the bubbles will be affected through Android phone users can download this should make use of this app when buses at the bus stops around your way around campus and description to cut-off-points. a chain reaction. app to their phones and cross chat with it’s getting closer to semestral SP. With this app, the excuse ‘I also allow you to discover more each other. This app is set to eliminate tests or exams as you can view missed the bus’ will be a thing about SP’s facilities, social the use of SMS! past years exam papers directly on of the past. spaces and more. your phones. Cool huh? 67 Strictly Personal

Meow... please

savestory by: me! KYLIE CHIA/ DIPLOMA AND MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

For all animal lovers out there, there’s reason to rejoice. The Ministry of National Development will review policies on stray animal management and pet housing. Less strict measures may come into place again. Yay! About sterilization:  Neuter for male pets – involves In the previous decade, the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) method of controlling castration. OUCH. stray populations was the fi rst humane thing since culling. After the 2003 SARS panic, TNRM ceased and culling went into full swing, with the scare that cats and rodents were  Spay for female pets – involves factors to spreading the virus. abdominal surgery to remove ovaries and uterus. Recent efforts to revive TNRM were lauded by pet lovers and animal rights activists.  Unaltered animals and their Ms Deirdre Moss, the ex-chief of SPCA believes the TNRM method is most sustainable. compulsion to mate will drive “Most people in general are not against sterilisation in principle; it’s just that they want a them berserk, making them quick-fi x solution (culling) to the issues (of overpopulation) they face. For them, here today- mentally frustrated. They make a gone tomorrow is the best way, but it’s not.” mess to mark territory and are aggressive to people and other I polled 20 SP students on this issue. Many said they have no qualms about the new TNRM cats/dogs. programme. Cases of residents having strays soil their corridors and mess up their plants, the frequent animal fi ghts at night were brought up. Hence I asked them if they think culling  Sterilising animals reduces the should not be totally eradicated to help reduce stray numbers. Half of them were neutral, number of abandoned or okay with a little bit of euthanasia while the other half insisted that should stop. unwanted pet, threat of rabies, traffi c accidents and messes Biomedical Science student Ngyyen Doan Hong Nha is sympathetic: “Consider the cats outside your door. human, for example. The [statistics] given is that there is overpopulation and we solve that  Dogs retain their guard dog instinct problem by killing them! If we put ourselves in their shoes, we see that we are actually taking after operation and it increases lives: killing people. They’re living things!” their life expectancy.

The students interviewed for this story expressed that they were disturbed by culling,  Pets become like Garfi eld and since it’s inhumane to take a kitten’s life just like that. Euthanising without reason, to them, Scooby Doo when food replaces is unreasonable and almost similar to genocide. their sexual drive but they won’t be any less loving than before to If dogs can be our best friends, cats can be our BFFs too. They should also be allowed to live their masters. with dignity.

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