A life-changing scholarship experience

Set up to attract outstanding students, the Scholarship Programme enables students from low-income families to access a holistic, high-quality education provided in St Joseph’s Institution International (SJI International).

Now, SJI International is expanding the programme to provide four full scholarships for Singaporean children with the six-year Lasallian Scholarship Programme.

It is currently on the lookout for students from Lasallian primary schools in Singapore who are doing their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) this year. These students should demonstrate good quality of mind, enthusiastic participation in non-academic activities, positive personal qualities and strong communication abilities.

This scholarship programme will offer each student up to S$250,000 over a six-year term from Grade 7 through the end of the IB Diploma in Grade 12. Successful recipients will join SJI International to commence their secondary school studies in 2020.

Mr Kenneth Li, chairman of SJI International’s Scholarship Committee, said: “This scholarship enables SJI International to expand its efforts to reach out to the Lasallian community in Singapore as an expression of our desire to be a community united in heart, commitment, and life.”

COMMITTED TO NURTURING EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS

SJI International is part of a group of seven Lasallian schools in Singapore whose history dates back over 150 years.

The school’s scholarship committee created the Lasallian Scholarship to mark the 300th anniversary death of St John Baptist de La Salle, a French priest who founded the De La Salle Brothers and whose mission was to provide an education for the poor. Today, over one million students attend Lasallian schools in 80 countries worldwide.

Since opening its doors in 2007, SJI International has awarded scholarships equivalent to S$18 million and changed the lives of 248 students. This year, a total of five overseas, three local and four SJI International scholarships were awarded, bringing the total of its current scholars to 34.

Donations contributed to the scholarship fund are used only to fund scholarships for students coming from homes where an SJI International education may be out of reach.

Although the majority of its scholarships are offered to Singaporean students, it has previously offered overseas scholarships to students from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, East Timor, Myanmar and the Philippines.

BOUNDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

A Lasallian education aims to prepare students for further education, and for life.

For students selected for the prestigious scholarship, the opportunity is nothing short of life-changing. Since its inception, 10 scholars achieved a perfect IB score of 45 and 98 per cent went on to study at outstanding universities, most of them on full scholarships.

Local scholar Ms Ruru Hoong, who studied Economics at Stanford University, said SJI International provided a holistic education that went beyond academics.

During her time in school, she picked up skills in organising activities and charity events with the Senior Council and Lasallian Youth Council, and edited the newspaper for the school’s OneVoice publication.

“The opportunities were endless, and in involving myself in the school community, I became a much more well-rounded, well-spoken and confident individual,” said Ms Hoong, who graduated in 2014 with an IB score of 45 points and received the Principal’s Award.

Another local scholar Mr Ian Chai, who finished 12 years of Lasallian education upon graduating from SJI International, scored 44 points in the IB examinations and was awarded the PSC Overseas Merit (Open) Scholarship to read law at St John’s College, University of Oxford.

Having graduated with a BA in Jurisprudence, he is now employed as senior assistant director in the Legal Technology and Innovation Office of the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Singapore.  

“The upside to a Lasallian education is that it prepares you both for further education, and for things far beyond what textbooks and syllabi and marking rubrics and 10-year series will ever prepare you for – life. The journey really did mean going down the road less taken – it was frightening, exhilarating and sometimes exhausting but I came through it with lots of new skills and just as many new friends,” said Mr Chai.

Scholarship applications are now open. Singapore students doing their PSLE this year and their parents who wish to learn more about the Lasallian Scholarship Programme may attend the Scholarship Information Evening on May 22 from 6:30pm to 8pm in the Glass Hall on Level 3 at SJII High School.

Visit sji-international.com.sg/admissions/hs/scholarships for details.