20 January 2009

Singapore Lions Clubs Establish Awards for Social Sciences Students at the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University

The Lions Community Service Foundation, the grant-making arm of the Singapore Lions Clubs, has contributed S$75,000 to the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU) to respectively set up the Singapore Lions Clubs' Bursary and Singapore Lions Clubs' Study Award. The awards which will be given out over the next three years starting in Academic Year 2009/2010, aim to support the academic needs of financially needy social sciences students at NUS and SMU.

Known for their focus on elderly support, the newly established Bursary and Study Award scheme under the Lions Community Service Foundation widens the scope of the Singapore Lions Clubs' activities to youths in society. Through the awards, the Singapore Lions Clubs seek to make an important contribution in meeting the academic and financial needs of students from the two prestigious universities. The Lions Community Service Foundation will work closely with NUS and SMU in the administration of the bursaries and study awards.

The awards were established at a signing ceremony held at SMU this afternoon to mark the partnership between the two universities and the Lions Community Service Foundation. The Guest of Honour, Hjh Ellis Suriyati, International Director of the Lions Clubs International Board, witnessed the signing ceremony.

"The Singapore Lions Clubs' Bursary will provide excellent financial support to our needy and worthy students over the next three years, and this is especially timely given the current economic slowdown. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), in particular our Social Work Department, has had a long tradition of engagement with the social services sector, and as a result, has produced generations of leaders in the field. The Faculty actively promotes community involvement by its students, and the contribution by the Singapore Lions Clubs underscores the close link which exists between the Faculty and the community service sector," said Professor Tan Tai Yong, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS.

"The School of Social Sciences (SOSS) at SMU is grateful to the Singapore Lions Clubs and the Lions Community Service Foundation for their generous contributions. Community involvement is always an integral part of the SMU undergraduate curriculum and this contribution reinforces the University's ties with the social sector.

The Award will not only support our students in their studies but will further expose them to community service with the Lions Clubs. At the same time, I look forward to our recipients taking the opportunity and initiative to support the work of the Lions Clubs," said Professor Peter Hedström, Dean, School of Social Sciences (SOSS) at SMU.

The Singapore Lions Clubs' Bursary (NUS)

The Singapore Lions Clubs' Bursary is valued at $2000 and will be awarded to 23 financially needy full-time students from NUS' Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences over a three-year period. Recipients must demonstrate sound academic results and financial need. Applications for the bursary open in February each year.

The Singapore Lions Clubs' Study Award (SMU)

The Singapore Lions Clubs' Study Award, valued at $2000, will be awarded to 15 students from the School of Social Sciences at SMU over three years. Other than good academic results, recipients should demonstrate financial need and possess good co-curricular activities records or community involvement with proven leadership qualities. Besides funding the academic expenses of the recipient, the Award also serves as recognition for students who have achieved or made significant contributions, beyond academic studies, to the University or the community at large. Applications for the award open in April each year.

Applicants for both awards must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents. The awards will be given out in the next Academic Year 2009/2010. Recipients of the awards are encouraged to visit and participate in the services and activities being rendered by the Lions Home for the Elders and/or the Lions Befrienders Service.