PETALING JAYA: Chan Kit Vern grew up listening to stories about her doctor uncle who helped improve his patients’ health. She spent time in his clinic and saw firsthand how he provided treatment. Inspired by these experiences, she dreamt of becoming a doctor like him. Now, at 20 years old, she is on her way to achieving that dream with a scholarship to study at Monash University Malaysia.
Expressing gratitude for the scholarship, Chan mentioned that it not only eases the financial burden on her parents but also allows them to save for her siblings’ education. Her parents, who have five children to support, are doing their best to provide for the family. Chan applied for the scholarship to pursue her dream while also ensuring her siblings receive a good education.
Chan shared that her decision to study medicine with a scholarship is a tribute to her late grandfather, a biology teacher who collected books on medicine and health science. Another scholarship recipient, Najmi Ad Khairul, faced multiple rejections before finally receiving a scholarship to study Law and Commerce at Management & Science University. Despite financial challenges, Najmi remained determined to pursue his studies with the support of his hardworking parents.
Najmi highlighted the importance of scholarships in enabling students from low-income families to access higher education. He mentioned that his parents, a security guard and a nasi lemak seller, struggle to afford his tuition fees. With the scholarship, Najmi is determined to excel academically and make the most of the opportunities that come his way.
Since 1994, the Star Education Fund has supported 4,439 scholarship recipients with a total value of over RM164.3 million. The CEO of Star Media Group, Alex Yeow, emphasized the significance of collaboration with partners in education to make these scholarships meaningful. At the award ceremony, Yeow announced the launch of the Star Education Fund Scholarship Awards 2024, which includes 192 scholarships worth RM12.4 million.
Applications for the 2024 scholarships will open in April, providing more opportunities for students like Chan and Najmi to pursue their dreams of higher education despite financial constraints.
