(From left) Kelvin, Leong, Nur Hanisah and Muhammad Haziq pose with their awards.
KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) 23rd convocation yesterday saw four top graduates being awarded the Royal Education Award, Chancellor Award and Pro Chancellor Award.
Nur Hanisah shows her Royal Education Award. — Photos by Chimon Upon
Nur Hanisah Basuan from Kuching, who was one of two students awarded the Royal Education Award, said the award came as a surprise to her as she felt that there were others who were more eligible.
The 22-year-old, who lost her mother when she was two-and-a-half years old and father when she was 17, shared that she received a lot of encouragement from her grandparents.
“My grandparents gave me a lot of encouragement during my studies, and my supervisor Dr Mohd Effendi Wasli also helped me a lot during my studies. Thankfully I also received financial aid under the Daiken Scholarship from Daiken Corporation under the Sarawak Timber Association.
“For students who might be in a similar family situation, stay focused. Don’t think too much about your problems. Stay focused on your studies,” she told reporters when met after receiving her award.
The Plant Resource Science and Management student, who was also a six-time Dean’s Honours Award recipient during her time in Unimas, was also a participant in the Sakura Science Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Programme in Science held in Japan and was also named the Resource Science and Technology Faculty’s Best Graduating Student for 2019.
The other recipient of the Royal Education Award was Shervin Leong Weng Ee from Kuala Lumpur, while Kelvin Juing Tinggom from Miri and Muhammad Haziq Roslan from Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor received the Chancellor Award and Pro-Chancellor Award, respectively.
The 23rd convocation ceremony, which will be held in five sessions until Oct 30, will see as many as 4,038 students receive their scrolls in various levels including doctorate, post-graduate and undergraduate.