UTM grads win royal education award

Sunday August 17, 2008

Two university graduates, who were among the first Malaysians to represent the country under the Harvard College Asia Programme, were honoured with the Royal Education Award from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
The UTM graduates Jasrul Jamani Jamian, 23, and S. Ratnakala, 25, received the award from Sultanah Zanariah Tunku Ahmad during the university’s 41st convocation ceremony yesterday.
Award recipients: (From left) Noratiqah, Izwyn, Ling, Ratnakala and Jasrul Jamani linking hands as they display their awards to reporters in Johor Baru yesterday.
Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) degree holder Jasrul Jamani said he was honoured to be selected for the award as there were also other graduates who had excelled in academic and co-curricular activities.
“Our participation in the programme is perhaps one of the major contributing factors that led us to winning the award,” said the son of a lorry driver.
He was among a group of nine UTM students who were the first Malaysians to undergo the one-week programme in February last year.
He said he learnt how to prepare and conduct conferences that included participants from other countries such as Singapore, Japan and India.
“I have also learnt how lessons were conducted at Harvard University, which saw greater participation from students,” he said.
He started tutoring at UTM three weeks ago and planned to further his studies there.
His father Jamain Mathan, 50, said he was proud of his son’s success, adding that he would be a role model to his five younger siblings.
Ratnakala, who graduated with a Bachelor in Architecture, said she had received offers of employment from several companies and was still considering what she should do.
The youngest of three siblings said being involved in various activities also helped her grow.
“I also learnt to trust God in many ways after my father passed away in 2000. My father and I were very close.”
The recipients of the Chancellor's Award were Ling Dian Mioa (Bachelor of Engineering – Electrical – Mechatronics) and Izwyn Zulkapri (Bachelor of Science with Education – Sports Science).
The Academic Excellence Award went to Noratiqah Mohd Ariff (Bachelor of Science – Mathematics), who obtained a CGPA of 4.0 for all semesters.
All five award winners were among 6,531 graduates in the five-day convocation who received PhDs, Master's, Bachelor's degrees and diplomas.

TS