Power of Scholarships in RM3.1 Million to Students

Staff and students of Sunway College Johor Bahru presenting the pledge of RM20,000 to the Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah Foundation recently. Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah is third from right. Also present are Pro-Chancellors Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Ramon Navaratnam (4th from right, second row) and Datuk Razman M. Hashim (on the right of Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah)

Sunway University College held another scholarship presentation ceremony for 785 scholarship recipients studying at Sunway University College recently. A total of RM3.1 million in scholarships was given out through the Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah Continuing Scholarship and the Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah Entrance Scholarship in this ceremony. The funds were provided by the Sunway Education Trust Fund. This Trust has been in existence since 1997 and has been responsible for disbursing a whopping RM46.1 million so far. Another RM2 million in scholarships is expected to be given out later this year.

In a recent move, Sunway’s Founder and Chancellor established the Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah Foundation to further solidify his deeply held beliefs in the transforming power of education. The Foundation seeks to receive and administer funds for educational, scientific, medical and charitable purposes including scholarships based on merit and to those in need of financial assistance. The Foundation will be injected with an initial seed fund of RM50 million and donors to the Foundation will be eligible for tax exemption. Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah insists on maintaining the very essence of the Foundation and as the world is now facing an economic downturn, the formation of a Foundation could not have been timelier.

Sunway is presently operating under the Sunway Education Trust Fund which will be replaced in time, by the Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.

During a recent visit by Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah to Sunway College Johor Bahru, 1100 students and 70 staff of the college made a collective pledge of RM20,000 to the Foundation. This magnanimous gesture will go a long way to turn lives around by providing deserving students an opportunity to pursue their higher education.