Prof SK Ong with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, after receiving her award.

Nominated MP Assoc Prof Ong Soh Khim was cited for her achievements in scientific and/or technical development and awarded the honoree award for the Outstanding Young Persons Award of Singapore 2006. The Awards Gala Dinner was held on the 29 March 2006 at 7.30p.m at the Raffles Town Club. This year, JCI-Singapore was honored to have Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports to grace the event. The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Vivian Balakrishnan - himself a TOYP winner in 1985 - commended the awardees for excelling in their respective fields. The award was first given out in 1972, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong winning it in 1975 and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed in 1974.

As an honoree, the top honours here, Assoc Prof Ong stands a chance to be nominated for the Outstanding Young Persons World Awards, to be held in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2006. Singapore has produced four such winners - wheelchair-bound athlete William Tan in 1997, eye surgeon Wong Tien Yin in 1999, opera singer See Too Hoi Siang in 2001 and pastor-singer Ho Yeow Sun in 2003.

The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) of Singapore award is proudly organized by the Orchid Jayceettes of Singapore, a lady-member organization affiliated with the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Singapore. For this TOYP award, an outstanding young person not only possesses enthusiasm, positive thinking and physical fitness, but also the virtue of national consciousness and achievements that have contributed significantly to the development of the community. While some of these exceptional individuals have been accorded recognition, many others are still silently contributing in the background, devoting much time and effort to the development in various fields of art, culture, music and many more. Hence, the TOYP Award brings together deserving personalities from all over Singapore. Orchid Jayceettes of Singapore recognises their contributions, not as a means to glorify their efforts but merely to express appreciation and recognition of their potential for development and their contributions towards the community. By doing so, Orchid Jayceettes hopes to encourage the youths of Singapore to emulate the qualities of the 'outstanding' young persons and continue to seek excellence and serve others.

For more information, please contact Prof S.K. Ong.