Bright young students receive Rinwood scholarships

MIRI: Ten bright students at Curtin University Malaysia here have received well-deserved financial support to pursue their academic dreams.

They were awarded scholarships totalling RM66,000 by Rinwood Pelita (Mukah) Plantation Sdn Bhd via its Rinwood Awards.

This initiative celebrated students who had excelled in the SPM examination prior to joining Curtin Malaysia, thus empowering their higher education dreams.

Acholarships worth RM10,000 were presented to top achievers Samuel Loh, Lee Shin Cheng, Louisa Lau, and Clement Kong, while Lawrence Kong, Janice Lau, and Amos Benjamin Strout received RM7,000 each.

Scholarships of RM5,000 were also awarded to Faradina Leareen Strout, Raynold Tiong, and Erica Kong.

At the presentation of the awards, Hii Wei Wen, who chairs the Rinwood Education Unit,congratulated the recipients and expressed Rinwood’s pride in contributing to the growth and development of Sarawak’s youth.

“Supporting young talent is essential to shaping a brighter tomorrow. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for promising students across Sarawak, especially those from the B40 group,” he said.

Hii also highlighted the continued impact of the Rinwood Academic Merit Scholarship, which opens doors for students from diverse backgrounds to pursue higher education.

Representing Curtin Malaysia, Debora Caroline, Senior Director of Future Students and External Engagement, delivered a message on behalf of Professor Vincent Lee, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor.

“We are honoured to partner with Rinwood Pelita Plantation to support deserving students,” she said.

“These awards are more than recognition of academic achievement; they are a beacon of opportunity for students from lower-income families to reshape their futures and realise dreams that might otherwise remain out of reach.”

Debora also noted that the Rinwood Awards embody Curtin Malaysia’s mission to make education accessible and transformative.

“These awards, available to Sarawakian students across various levels of study, from pre-university foundation programmes to postgraduate degrees, uphold values that resonate deeply with our mission and commitment to the state’s educational and social development,” she added.

Among the scholarship recipients were siblings Amos Benjamin and Faradina Leareen Strout.

“It is truly heartwarming to receive this opportunity alongside my sister,” said Amos, adding, “there is so much young talent that often goes unrecognised, so this support from Rinwood means a lot to us.”

Fellow recipient Samuel Loh expressed his hope to inspire friends in Bintulu to consider Curtin Malaysia, particularly with scholarships available for outstanding students.

In line with its ongoing commitment to community empowerment, Rinwood Pelita (Mukah) Plantation announced that applications for the next round of scholarships are now open, with a deadline of June 30 next year.

Hii encouraged all eligible SPM, STPM, and diploma holders with strong academic records to apply.

“This initiative is about more than financial assistance; it is about giving our youth the resources they need to build a better future for themselves and their communities,” he said.