Our former scholars: Where they are now

WHERE THEY ARE NOW

Since SJI International opened its doors in 2007, it has awarded more than 250 scholarships. Of that number around 20 are still at school completing the IB Diploma, and many of the more recent cohorts have yet to embark on their university education. However, we thought it timely to look and see how our scholars have fared since leaving school and to share updates on some whose education at SJI International was most generously sponsored – by you, our donors.

JOHN OOI

Bachelor of Economics, University of Queensland; Post Graduate Certificate in Education (International), University of Nottingham; Student Development Manager at SJI International Malaysia

CLASS

OF 2009

“The SJI International Scholarship was nothing short of life-changing. I remember joining the school just after my mother had passed away. It was also the first time that I had left home, so there were a lot of challenges that I faced, particularly in the first few months. Nevertheless, with the guidance of my teachers and the admin staff of the school, I am glad that I managed to complete the IBDP and secure a full tuition fee scholarship with The University of Queensland.

It is amazing to know that most of the staff that have seen me through the most challenging two years of my life are still working at SJI International. The experience had certainly inspired me to join the education space and become an Economics teacher at St. Joseph’s Institution International School Malaysia. I am also managing the hostel at SJIIM, which reminded me of the days when I used to stay in Katong under the SJI International hostel. I hope to return to my alma mater as a teacher one day when I have enough teaching experience to qualify to enter its gates.”

JOSE HONG

BA European Social and Political Studies, First Class Honours 16 - University College London; Coordination and Liaisons Officer (Director General’s Officer) at International Union for Conservation of Nature

“The scholarship gave me the opportunity I needed to develop in the way I have today. My time at SJI International was and is precious to me, as are the memories I still have of the place.”

SAMANTHA CHUA

Accounting and Finance, Summa Cum Laude at Singapore Management University; Postgrad in Applied Economics at the University of Michigan; Senior Assistant Director at Ministry of Education, Singapore

“I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to experience the great education received at SJII without the scholarship. Great teachers, learning pedagogy and school environment.”

IAN CHAI

Bachelor’s Degree, Jurisprudence - University of Oxford, Master of Laws - LLM, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar - Columbia Law School; Senior Assistant Director in the Legal Technology and Innovation Office at the Attorney General’s Chambers

CLASS

OF 2010

NGUYET DM NGUYEN

BSc (Hon), UBC Vancouver 2015; Doctor of Medicine, Memorial University 2021; Medical resident, Queen’s University

“My time at SJI International set me on the path to become a physician. I saw the true value of a life dedicated to service that also incorporates critical thinking and intellectual rigor.”

ROWLAND IMPERIAL

Bachelor of Arts(Hons.) in English Language (Linguistics) and Master of Arts (By research) in Language Studies at NUS; Pursuing postgrad at the University of Oxford since August 2020

SANDESH SAMBHI

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, MBBS, Class of 2015 - NUS, MRCPsych - Royal College of Psychiatry; Currently a Psychiatry resident at the National Healthcare Group

“The teenage years are such a vulnerable time in terms of personal and academic development and I can say with total certainty for me, that the opportunity to attend SJII rekindled a love for learning that had almost died. Without the emotional, creative and academic guidance I got at SJII, I would never have made it into the prestigious medical program at NUS or had confidence in my own ability to hold my own there. I owe my every professional success to SJII and am a proud, thriving alumnus.”

NIKODEMUS JAYA

Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance spec. at the National University of Singapore; Investment Director at Vertex Growth Fund

“It was a life-changing and life-enabling experience. My SJI International years shaped much of my current world view and the friendships made has been invaluable ever since.”

ANH TRAN

Bachelor of Science (BS), Architecture, Cum Laude - University of Cincinnati 15; Facade/Lighting Consultant at Inhabit and freelance graphic designer/artist

“I have always thought that SJII was the turning point of my life. Without it, my life would have been so drastically different. I had supportive peers and teachers that helped me throughout my molding years and that definitely prepared me well for the right university. Til this date I still have great gratitude towards Mr Andrew Bennett and my scholarship donor.”

BENJAMIN TEO

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Jurisprudence 16 - University of Oxford; Litigation Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton

PETRUS BOSA LAYARDA

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Economics and Finance - New York University Abu Dhabi, Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance and Management - Columbia Business School; Consultant at McKinsey & Company

“Everything that has happened to me is only possible because of the generosity of the donors. A scholarship to attend SJI International in Singapore was that first critical step for me to receive better, more global education that has allowed me to truly develop myself into a global citizen. After SJI International, I landed another scholarship to attend New York University in Abu Dhabi, which opened up even more doors for me. Since then I have worked all over Asia, and now I am based in New York City pursuing my MBA at Columbia Business School.” “I have been offered 4 scholarships at various points in my schooling years. Among all of them, the opportunity I got to study at SJII, I believe, had the most critical impact on me. The culture and the all-rounded training I received at SJII made me very successful in the industry I chose, and helped me excel at incredible companies like McLaren. It’s the habits that I picked up at SJII that I keep closest to me (e.g. books I still read are from the authors I came across at SJII in the English literature course), the teachers and friends I still am close to. SJII is a lot more than just an academic institute to me. All this was only made possible thanks to your donations as I’m from a humble family in Sri Lanka. Thank you so much!”

CLASS

OF 2011

FORLANDO TAMBUNAN

Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Aerospace Engineering - Nanyang Technological University; Consultant at McKinsey & Company

SADEEP MADURANGE

Nanyang Technological University (Bsc Mathematics - 2015); Software engineer at 8x8 inc.

LOUISA QUEK

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Law - University College London; Associate with the Mainstream Corporate Department of Linklaters Singapore

“The SJI International scholarship has taught me that hard work and perseverance, though not always sufficient, play important roles, no matter the path chosen. For that I will always be immensely grateful.”

VINCENT TANUTAMA

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ethics, Politics, and Economics - Yale University; PhD student at University of Chicago

BRIAN THENG

BA Literae Humaniores (Oxford, 2019); MPhil Classics (Cambridge, 2020); Associate, Strategy & Policy, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, Singapore

“The scholarship still means the world to me! It gave me the chance to join a principled and eye-opening commnunity which taught me to both deepen my interests and expand my horizons, always keeping the common good in mind.” CLASS OF

2012

TRUONG DUY

Monash University (Class of 2016), Bachelor of Arts (Politics & History majors); Programme and Institutional Funding Officer at Oxfam in Vietnam

CLASS

OF 2013

YI SHUEN LIM

Mathematics and Economics, New York University, 2018; Teaching Data Science at a coding bootcamp, Flatiron School, in New York; Pursuing a Masters degree in Machine Learning

“[The scholarship] taught me how to drive my learning through passion.” “I had the opportunity to serve communities in Singapore through CAS, outside of it through challenge week, and within the SJII community through Senior Council. Helping others and making a difference is really important to me. Not having a minimum grade requirement for the scholarship also helped to ensure I was never too pressured to only focus on grades and could develop in other areas.”

XUEYAO CHENG

Bachelor of Arts (BA) & Master of Science (M.Sci.) Natural Sciences

MING QUEK

Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science, Cum Laude - Columbia University 2020; Investment Banking Analyst at J.P. Morgan, London

BRYAN GOH ZHANG YI

Chemical Engineering, NUS, 2021; Client Services Specialist at Zuellig Pharmaceuticals; Working on new music with local musician Daniel Sid

“The scholarship meant a lot to me as it gave me so many opportunities to perform music and to hone my craft as a musician. Being exposed to the diverse cultures at SJII and the Lasallian values has given me a more open world view and I try to incorporate that into my music by fusing elements from different genres and sampling seemingly random sounds into smooth melodies. The excellent academic support rendered by the school and from the scholarship also allowed me to deepen my understanding of math and science and ultimately helped me pursue a degree in chemical engineering. It was such a meaningful scholarship and I am honoured to have been a recipient.”

CLIONA YONG

Yale-NUS College, Anthropology, 2018; Research Assistant at NUS, Social Service Research Centre

CARLO MEDINA

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Mathematics, Data Analysis, and Chemistry - Wesleyan University 2018; Data Scientist at 1010data, New York

CLASS

OF 2014

JOSHUA FUNG

BA Tripos (Law) - University of Cambridge, 2018 LL.M. - New York University, 2019 Bar Professional Training Course Qualification - City, University of London, 2020; Yenching Academy Fellow at Peking University

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at SJI International. Not only was the pastoral care excellent, but I was given the opportunity to explore various interests, academic and otherwise, to the extent time and my ability allowed. The scholarship gave me the freedom to do this. I will always be grateful for the period of my life spent at SJI International, and the financial support granted to me.”

AGUSTINUS

Bachelor of Art, Nagoya University, 2019; Associate Corporate Planner at Shinmei Industry

DEBBIE JOSEPH

Bachelor of Business Management (Marketing, Strategic Management) - SMU 2019; Senior Account Executive at Marketing & Advertising (MRM) New York

VIANY SUTISNA

Master, Architecture at NUS; Junior Architectural Designer at Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei Asia

TRAN BOI NGAN

Bachelor’s degree, Business Economics - Tokyo International University 2019; Sales Marketing Manager at Asia Global Commodities Development Company Limited

CLASS

OF 2015

ROBERT MARTIN

BA (Hons), Natural Sciences, Class I at the University of Cambridge on an SJI Foundation Scholarship; Prop Trading Intern at The D. E. Shaw Group

KHANG HUYNH

BA (Hons) in Economics at YaleNUS College; Account Manager at Facebook

NATASHA VINCENT

Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, Major in International Politics, Minors in Arabic and Economics; Summa Cum Laude with Major Honors at the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service

KATIE KWANG

Bachelor of Science in Psychology Research Specialist and Public Policy Major at the University of Toronto (gap year from fall 2020 to winter 2021); Researcher at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Singapore

GRESELVA PRAJITNO

Bachelor of Science in Physiology, University of Melbourne, 2020; Master of Public Health, University Melbourne, 2022

“It meant a whole lot for me. It was an unforgettable, invaluable, wonderful time for me. It was a steep learning curve and I am and will always be grateful for the precious opportunity that I was given. It undoubtedly open my world views and allows me to bravely look and step further into places and avenues I had little or no knowledge of. It well-equipped me to find and walk the right path for me.”

ALEXUS GIAN

Bachelor of Arts in Economics/ Biology (Cum Laude) at Colgate University; Tax, Technology and Transformation (TTT) Staff at EY

CLASS OF

2016

MEGHA JOSHI

Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics and Global Affairs minor at Yale-NUS College; Business Strategy Analyst - Trading, Investments and Optimisation Strategy at Accenture

SEAN NEUBRONNER

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with Management and Finance at King’s College London 2022; Portfolio Solutions Summer Analyst at Aon

IAN HADINOTO

Bachelor of Engineering - Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering at the University of New South Wales 2022

CLASS

OF 2017

JUAN SEBASTIAN BANCHS RODRIGUEZ

Mechanical Engineering at UCLA 2022; Part-time Mechanical Engineer at Alcatera; Incoming Mechanical Engineering Intern at Facebook

“Obtaining the relevant experience, and developing my career aspirations, has only been possible with continued support from donors. Like the Mia Hiasinta Scholarship at SJII, and the venerable support of many individuals, that has taken me this far.

This scholarship gave me the opportunity to focus on fun and exciting extra curricular like physics club, which got me into mechanical engineering. Now in university, I’ve heard about the inspiring constructions Disney Imagineers have made, and I’m aspiring to be an amusement park designer to create attractions that fill families with happiness and strengthen relationships through everlasting memories.”

VERIC TAN

Materials Science & Applied Math and Statistics and Cognitive Science at The Johns Hopkins University; Co-founder at Kura Kura, a mental wellness app

“My teachers at SJII helped me explore my passions and do something about it. I’m forever grateful.”

STANLEY SOENDORO

Bachelor of Fine Arts - 3D Animation & Visual Effects at the Savannah College of Art and Design; Freelance 3D Animator at Lumine Studio

ADNAN HUSSAIN

Bachelor of Business Administration - First Class Honours at the National University of Singapore; Investment Analyst at Ternary Fund Management Company

BRYAN TIMOTHY

Psychology Major and Economics Minor at Yale-NUS College 2023

“The scholarship was a blessing and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a loving and passionate community. The service oriented spirit of the school and the camaraderie of the friends I bonded with there, has shaped me to be more present and aware of others. It has fostered within me the spirit to be a pillar of support to my friend groups and others in need. In a way, it has also ignited this passion for me to pursue a career as a counsellor in the future.” CLASS OF

2018

NETHMI FERGUSON

Bachelor of Aviation and International Business at Edith Cowan University 2022; Part-time Website Manager at Star Infinite Food

“I was able to become the strong, independent and ambitious woman today thanks to the support I received through SJII.”

TRACK MAVERICK TORRES

BBA Accounting at Hong Kong Baptist University

“The scholarship allowed me to learn the subjects I loved in the best way I can. More importantly, the school taught me how to learn and study by myself and instilled values of self-initiative, industriousness, and a hefty amount of time management skills which have allowed me to survive not only having to have a go at entering the workforce but also get into a University I never thought I could go to.”

NICHOLAS JONATHAN

Medicine at the University of Sheffield, 2024

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a high-quality education which revolved around holistic and lasallian values. I had the best educational and social experience in those 3 years, truly unforgettable.”

CLASS

OF 2019

RITIK CHAMOLA

Bachelor of Arts at Yale University ‘24

“Looking back on my time at SJI International, I can think of no better place to have spent what was arguably some of the most transformative years of my life. The international community, rigorous academics, and wide-ranging extracurriculars have all challenged and enriched my educational journey.”

NGUYEN TUAN DUNG

Incoming Life Sciences major at the National University of Singapore

“The scholarship allowed me to become more “human”. By saying that I mean the scholarship provided me with numerous opportunities to develop myself to become a better human being. Not only did it enable me to study such a prestigious programme in one of the best countries in the world in terms of education, it also enriched my character by providing me with chances to engage in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. I believe that the experiences that I had while studying at SJII molded me into someone who is more well-rounded and I am sure that they will continue to influence how I experience life.”

CHERYL CHUA

Bachelor of Social Science, Geography at the National University of Singapore

JIAYI ZHU

Liberal Arts and Sciences at Yale-NUS College

“Before the scholarship, I had scaled down my aspirations and the pathway to university seemed distant. The nurturing and stimulating environment restored my confidence, self-esteem and enabled me to dream again. Being in SJI International gave me the chance to reach my full potential.”

CLASS OF

2020

LEONARDO MARCO EDILYNN

Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University

“The scholarship has provided me with an excellent opportunity to not just pursue an education of the greatest quality, but also allows me to broaden my horizons and study abroad for the first time, allowing me to grow to be a more proactive and independent individual.”