WHEN Joash Lim, 20, was offered a place in Universiti Malaya, his joy quickly turned into anxiety.

His single mother, a teacher of over 20 years, was already working hard to support his four siblings through school, and he knew taking up the offer at UM would put a severe financial strain on the entire family.

But thanks to The Star Education Fund Undergraduate Scholarship Awards, Lim was able to put aside all those worries as he embarked on his tertiary education.

“My mother is unable to support my current education because she has to support my siblings single-handedly,” he said. “I imagine she would have had to work very hard every day and night if not for The Star’s scholarship – not to mention the part-time jobs I would have to take up.

“But now, I can focus much better, as proven by my good grades.”

In fact, Lim’s grades were so good, he was even placed on the Dean’s List in his very first year of university.

Lim was a recipient of the scholarship in 2011, and is now an accounting student. He never expected he would be where he is today, but all that is changed now, and he has big plans for his future.

“I wish for all my younger siblings to further their studies in university, therefore I would share my success by helping to fund their future education. Taking care of my mother is also a priority as she has sacrificed so much for me and my siblings,” said Lim.

Once he completes his degree in 2014, Lim says he wishes to contribute to The Star and also his country with the knowledge he is now gaining, and to later on pursue ACCA certification.

Ang Sue Nee, 22, a 2010 Star Education Fund recipient currently pursuing a degree in business administration at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Serdang, Selangor, says it was her mother who helped her look around for information regarding scholarships, and her efforts sure paid off.

“My parents are especially proud now because I’m the first among my siblings to obtain a scholarship,” she said.

The scholarship

The Star Education Fund Undergraduate Scholarship Awards, established in 1994, is now open for applications.

The scholarship is open to Malaysians who are not older than 25 (as at Jan 1), is valued at RM7,500 per academic year, and tenable for the minimum period required by the recipient to complete the course. It is also only applicable to those who have already gained admission into local public universities for degree courses in Mass Communication, Management, Marketing, Business, English, Human Resource, Computer Science or Infor­mation Technology.

Selection will be based on a combination of factors, which includes academic performance, family background, active involvement in extra curricular activities and leadership qualities.

Recipients may also be required to serve Star Publications upon completion of their studies.

The deadline for applications is Aug 15, so hurry! Forms can be downloaded at thestar.com.my/edufund1.

For details, call 03-7967 1388 (ext 1642/1644) or email edufund@thestar.com.my.