The Singapore Education Awards, organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) annually, recognises the contribution of various individuals and organisations (public and private) that positively enhance the Singapore Education brand. This year HTB graduate, Echo Li Ying from China, was nominated and shortlisted all the way to the finals where she was in contention with two others for the Award for “Friend of International Students”. Although Echo did not win, she was nevertheless proud to have gone so far and was especially pleased with the support she received from her lecturers in The Tourism Academy @ Sentosa (TAS). Here’s what Echo had to say: “When I recall the night of March 19 when the award ceremony was held, I can still feel the intense excitement from the bottom of my heart. I was extremely honoured to have been nominated as a finalist of STB’s “Friend of International Students”. I am also humbled to be nominated in the company of two nominees who contributed significantly. The award was important to me. In the past two years, I had been organising activities for overseas students. When I am trying to understand their thoughts and needs, I become a more caring person, a person willing to put others’ needs before mine. I also feel fulfilled when I see the students immerse into helping less privileged people by participating in the events. They could really make a meaningful contribution that way. Sometimes our powers alone are small and limited, but if we use the little power we have to help international students adjust, it really means a lot to them. In the end, I must say that if not for TAS and the Overseas Students Association, I would not be able to achieve this. They created the platforms for me to meet like-minded students and embark on this great adventure. The two years of study at TAS had significantly changed my life. I was able to integrate myself with the community as well as students from all over the world. TAS was a place of many “FIRSTS” for me: the first time as a group leader and class representative; the first time to give a speech to an entire new batch of students; even the first time to meet a Minister of State! On the night of the ceremony, I also received the strongest support from TAS. Through their attendance at the ceremony in Raffles Hotel and support via sms and even Facebook, they showed their unwavering support and moved me deeply. They really made me feel proud to have been part of TAS!” | 
