Sixteen Singaporean students were awarded Howe Yoon Chong PSA scholarship on Thursday. The bond-free scholarship will cover the tuition fees, as well as book and living expenses of the students.

Recipients of the scholarship must come from low-income families and be active contributors to the community. They must also be studying at the Institutes of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and local universities.

One of this year's recipients is Miss Phan Zheng, 19, who had been working part-time jobs since she was 12 in order to support her family's income. The scholarship has allowed the NUS-bound student stop giving tuition to fund her university education. Now, she tutors needy students for free.

Including this year's awards, a total of 88 Howe Yoon Chong PSA scholarships have been given out since the first batch of scholars in 2009. Said guest of honour Mr Lim Boon Heng, director of Temasek Holdings: "It is our hope that these scholars will remain humble as they grow to become leaders in whatever fields they choose to focus on, and may they continue to help make a difference for their fellow Singaporeans now and in the future."