The One Academy Principal Tatsun Hoi (left) and digital design director Lee Loong Wun (right) with the winners of Merdeka Scholarship Awards 2003.

The annual Merdeka Scholarship Awards, organised by The One Academy in Petaling Jaya to commenmorate the nation's independence day celebrations, have once again unveiled artisitc talents among the young.

About 1,000 entries were received, representing 150 secondary schools throughout the country. The winners received a scholarship which covers the partial cost of the institute's popular Diploma programme in either Multimedia Design, Digital Animation, Advertising and Graphic Design or Illustration courses which they can pursue upon completing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia.

The first prize went to Wong Wai Ho of SMK Taman Klang Utama, Klang, Selangor; the second prize went to Yow Han Chong of Sek Men Katholik, Melaka; while the third prize winner is Ang Yunn Chyn of Sekolah Tinggi Nan Hwa, Ayer Tawar, Perak.

The consolation prizes went to Cheah Ai Yin and Lee Chee Siong of Sekolah Tinggi Nan Hwa, Ayer Tawar, Perak; Tan Yea Tin of Chung Hwa High School, Kota Bahru, Kelantan; Lum Siew Mun of Sek Men Subang Utama, Subang Jaya, Selangor; and Nooi Kee Lung of SMK Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor.

Held since year 2000, this year’s competition was aimed at cultivating students’ appreciation towards the peace and harmony in Malaysia and conveying this feeling through creativity.

Meanwhile, The One Academy's own students have won yet another prize for their group project. This time, it was in 4th Asia Pacific Digital Art and Animation competition, ComGraph 2003, held in Singapore.

The work of Ng Aik Sern, Catt Lim Liang Jiuan, Lim Chee Huat and Li Soh Chin, a digital animation entitled Awakened Valley, was named as winner of the Merit Award. "It was a final-year project for our team. We had spent concentrated and concerted effort to create this animation and went looking forward to this competition as a platform to screen our work internationally," said Ng.

The college recently won a Special Award recognition from the Education Ministry honouring the academy for its success in creating generations of award-winning students with international recognition.

Among the recent awards won by The One Academy's students are the Nokia First Shot AVMaker Award, the International Designers Network Design Decade Award, the Asia Pacific Macromedia WWWhat Award, ComGraph 2002, Kancil Award and the India and Southeast Asian Animation Award.

"It is our practice to invite top professionals of the trade to guide the students," said college principal Tatsun Hoi.

"This is because we believe that to become a master, you need to be trained by one and this concept has worked very well for all our students."

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