DISTED COLLEGE NEWS
25 January 2010

Adelaide mayor honours DISTED for SAM achievement

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide Michael Harbison has honoured DISTED College for an outstanding achievement in the 2009 South Australian Matriculation (SAM) international examination. 

The citation says the mayor “congratulates DISTED College and its graduating students of 2009 for achieving 1 merit award in the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) administered by the SACE Board of South Australia.” 

The student who brought the honour to the college was Emilyn Teh She-Minn, who not only obtained a distinctive tertiary entrance rank (TER) of 95.70 but also, attained a prefect score of 20/20 in the English as a Second Language subject for which she was bestowed a SACE certificate of merit. 

Education Adelaide Malaysian coordinator Nithi Nesadurai (right) presenting the Adelaide Lord Mayor's certificate of commendation for SAM achievement to DISTED president Dr Koo Wee Kor.

“The certificate of commendation from the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, given out for the first time this year, is to recognise Malaysian institutions that have produced SAM merit award winners,” said Education Adelaide Malaysian coordinator Nithi Nesadurai, who presented the accolade to DISTED when visiting the college on 25 January 2010. 

“The initiative, by Education Adelaide with the support of the Lord Mayor, is also a branding effort to raise the profile of SAM and education in Adelaide besides encouraging SAM achievement,” he said. 

Taking pride in the Adelaide Lord Mayor's certificate of commendation for SAM achievement are (from left) DISTED administration manager Josephine Chan Ie Lyn, SAM programme coordinator Lucy Chin Soon Sim, DISTED president Dr Koo Wee Kor, SAM merit award achiever Emilyn Teh She-Minn, Education Adelaide Malaysian coordinator Nithi Nesadurai, School of Pre-University Studies head Dr Teo Soon Beng and SAM English lecturer Jenny Wong Lan Moi.

In accepting the mayoral award, DISTED president Dr Koo Wee Kor said: “We’re very pleased that the Lord Mayor of Adelaide has given attention to DISTED and recognised our success in SAM. 

“The recognition is dedicated to Emilyn for her fine achievement and to the SAM lecturers for a job well done.” 

School of Pre-University Studies head Dr Teo Soon Beng added: “It’s another testament to the capability of DISTED in churning out students of the highest calibre in pre-university education. We look forward to more such awards in the future.” 

Education Adelaide Malaysian coordinator Nithi Nesadurai (centre) congratulating SAM programme coordinator Lucy Chin Soon Sim for the SAM merit achievement by DISTED. Sharing the joy is School of Pre-University Studies head Dr Teo Soon Beng (right).

Education Adelaide Malaysian coordinator Nithi Nesadurai (right) congratulating SAM merit award achiever Emilyn Teh She-Minn for attaining a perfect 20/20 score in English as a Second Language.

“I’m very happy as getting the merit certificate was a challenging task. With hard work, encouragement from my English lecturer and belief in myself, I succeeded!” said Emilyn, who will be reading for a bio-medical degree in Australia or USA.
 

“DISTED was my choice as it has good and experienced lecturers with a proven track record in pre-university exam performance,” said the SMK (P) St. George ex-student with SPM 10 1As.
 

Emilyn was one of the 24 DISTED students who were placed among the top 20% of all SAM achievers within and without Australia for attaining TER 80 and above in the 2009 SAM examination.
 

Of the lot, 7 scored remarkable results of TER 90 and higher, ranking them within the top 10% of outstanding SAM achievers in the examination.

In a discussion at DISTED are (clockwise) college administration manager Josephine Chan Ie Lyn, SAM merit certificate winner Emilyn Teh She-Minn, Education Adelaide Malaysian coordinator Nithi Nesadurai, DISTED president Dr Koo Wee Kor, School of Pre-University Studies head Dr Teo Soon Beng, SAM programme coordinator Lucy Chin Soon Sim and SAM English lecturer Jenny Wong Lan Moi.

Her English lecturer Jenny Wong Lan Moi said: “It’s a tremendous achievement for Emilyn to record a merit, which shows how much pride she takes in her work.”
 

“Right from the first day of class in SAM, she set out to do things that would make a difference in her studies. Besides being a hardworking student, she is helpful and a team player,” Jenny added.

DISTED English lecturer Jenny Wong Lan Moi (left) finding out more about the further education plan of SAM merit award achiever Emilyn Teh She-Minn.