Yale-NUS Kingfisher Awards 2024: Honouring achievements and celebrating a vibrant community

The Yale-NUS Kingfisher Awards Ceremony is held annually to honour the invaluable contributions of students,  staff and faculty members, as well as the exceptional achievements of student organisations. This year’s event took place on 20 April 2024, at the President’s Patio. It was a lively affair, featuring 33 nominations across nine categories.

The ceremony opened with a short speech by President Joanne Roberts, who spoke about the need to ensure that members of the community cherish every moment they have left together, as Yale-NUS enters its final year. “As a community, we have had choices,” she said. “We had a choice to quietly fade away, but I’m glad we’ve instead chosen to continue beaming with the energy and joy that has always represented Yale-NUS.”

Following President Roberts’ speech, the Residential Life Officers (RLOs), staff who provide students with residential support and supervise the Residential College Advisors (RCAs),  presented a small token of appreciation to the RCAs, students who provide support and assistance to fellow students in the Residential Colleges. Our RCAs adaptability to change and commitment to nurturing a vibrant community spirit at Yale-NUS was recognised and affirmed.

As the oldest and most prominent performance troupe at the College, Yale-NUS Improv received the award for Outstanding Student Organisation. Since its establishment in 2013, Yale-NUS Improv has upheld a tradition of staging shows and conducting workshops every semester, spreading laughter and joy to the Yale-NUS community on a consistent basis. In 2023, the troupe made their international debut, performing alongside globally renowned improv artists at the Hanoi and Manila international improv festivals.

“I think going overseas to perform was a really memorable experience for us,” shared Billy Tran (Class of 2024). “Not only was it a chance to learn from international improvisers, but it gave us a once in a lifetime opportunity to extend the Yale-NUS legacy to a global stage. Now when you speak about Yale-NUS in the Southeast Asian improv scene, they know who we are. That is something we are really proud of.”

The troupe’s upcoming end-of-semester show “Next Stop: Improv Central” will take place on 25 April 2024.

Naturally, no student organisation can function without the hard work of people behind-the-scenes. To that end, the Unsung Hero Award, an award that recognises staff or faculty members who have positively influenced a student-driven programme or student organisation, was given to the Yale-NUS Information Technology (IT) Department. The award recognised their tireless efforts in supporting school events and initiatives, and their team members’ highly positive attitudes and willingness to help. Paul Tan, Director of the department, said, “The role of IT is quite self-explanatory. We work in the background, helping to keep everything running. Often, our work goes unrecognised, so it’s very surprising to receive such recognition. Nevertheless, we appreciate it very much and we hope to continue serving students and the community well!”

To honour their spirit of service, the Distinguished Student Leader Award is given to the student leader who has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills in their student organisations or student administration roles, and made a strong impact within Yale-NUS. Mira Dewan (Class of 2024) was the recipient of this prestigious award. As the co-manager of Brewhouse, Mira undertook the responsibility of overseeing its move from the Elm Courtyard to Café Agora. She was instrumental in turning the new space into a welcoming place for students, staff, and faculty to enjoy casual conversations over a lovely morning coffee. In her role as an RCA, she was also involved in organising events that promoted meaningful discussions about identity within the community. Mira’s boundless empathy and readiness to listen are further qualities that distinguished her as an exceptional RCA.

On the topic of leadership, Mira shared, “I think a good leader uplifts the people around you. They help enable others to materialise their ideas, whilst acting as a reliable support system to ensure everything operates smoothly and safely.”

Mira also acknowledged the support she has received from both her peers and staff members, including her co-manager at Brewhouse Loo Jing Xuan (Class of 2024) and former Dean of Students, Dave Stanfield. “A lot of the things that I’m being recognised for with this award wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many other people. The numerous events we organised for Brewhouse, for example, were mainly ideas that others contributed, which I provided support for. I think using my position to help others realise their initiatives is really what I find most rewarding.”

Concluding her remarks, she added, “I would also like to give a massive shoutout to my nine suitemates who nominated me for this award! I’m incredibly grateful!

Congratulations to all the winners!

The full list of award categories and winners is listed below: