Edwin Thumboo Prize 2023
June 6, 2023
The Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has awarded the Edwin Thumboo Prize 2023 to three pre-university students for their excellent literary work.
Named after one of Singapore’s most prominent poets and scholars, the Edwin Thumboo Prize, aims to promote excellence in the study of Literature at the pre-university level by recognising outstanding literary works by A-level and International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) students of English Literature in Singapore. It is administered by the Department with support from the Ministry of Education (MOE). The Prize, established in 2019, is funded by generous donors, including patrons of the arts and former winners of the Angus Ross Prize.
Winner
Ms Shayna Leng Shuen Rea
Hwa Chong Institution
$200 prize award
Shayna Leng
Shayna’s essay on Sylvia Plath and Elizabeth Jennings interrogated with eloquence and vigour the notion of conflict in the oeuvre of both poets.
Shayna shared, “I am always amazed at how words can be woven into stories, and stories stacked into entire worlds that lie within the text of poem, prose, and play. In studying literature, it has been a joy to discover some of these worlds - and I hope I will never stop encountering new ones. Thank you to my parents, who indulged my book addiction with unstinting love; to my teachers Mr Benjamin Hathaway, Ms He Jiawen, Mr Nick Perry, Mrs Geetha Creffield, Ms Karen Kang, Mr Wong Wen Pu, Ms Yao Lingyun, and Ms Gloria Tan, who taught me to love language with unceasing patience over the years; and to my brother and friends, who have humoured me in unending discussions.”
Merit Prizes
Two Merit Prizes were awarded to
Chow Zeyi from St Joseph's Institution and
Ms Gwyneth Tan from Catholic Junior College.
They will receive monetary awards of $100 each.
Chow Zeyi
St Joseph's Institution
“Studying Literature is an act of compassion. Every text contains voices that yearn to be heard, and the critic must shoulder the mantle of the empathetic listener. But the ability to be compassionate is in itself a flame that needs to be passed on. I yearn to understand others and their writings because I know the warmth of being understood. And so the flame burning within me was never mine - it has always belonged to my parents, teachers, and friends.”
Gwyneth Tan
Catholic Junior College
“I truly thank my family, tutors, and teachers for inculcating my love for Literature since young, and for teaching me to appreciate and apprehend its beauty all the more.”
The winners of the Edwin Thumboo Prize were selected through a rigorous selection process. In 2022, government pre-university institutions were invited to nominate one candidate each. The competition attracted entries from 16 institutions.
Each institution had to submit recommendations for their nominated candidates. The candidates were also required to submit a piece of academic writing on a literary text or topic.
Candidates were assessed by a selection panel comprising representatives from NUS and MOE, as well as former Angus Ross prize-winners. The selection panel for this year’s Prize included Assistant Professor Heather Brink-Roby from the Department and Mr Aaron Maniam, the 1997 Angus Ross Prize Winner and published poet.
About Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo
Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo is one of Singapore’s pioneering poets. An accomplished literary practitioner and critic, he dedicated his life to the composition and study of English Literature.
His work is studied in schools, both locally and abroad, and featured in public places in Singapore. At NUS, Professor Thumboo had served as Head of the Department of English Language and Literature, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Director of the NUS Centre for the Arts. He has also received numerous awards, including the Book Award for Poetry in English (1978, 1980 and 1994), Southeast Asia Write Award (1979), The Cultural Medallion (March 1980), ASEAN Cultural and Communication Award for Literature (August 1987), Public Service Star (August 1991), the Meritorious Service Medal (2006), and Distinguished Service Award (2008).
2021/22
Prize Winner
- Nicholas Yong Yoong-Yao
- Raffles Institution
Merit Awards
- Caleb Low
- Catholic Junior College
- Sarah Zafirah bte Noor Ashikin
- St Joseph’s Institution
2020/21
Joint Prize Winners
- Suneeti Sreekumar
- National Junior College
- Wong Shao-Yi
- Raffles Institution
Merit Awards
- Elise Lauw
- Temasek Junior College
- Nyang Ying Zhi
- Hwa Chong Institution
2019/20
Prize Winner
- Loh Su Jean
- Raffles Institution
Merit Awards
- Freyja Chu Shuai Wu
- Dunman High School
- Ng Zheng Yang
- Anglo Chinese Junior College
- Silvia Suseno
- Nanyang Junior College
2018/19
Prize Winner
- Gan Chong Jing
- Raffles Institution
Merit Awards
- Jane Lee Jia Hui
- Dunman High School
- Lim Yi Jun
- River Valley High School
- Yew Jien Huey
- Victoria Junior College