![\"The](\"https:\/\/fass.nus.edu.sg\/elts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/ET-Prize-2024-header.png\" "\\"Edwin")
\n\t![\"Raphael](\"https:\/\/fass.nus.edu.sg\/elts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/Raphael-1.jpg\" "\\"Raphael")
\n\tRaphael Niu<\/h3>\n
Raphael’s essay on Andrew Marvell’s Selected Poems<\/em> and Sir Philip Sidney’s Astrophil and Stella<\/em> was exceptionally and eloquently poised in his observations about these two seminal poets.<\/p>\n His essay, Truth and Reality in Andrew Marvell’s Selected Poems and Sir Philip Sidney’s Astrophil and Stella<\/em> clearly epitomized good literary writing and was characterized by an unusual degree of refreshing insights. The perceptive links made between the two poets were both convincing and tastefully unexpected revealing original arguments that were based on some very sensitive readings of the texts.<\/p>\n Raphael shared, “For me, the magic of literature inheres in the fact that I carry a piece of every text I encounter with me: the parts of myself that I see in a novel’s characters, the pithy line in a poem that unexpectedly comes to mind years later. I am ever grateful to my literature teachers Mrs Nicola Perry, Ms Lye Su-Lin, Ms Chuang Sulynn, Mr James Koh, Ms Nicole Kang, and Ms Afiqah Zamri, who each taught me to look at language and life in a new light. I also want to thank my parents, who by reading to me ever since I could remember, showed me that books could also become my good friends.”<\/p>\n\t\n\t Keevan Kanagalingam<\/strong><\/p>\n St Joseph’s Institution (Independent)<\/p>\n “Mary Oliver wrote that Literature is a ‘life-cherishing force’ – a kind of magic that calls us to keen attentiveness and wondrous openness to the graces constantly unfolding in our lives. My journey learning Literature has certainly proven that there are no truer words than these. Thank you to my loving parents, my nurturing teachers – especially Mrs Jasmine Tan and Ms Rita Roop – and my incredible friends, for showing me again and again that life truly is worth all the cherishing.”<\/p>\n\t The winners of the Edwin Thumboo Prize were selected through a rigorous selection process. In 2023, government pre-university institutions were invited to nominate one candidate each. The competition attracted entries from 15 institutions.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 Ms Peggy Pao-Keerthy, the 1997 Angus Ross Prize winner.<\/p>\n\t View the highlights from the award ceremony<\/p>\n\t\n\t 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.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0(2008).<\/p>\n\tMerit Prize<\/h2>\n\tThe Merit Prize was awarded to
\nKeevan Kanagalingam from St Joseph’s Institution (Independent).
\nHe will receive a monetary award of $100.\n\t\t\t\t![\"Keevan](\"https:\/\/fass.nus.edu.sg\/elts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/Keevan-Kanagalingam.jpg\" "\\"Keevan")
\n\tAbout Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Edwin](\"https:\/\/fass.nus.edu.sg\/ell\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/04\/Edwin-Thumboo-edit.jpg\" "\\"Edwin")
\n\tPast Winners<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
2022\/23<\/a><\/h3>\n
Prize Winner<\/h4>\n
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\nMerit Awards<\/h4>\n
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2021\/22<\/a><\/h3>\n
Prize Winner<\/h4>\n