Proud winners: Ying Rui, Muhd Zharif and Muhammad Zaris posing for photographs after winning the upper secondary category of the Mighty Minds challenge in Malacca:-
MALACCA: The spirit of Merdeka was evident at the Malacca round of the RHB-The Star Mighty Minds National Challenge when members and supporters of Kolej Yayasan Saad and SMK St David let out cheers of “Merdeka!” when they were announced the victors.
Even more appropriately, the event on the eve of the National Day was held at the first public hall – now known as Dewan Hang Tuah – built in this historical city to commemorate the National Day in 1966.
Mandalyn Tan Ying Rui, 16, who headed the Kolej Yayasan Saad team, winners of the upper secondary category, said her team was excited to bag the first prize a day before the nation celebrated Merdeka.
“We stayed up till late yesterday (Friday) to prepare for the hands-on challenge, and we turned up for the competition full of Merdeka euphoria.
“This year, we aimed to win, so we came fully prepared,” said Ying Rui, whose team also comprised classmates Muhd Zharif Abdul Hadi and Muhammad Zaris Zakariah, both 16.
Their school finished second last year.
Members of SMK St David, the champion of the lower secondary category, said it was their self-confidence and active involvement in extra-curricular activities in school that gave them the advantage.
“We managed to do better than last year’s second placing,” said Teo Richie, 15, who led the team to victory.
His schoolmates, Stephen Prashant and Luke Yeo, also 15, said this was the greatest prize the team could give their school for Merdeka.
SMK Infant Jesus and another team from Kolej Yayasan Saad were second and third, respectively, in the upper secondary category, while MRSM Alor Gajah finished second and third in the lower secondary category.
RHB Banking Group Malacca area manager Amir Abdul Aziz presented the prizes to the students and schools.
In this year’s competition, the lower secondary teams were required to come up with creative solutions by focusing on the theme “Game On!” while their upper secondary counterparts were required to build an innovative model based on the theme “safe haven”.
The Malacca event wrapped up the 14-state competition.
The state winners will advance to the national finals at Cititel Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 27.
The competition is jointly organised by Star Publications (M) Bhd and RHB Banking Group.
For details, contact The Star’s Customer Care Unit at 03-7967 1777/1703 or visit www.thestar.com.my/mightyminds.
