Student Achievement Awards

The Student Achievement Awards recognise the Fifth Row and academic achievements of all our students who brought honour to the University, and contributed positively towards the quality and vibrancy of campus life. It symbolises the importance we have accorded to Fifth Rows at SUTD.

The Jyoti and Aditya Mathur Student Achievement Awards recognise outstanding students who have demonstrated exceptional performance in their Fifth Row activities in areas such as, but not limited to, music, arts, community service and sports. These students have brought honour to the University and impacted the SUTD community positively.

The Award may be given to individuals or multiple students and/or groups. The Award is given in the form of a certificate and/or plaque containing a citation. Eligibility for the Award requires that the student, or all students in the receiving group, be enrolled full time at SUTD at the time of the qualifying period.

This Award is administered by the SUTD Office of Student Life through an endowment.

All students and all student organisations can be nominated for any of the awards below.

Individual

Student Leader Award

Recognises official appointment holders who displayed strong leadership skills, were dedicated to the club and have been exemplary role models to their peers in the advancement of clubs’ objectives and enhancing the campus environment.

Student Service Award

Recognises students who have contributed to the welfare of the SUTD community and enhanced the quality of campus life.

Individual / Group

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

Recognises students who have demonstrated the following for at least 2 years:
- Founded a start-up by taking calculated risks and demonstrating success in rolling out a commercially viable product or service; OR
- Demonstrated the characteristics of risk taking, creativity, resilience in generating and implementing an idea which has positively impacted the SUTD community or beyond; OR
- Contributed to the promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit within the SUTD community by organising seminars or events such as hackathons, etc.

Humanitarian Award

Recognises students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment towards the advancement of the welfare of the less fortunate in the community.

Laurel Award

Recognises students who have done well in competitions and/or brought honour and recognition to the University. They were committed to continuous learning and personal growth and have been inspiring to their peers.

Sustainability Award

Recognises passionate students who have actively raised awareness of good environmental practices and implemented sustainable projects that impact the environment positively. Applicants also offered opportunities for the community to partake or collaborate in these efforts.

Group

Outstanding Student Organisation Award

Recognises student organisations who were passionate in the advancement of the organisations’ objectives and left a positive impact on campus life and vibrancy. They also displayed excellent event management skills and good governance.

Please note that the judging panel may place your nomination in another award category if deemed more appropriate.

Selection Panel

The Selection Panel would comprise the following:

Associate Provost (Student Affairs)
Associate Provost (Education)
Associate Provost (International Relations)
Heads of Pillars
Heads of Clusters
Head, Office of Venture, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (for Entrepreneurial Spirit Award)
Head, Office of Student Life
President, Student Government
One Student Association Council Representative
President, Graduate Students Association (for Postgraduate nominees)
One Graduate Students Association Representative (for Postgraduate nominees)
Awards Administrator

The decision of the Selection Panel shall be final and the selection process will be kept confidential.

Nomination Period

The nomination period for the Jyoti and Aditya Mathur Student Achievement Awards opens from 3 October 2022:

submit Individual nominations
submit Group nominations

Achievements or contributions should be within the qualifying period of 1 January to 31 December 2022.

About the Donor

Aditya is a Professor and former department head of Computer Science at Purdue University. Jyoti was a Fulbright Scholar at Georgia Tech and later at Purdue. Prior to retirement, Jyoti served as a lecturer and Associate Director of the multi-disciplinary Computational Science and Engineering program at Purdue.

Jyoti and Aditya joined SUTD in 2012. Aditya is the founding head of the ISTD pillar and a passionate educator. His research drive led to the formation of iTrust — a center for research in cyber security at SUTD of which he is the founding Center Director.

Music is an integral part of Jyoti and Aditya’s life. Jyoti plays the Sitar and has given private lessons. She has performed with Sitar maestro Pandit Ravishankar as a background Tanpura player. Jyoti has also directed several Hindi and English plays in India and the US. Aditya plays the Piano and an Indian percussion instrument — the Ghatam. Aditya is also a composer. Choirs and soloists have performed several of his works. His music has also been used as background in dances choreographed by Jyoti.

Both Jyoti and Aditya feel fortunate to have music in their life and family. They love to encourage and support creative artists.

The Academic Awards are established to recognise the outstanding achievements of SUTD students who pursue excellence in their studies of design and technology while contributing significantly to the community. The following two Awards are given out during the Student Achievement Awards:

Keppel Awards of Excellence*	Top 2 students in Freshmore year Top 2 students in ASD, EPD, ESD & ISTD pillars respectively in Junior year Top 2 students in ASD, EPD, ESD & ISTD pillars respectively in Senior year Top 2 students in ASD Master year
MIT Club of Singapore Excellence Award*	Good academic results (within top 5% of cohort based on cumulative GPA); Demonstrate strong leadership potential, creative thinking, passion, collaborative outlook, integrity and character; and Being active in Fifth Row activities of the University and community involvement will be an added advantage.

The other Awards given out during Commencement*:

IES Gold Medal Award for Bachelor of Engineering Programmes	Established to recognise the outstanding achievements of graduating students from the Bachelor of Engineering programmes (Computer Science and Design, Engineering Product Development and Engineering Systems and Design).
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Graduating Student Award	Established to recognise the achievements in academic excellence and community contribution of an oustanding student from the graduating cohort.
Singapore Board of Architects Award	Awarded to the best student for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Architecture and Sustainable Design).
SIA Student Awards	Presented by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) to the student who has passed the Master of Architecture Examinations and has distinguished himself/herself throughout his/her course of study

*No application is required. SUTD will shortlist students for the Award based on their results. SUTD reserves the right not to give out any Award if there are no candidates of sufficient merit. The decision of the selection committee is final. Enquiries or disputes surrounding its decisions will not be entertained.