For the third consecutive year, POWIIS successfully organised the World Scholar’s Cup Malaysia Round, Penang. The first of two Malaysian qualifying rounds in their annual calendar, the Malaysia Round Penang saw 376 young scholars from 20 secondary schools across Malaysia competing over the weekend of 26-27 March in four team events, namely debate, writing challenge, quiz challenge, and quiz bowl.

The POWIIS team represented the school very well, emerging overall champions out of more than 50 junior teams. The senior team earned a credible 8th place overall out of 70 teams in that category.What was noteworthy, however, is that every POWIIS team earned at least a silver medal for their achievements. All in all, POWIIS attained 56 gold medals. Some key achievements include:

Junior category:

• 1st place Overall Team, 1st place Team Debate, 2nd place Scholar’s Bowl, 2nd Place Scholar’s Challenge: Aditya Mutharasu, Lim Jia Ying, Brandon Tang
• 1st place Individual Debater Award – Aditya Mutharasu
• Top Overall Scholar – Aditya Mutharasu
• 2nd Overall Scholar – Calvin Ooi
• 3rd place Individual Debater Award – Cher Yee Young
• 3rd place Team Debate – Cher Yee Young, Lim Jack Khai, Joey Iyan Tan
• 4th place Scholar’s Challenge – Calvin Ooi, Ryan Tan, Koay Shu Yi
• 6th place Overall Team – Calvin Ooi, Ryan Tan, Koay Shu Yi

Senior category:

• 4th place Individual Debater Award – Bryan Ooi
• 4th place Team Writing – Darren Tan, Lim Jing Yi, Yap Zi Xian
• 5th place Scholar’s Bowl – Darren Tan, Lim Jing Yi, Yap Zi Xian
• 6th place Team Debate – Bryan Ooi, Pearly Leow, Ayman Annuar (solo scholar from Bukit Jambul Secondary School)
• 8th place Scholar’s Challenge – Bryan Ooi, Pearly Leow, Ayman Annuar
• 8th place Overall Team – Bryan Ooi, Pearly Leow, Ayman Annuar

This post was originally published in The Expat Magazine (June 2016) which is available online or in print via a free subscription.