The 21 students who benefitted from the RHB X-Cel Programme.
RHB Foundation celebrated the achievements of its scholarship programme beneficiaries during an awards ceremony at the RHB Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
At the awards ceremony, RHB Foundation chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohamad Zahir said he was delighted to celebrate the achievements of 21 student beneficiaries.
He said their academic success and progression was a testament to how such programmes could help youths reach their potential.
“I am very proud of the success of all our scholarship beneficiaries and I want to congratulate them all. Their commitment and dedication have paid off.
“I just want to remind all of them that the educational journey is a long one and success isn’t always measured by grades on a piece of paper, but also by how good of a person you are.
“I hope that you continue striving to be better human beings and expand your knowledge so that you can be someone that your parents will be proud of,” he said, hoping the awards ceremony would inspire them to continue to be the best students they could be.
The RHB X-Cel Programme was initiated in 2019 to create long-lasting positive impact on the B40 community.
Its objectives are to provide equal opportunities to underprivileged students for them to excel in their studies and have access to higher education, which could ultimately improve their families’ socio-economic status.
It is a holistic educational programme that supports the progression of underprivileged students from secondary school to tertiary education, and ultimately to a career with the RHB Banking Group.
The initiative comprises the RHB X-Cel Academic Excellence Programme, which focuses on Form 4 and Form 5 students while the RHB X-Cel Star Scholarship programme is specifically designed for foundation and undergraduate students.
Top performing school students from the RHB X-Cel Academic Excellence programme would have the opportunity to further their tertiary studies in local institutions via the RHB X-Cel Star programme and upon graduation, pursue a career within RHB Banking Group.
The programmes have aided about 6,488 students in four cohorts since its inception, with 39 scholars to date.
A total of RM4.2mil has also been allocated for both programmes to empower 60 students thus far.
The amount covers complete educational expenses from tuition classes to study materials throughout the duration of their undergraduate studies.
There are also a number of educational and capacity-building sessions available for the student beneficiaries, such as a comprehensive English language course, as well as workshops on advanced Microsoft Office skills, and mental health and stress management.
Ahmad Badri hopes the awards inspires students to continue to be the best they can.
There is also a mentor-mentee programme that pairs up the students with RHB management associates in a bid to provide instrumental and emotional support, as well as guidance to mentees throughout their scholarship period.
One of the beneficiaries, Soh Ai Ling from Kampar in Perak, who is currently pursuing her degree in Information Systems Engineering at UTAR, said she was able to pursue her tertiary studies as well as develop soft skills, thanks to the programme.
“The programme has provided me with an opportunity that I wouldn’t have normally been exposed to,” said the 20-year-old.
“I have learnt so many ways to improve my self-confidence and how to express myself through the many workshops that are part of this programme. My command of the English language has also improved and I am more proficient when I speak,” she added.
Muhammad Wafiuddin Jemain, 21, a degree student majoring in Actuarial Science at UiTM Shah Alam, is the youngest of seven children in his family.
He said the programme gave him the opportunity to be more independent in pursuing his education.
“This is a very rare opportunity for someone like me, who has come from nothing. I’m blessed to have the scholarship as a source of aid, financially and in terms of my overall welfare,” said Muhammad Wafiuddin.
“For me to be able to fund myself in my studies, for the next two or three years, is super helpful. To be able to say ‘I have enough’ and not burden my family is an amazing feeling,” he said.
The RHB X-Cel Star Scholarship Programme aims to benefit 60 students by the end of this year.
Both programmes are also in line with RHB Banking Group’s sustainability aspiration to empower more than two million targeted individuals and businesses across Asean by 2026.
