SUBANG JAYA: Stefanus Lucas, a music teacher for students with disabilities in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, is named this year’s Rise Educator Award winner.
Lucas, a teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pendidikan Khas, was awarded RM5,000 for his achievement, while his school received RM50,000.
Although Lucas had no formal training in special needs education and limited resources, he set up a specialist music room and even formed a schoolboy band, giving his visually and hearing-impaired students a chance to showcase their talents.
“I’m very excited, and I didn’t expect to win.
“Just making it into the top five was already enough for me. Overall, I’m very excited and happy,” he said after receiving the award on Saturday (June 14).
Lucas said he intends to use the prize money to renovate the music classroom and buy new instruments for his deaf students.
His ultimate aim is to establish a student ensemble that merges both traditional and modern instruments.
“So far, we have received some support from the Sabah Government Office to buy ukuleles,” said Lucas.
The other four finalists were Mohd Nur Hifzhan from SK Sungai Passai, Sarawak; Dr Mohd Zamri from SK Kampung Tun Razak, Melaka; Izzat Fahim Ibrahim from SK Tagibang Kota Marudu, Sabah; and Hallsen Justin from SK Timbua, Sabah.
Each finalist of the Rise Educator Award 2025 also received RM1,000, with an additional RM10,000 allocated to their schools.
The winner and finalists were selected through a process that combined public votes (25%) with assessments from a distinguished panel of judges (75%).
The Risers is the student engagement arm of Taylor’s College, and the Rise Educator Award is their annual initiative that honours exceptional educators nationwide.
