Ironic Paradox

ANDREW LOH

College Address: Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA

Email: andrewlza[at]gmail[dot]com

EDUCATION

2006-2010 Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA

Candidate for Bachelor of Arts degree, June 2010. Awarded Swarthmore College Scholarship.

2005 Lake Mills High School, Lake Mills, Wisconsin, USA

Attended school as an exchange student. 4.0/4.0 GPA. Received Principal's Honor Roll and Honorary Diploma. Test scores: ACT 35/36; SAT II World History 800/800, Physics 800/800, Math IIC 790/800.

2000-2004 SMK Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Scored 12 A1s for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Malaysian Certificate of Education). Top 0.1% in Malaysia. Second overall best student in 2000 and 2001. Best student in various years for English, Mathematics, Geography and Art.

AWARDS and ACHIEVEMENTS

Debate and Public Speaking

2007 Adjudicator, World Universities Debating Championships, University of British Columbia, Canada

Represented the Peaslee Debate Society of Swarthmore College to this international tournament. Made adjudication chair.

Seminar Speaker, Discover US Education, Malaysia

Spoke on liberal arts colleges at this student-run exposition about tertiary education in the USA.

2006 Debate Coach, SMK Damansara Jaya, Malaysia

Coached a school team to win the National Taylor’s College 13^th Annual Inter-School Debate for Secondary Schools. Coached another school team to win the Tan Sri Datuk Paduka Dr. Hajjah Saleha National Debate Cup.


National Finalist, English Speaking Union of Malaysia - The Star - HSBC Public Speaking Competition, Malaysia. Top 12 in Malaysia.

Adjudicator, Tan Sri Datuk Paduka Dr. Hajjah Saleha National Debate Cup, Malaysia

2005 Gold Medalist (1^st Rating), Wisconsin State Forensics (Oratory), Wisconsin

2004 Champion, Tan Sri Datuk Paduka Dr. Hajjah Saleha National Debate Cup, Malaysia

2003 Champion, Tan Sri Datuk Wira Abdul Rahman Arshad National Debate Cup, Malaysia

Creative and Analytical Writing

2007 Contributor, Discover US Education Newsletter, Malaysia

2006 Champion (out of 1100 entries), IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for Young Malaysians, Malaysia

Consolation Prize, The MPH Search for Young Malaysian Writers, Malaysia

Top 8 out of 3000 entries. Short story to be published in a book.

Freelance Writer, The Star, Malaysia

Articles were published in this most widely-read English newspaper in Malaysia.

2005-2006 Staff Writer, theCICAK.com

Wrote policy commentaries and miscellaneous articles for this Malaysian youth webzine that aims to provide an avenue for Malaysian youth to express their opinions without government censorship.

Leadership and Community Service Experiences

2007 Special Projects Manager, theCICAK

Coordinated theCICAK’s second writing competition themed 50 Years, 50 Heroes: Young Malaysians You Need to Know. Received a Swarthmore Foundation Grant worth US$2,500 to fund this project.

Swarthmore College Effective Grantsmanship Program, Pennsylvania

20 hours of grant-writing training and 20 hours of independent work. Created and analyzed surveys for the after-school program of the NIA Center, results of which will be used in future grant proposals.

2006 Teacher, SMK Damansara Jaya, Malaysia

Taught Moral Knowledge and Civics to secondary school students, as per the headmistress' request. Created a highly-effective mnemonic device for Moral Knowledge that is still in use in school.

2005 Volunteer (400 hours), Bridges Early Intervention Program for special needs children, Malaysia

Student Exchange and International Experiences

2007 National Delegate, the 8^th China Synergy Program for Outstanding Youth, China

Part of international delegation that traveled to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xian, Beijing and Shanghai.

2006 National Representative, British Council Young Global Citizens Project, the Philippines

2005 Exchange Student, American Field Service (AFS) Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, USA

Lived in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, for six months. Fully sponsored by the US State Department.

Mathematics and Science Competitions

2004 High Distinction, National Chemistry Quiz, Malaysia

Team Champion, Hua Lo Keng Mathematics Competition for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia

2003 Team Champion, National Mathematical Olympiad, Malaysia

2002 Team Champion and Individual Excellence Prize, Hua Lo Keng Mathematics Competition, Malaysia

Academic and Miscellaneous Competitions

2005 Champion, HELP University College Law Olympiad for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia

2004 University of New South Wales International Competitions for Schools (Form 5 and Lower 6), Australia

Distinction, English; Distinction, Mathematics; Distinction, Science.

Member, MENSA Malaysia, Malaysia

2002 & 2004 Highly Commended, National Bible Knowledge Postal Quiz, Malaysia

2000-2004 National Bible Knowledge Quiz, Malaysia

2^nd Runner-up in Selangor and 7^th Best Team nationally in 2004. Top 12 in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Vocal and Instrumental Music

2007 Duetist: All I Ask of You (Lloyd Webber), the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China

Performed in the Chinese Parliament as a delegate of the 8^th China Synergy Program.

Baritone Soloist: Carmina Burana (Orff), Swarthmore College Chorus, Pennsylvania

Soloist: Judah Maccabee, Chaverim (Jewish a cappella group of Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges), Pennsylvania

2005 Gold Medalist (1^st Rating): Wisconsin State Solo/Ensemble (Bass Solo), Wisconsin

2000-2003 The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, UK

Highest level attained: Distinction, Grade 6 Music; Distinction, Grade 6 Theory; awarded Hedy King Robinson Prize.

SKILLS and INTERESTS

Languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Arabic (learning)