Bintan, December 12, 2024 – For over two decades, Bintan Resorts, a premier tourism area on Bintan Island, Riau Islands Province, has consistently supported the dreams of Bintan Island’s younger generation through sustainable educational programs. Entering the third decade of its initiative, this commitment has been reaffirmed with educational awards presented to 626 outstanding students, including 614 recipients of the Best Academic Awards and 12 recipients of the Excellence Awards. The awardees span various educational levels in Teluk Sebong, Bintan Utara, and Teluk Bintan districts, recognizing both academic and non-academic achievements, including sports, arts, and national competitions. The awards ceremony, symbolically held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, was attended by representatives of the award-winning students along with parents, teachers, government officials, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
Since 1999, Bintan Resorts has consistently provided educational support to 13,562 outstanding students in Bintan Island, including 626 recipients of educational assistance in 2024. The Best Academic Awards recipients this year come from various levels of education, including students from 15 elementary schools, 8 junior high schools, and 8 senior high schools across Teluk Sebong, Bintan Utara, and Teluk Bintan districts.
As a form of appreciation, the academically outstanding students received educational support packages, including school bags, books, and stationery, to encourage and support their learning process. Additionally, 12 other students who demonstrated excellence in non-academic fields were honored with Excellence Awards by Bintan Resorts. The Excellence Awards recognize students who achieved accomplishments in various fields, including sports, history competitions, arts, and dance at the district and provincial levels, as well as the National Student Art Competition Festival organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Each recipient of the Excellence Awards received a specially designed reward package tailored to their field of achievement as a form of support for their talent and potential development.
Muhammad Ali, one of the Excellence Awards recipients from SMPN 8 Bintan, expressed his excitement: “This award motivates me greatly, and I promise to keep striving to improve my achievements, especially in athletics, particularly running.”
In addition to the Best Academic Awards and Excellence Awards, Bintan Resorts has also provided university scholarships to support Bintan Island’s children in continuing their education. This initiative aims to create greater opportunities for the younger generation to achieve better jobs in the future.
“Through education, we can drive the development of high-quality and competitive human resources,” said Abdul Wahab, Chief Operating Officer of Bintan Resorts. He added, “In a short time, this generation will become managers and leaders in various fields, especially in the tourism industry within Bintan Resorts.”
Most recipients of Bintan Resorts’ educational scholarships have successfully built careers within the Bintan Resorts tourism area, while many others have achieved success in various fields outside Bintan Island and even abroad. General Manager of Finance and Administration at Bintan Resorts, Hebron Habeahan, remarked that these achievements demonstrate the extraordinary potential of Bintan Island’s children, who are on par with those from major cities or abroad. “There are many inspiring success stories from these scholarship recipients,” he added.
One example is Alfan Lutfi Khikam, a recipient of a scholarship to Politeknik Bintan Cakrawala, who graduated as the top student in the Culinary Arts diploma program in 2024. Alfan completed a one-year internship in Thailand, an experience that provided him with an opportunity to learn about multicultural work ethics and improve his proficiency in English and Thai. “I learned a lot, from cultural adaptation to international networking, which enriched my experience and competence,” he said.
Behind every award given lies a great hope that investment in education will become a solid foundation for creating sustainability, both for the local community and for Bintan Island as a whole. This ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative reflects Bintan Resorts’ commitment to implementing sustainability principles as a premier tourism destination on Bintan Island. The program aims to empower local communities and ensure that the development of Bintan Resorts as a tourism destination also brings tangible and sustainable benefits to the local population.
