PETALING JAYA: Malaysian students Athena Siow and Namira Lee Tzu have earned admission to Harvard College’s Class of 2029, joining one of the world’s most selective undergraduate programmes.
Siow, a Yayasan UEM scholar and former student at Kolej Yayasan Saad, plans to major in Government with a Data Science track.
A passionate advocate for climate justice, she represented Malaysia at the Conference of Youth at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) 2023 in Dubai, delivering youth perspectives on environmental issues.
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Beyond international platforms, she has worked locally to improve climate awareness by training 100 youth leaders through the Girl Guide programme, who then helped to train 13,000 students nationwide.
A national chess competitor, Siow, from Kuala Lumpur, now dedicates her time to coaching young and underprivileged players in Melaka for free.
She also volunteers as a teacher for lower-secondary refugee students and supports initiatives for marginalised communities through organisations such as Women of Will.
Namira, a PNB Global Scholar from SMK Chung Hwa Wei Sin in Kuala Terengganu, will pursue Environmental Science and Engineering.
Her journey in environmental conservation began with the South-East Asia Youth Leadership Programme in the United States.
Namira had also successfully secured grants from a US State Department programme for two consecutive years, leading a turtle conservation project in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature and expanding it to include students who previously had little exposure to environmental initiatives.
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Namira is also invested in education advocacy and is a committee member of the BASE (Basic Aid for Scholarship Essentials) Initiative.
There, she works to provide resources for students keen on pursuing higher education, particularly in under-represented regions such as Terengganu.
Khazanah Nasional co-head of private markets Nick Khaw said Siow and Namira's success is not just a personal milestone but an inspiration for future generations to strive for excellence and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Harvard Club of Malaysia president Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob said the admission process to the US-based institute continues to recognise talent beyond the Klang Valley, with many Malaysian students coming from government schools and middle-income backgrounds.
"Harvard College, which has one of the lowest undergraduate admission rates in the world, continues to seek out talented students from around the world who demonstrate a commitment to using the available resources around them to contribute towards a better world," she said in a press release on Thursday (April 3).
Harvard College in the US state of Massachusetts maintains a need-blind admission policy, ensuring financial support for students from diverse backgrounds.
Starting from the 2025-26 academic year, students from families earning below US$100,000 (RM447,150) annually will receive full financial aid covering tuition, housing, food and travel costs.
The Admissions and Financial Aid Office estimates that 55% of Harvard undergraduates receive need-based Harvard scholarships in a typical year.
In Malaysia, there are currently fewer than 15 Harvard College alumni.
