The Elena Cooke Education Fund now open for scholarship applications to empower youth

Kuala Lumpur, 24 June 2022- SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) and STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia) students who have received their examination results are invited to apply to the Elena Cooke Education Fund for financial assistance.

Managed by the BBGS Alumni Berhad (BAB), a company set up by former students of the Bukit Bintang Girls’ School (BBGS), the Elena Cooke Education Fund continues to team up with Sunway College, Sunway University and HELP University to provide scholarships to deserving underprivileged young Malaysians to enable them to pursue tertiary education.

2021 scholar, Jeslina from Kuala Terengganu, with her mum and brother.  She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Nanophysics) with Honours at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.

However, students who apply to other local higher education providers are also eligible to apply for scholarships, as long as they fulfil the minimum criteria, including being below 23 years of age as at 31st December 2021 and with a household income of not more than RM60,000 per annum in 2021. 

BBGS was one of the most well-known and highly-regarded schools in Kuala Lumpur, located in Jalan Bukit Bintang, until year 2000 when it was closed and later demolished to make way for a mega shopping mall. 

The Elena Cooke Education Fund, established in memory of BBGS’s longest-serving headmistress, the late Miss Elena Maude Cooke, emphasizes on giving a helping hand to disadvantaged and financially needy young people, to empower them for life. The Fund recognises that for poverty-stricken students, with none of the advantages of those in the higher-income families, education is a key factor that can take them out of the cycle of poverty.  Hence, financial neediness is high on the list of criteria that are considered, which also includes academic performance, extra-curricular activities and character.

2021 scholar Mahalechumy from Klang with her two brothers. They lost their parents in a fire in 2019.  She is pursuing a Diploma in Animation Technology at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.

“The Fund is especially keen on aiding young people who are orphans or from single parent families or those who have lived in children’s homes.  Three past recipients of scholarships from the Fund were from children’s homes,” said Ms Moey Yoke Lai, Chairman of BBGS Alumni Berhad. 

The Elena Cooke Education Fund scholarship applications will close 2 weeks after the 2021 SPM or STPM (whichever is the later) results are announced. The application form can be downloaded from www.bbgs.com.my.

Donations to the Elena Cooke Education Fund are welcomed from corporate donors and individuals. They can either write a cheque or do an inter-bank transfer to the bank account of BBGS Alumni Berhad (Maybank Account No: 5141 2316 6380).  Donors should inform BAB via bbgs.elena@gmail.com so that receipts can be issued.