Two Malaysians have been admitted to Harvard College, the undergraduate school of Harvard University, for the Class of 2029.
According to The Star and Free Malaysia Today, the Harvard Club of Malaysia announced that the two students are Athena Siow from Kuala Lumpur and Namira Lee Tzu from Kuala Terengganu.
Athena plans to major in Government with a Data Science track, while Namira will pursue Environmental Science and Engineering.
Strong advocate for climate justice
Athena, a Yayasan UEM scholar and former Kolej Yayasan Saad student, is a strong advocate for climate justice.
She represented Malaysia at the Conference of Youth during COP28 in Dubai, where she delivered youth perspectives on environmental issues.
She has also trained over 100 girls through the Girl Guide programme to promote climate awareness, with their efforts reaching more than 13,000 students nationwide.
Beyond advocacy, Athena is a national chess competitor who now coaches underprivileged children in Melaka for free. She also volunteers as a teacher for lower-secondary refugee students and supports marginalised communities through NGOs such as Women of Will.
Earned a spot in US leadership programme
Namira, a PNB Global Scholar and alumna of SMK Chung Hwa Wei Sin, has also made significant contributions to environmental conservation.
Her passion earned her a spot in the US-sponsored Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Programme in Illinois and Washington DC.
She later secured grants for two consecutive years to launch a turtle conservation project in collaboration with secondary school students and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which she later expanded to include students from a Chinese primary school.
Malaysia has fewer than 15 alumni from Harvard
Harvard College is known for having one of the lowest undergraduate admission rates globally.
According to club president Wan Nadiah Wan Abdullah Yaakob, the institution continues to attract students from government schools and increasingly, from middle-income backgrounds outside the Klang Valley.
Malaysia currently has fewer than 15 alumni from Harvard College, making this achievement especially significant.
