WHEN Joel Dass (pic) received the call confirming his Star Education Fund scholarship in 2008, he and his father sat silently in their car, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. For Dass, who had spent 13 years in the government school system, stepping into a private university environment felt unfamiliar and intimidating. “Coming from a modest background, being selected made me feel that I belonged in spaces I once thought were beyond me,” he said. Today, at 37, Dass oversees not only financial management but also talent, legal affairs, contracts and commercial strategy. This feature is part of a series highlighting beneficiaries of the Star Education Fund (SEF), in celebration of Star Media Group’s 55th anniversary.

Source: The Star April 12, 2026 04:45 UTC