SMK Putrajaya Presint 8(1) students have done the school proud by winning in all three categories of the 10th Sunway National Poetry Slam (SNaPS) 2024.
Arshaven Nair Prem Rakesh won second place in the Junior category, while Ruthraaprabhaa Thinaharan came in third in the Senior category.
Marilyn Yadana Kyaw, Aryssa Layla Yusma Benjamin, Darynn Erisha Irdina Mohd Fazmin and Sofia Amani Farahiyah Nor Azam were third-prize winners in the Group category.
The students received Sunway College bursaries for their efforts. They also each received a certificate of participation, a trophy and two tickets to Sunway Lagoon Night Park and Lost World of Tambun Night Park.
The school also won the Spirit Award for accumulating the most votes during the grand finale, and the Helios Award for winning in all three categories.
Held on Oct 12 at Sunway International Schools (SIS) in Kuala Lumpur, the grand finale of the competition, themed “The Language of Our Journey”, saw the participation of 12 shortlisted institutions – namely, SMK Putrajaya Presint 8(1), Fairview International School Subang Jaya, MRSM Serting, SMK Assunta, SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (3), SMK Damansara Jaya, SMK Taman Desa, SMK Taman Seri Rampai, SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, Sri Bestari International School, Sunway City International School and The International School @ ParkCity.
Supported by the Education Ministry, SNaPS is among the initiatives by SIS to encourage spoken word performances among youths from national and international schools nationwide.
Teacher Salwiza Zainuddin, who guided her students through to the final round, said the achievement marked an “unbelievable and euphoric moment” for SMK Putrajaya Presint 8(1).
The students, she said, worked very hard for the competition.
“They would stay back after school and rehearse every day for the grand finale. Their efforts have definitely paid off.
“This win is the highlight of the year,” she said in a press release.