By Daryl Tan

PROBATIONARY Inspector Daniel Ong Chin Hao, 19, shot down the competition to win this year's Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship.

Named among this year's five President's Scholars, he is the only recipient of the prestigious police scholarship, which is awarded to individuals who excel academically, demonstrate strong leadership qualities and possess a zeal to serve the community through policing.

The former humanities student from Raffles Junior College will study economics at Stanford University in the United States.

Asked why he chose to join the police force, Mr Ong replied: 'I think it is a very dynamic job and I can get in touch with a wider spectrum of society.

'It is especially meaningful and important now, given the recent cases related to homeland security.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on August 15, 2008.