By Goh Chin Lian

SERVING others is a growing passion for Temasek Polytechnic student Kelvin Ong.

The 19-year-old goes the extra mile for guests staying at the Fairmont Singapore hotel, where he is an intern at the concierge desk.

Some of his unusual tasks include finding out where to get a stretchable waist belt after the shops have closed, and pumping the deflated tyre of a pram.

A third-year hospitality student, Mr Ong's goal is to get a degree in hospitality and tourism.

'I love meeting people and I believe you should treat people the way you want to be treated,' he said.

'I hope to be general manager of a hotel some day.'

Yesterday, he came one step closer to his goal. He received a $2,000 study award from the PAP Community Foundation (PCF), the charitable arm of the People's Action Party.

'I will save the money for my degree course,' he said.

The award is given to polytechnic students with good grades who are involved in community service or co-curricular activities, and need financial support.

Mr Ong is general-secretary of the Youth Executive Committee of Tampines East Community Club. It plans activities such as an adventure race and a charity drive for the ward's youth.

The older son of a taxi driver and a housewife, he lives with his parents and an 18-year-old brother in a four-room HDB flat in Pasir Ris.

In all, 50 polytechnic students received the annual study award. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave them out yesterday at the PCF's family day at Marina Barrage.

The foundation, known as the largest kindergarten operator here, also presented more than $400,000 to 10 charitable organisations such as the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore and the Lions Home for the Elders.

The sum was raised by MPs in the North-East District.

Mr Lee, accompanied by his wife, later mingled with families and joined a band made up of MPs to sing the 1972 hit, Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone.

The band members were Mayors Teo Ser Luck (keyboard) and Zainudin Nordin (bass guitar), as well as Mr Liang Eng Hwa (drums), Mr Sin Boon Ann (guitar), Mr Arthur Fong (guitar), Ms Jessica Tan (vocals) and Mr Michael Palmer (vocals).

This article was first published in The Straits Times.