Tuesday May 3, 2011
Dazzling web wizardry
GOING green was a theme shared among many participants of the Inter-School Animation and Web Design Competition 2011 held at INTI International College in Penang.
Emerging champs in the web design category was a team from Methodist Boys’ School (MBS) called Trailblazers.
The team comprised Jonathan Chan Tse Ern, David Lim Wei Tsen and Ng Wei Keat, all 16 years old.
The boys highlighted humans’ role in climate change, and the consequences it might have on the world.
According to them, the past few years have seen an increase in natural disasters, most of which had a grave toll on human life.
As such, they wanted to tell people about it and hoped to make a change.
“We’ve all done web designing for companies on a part-time basis before. The experience definitely makes it easier as we have the basics,” said Chan.
“It feels pretty good to win. Our hard work has paid off.”
In the animation category, Chin See Chian, 19, took top honours for his rendering of a decaying Earth, which turned from a vibrant blue and green body in space to one that was brown and barren.
The student from SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth confessed that he was obsessed with computers and regularly participated in many such contests.
“I’ve lost many competitions before and it doesn’t feel good. I’m glad to finally win something.
“However, my previous experiences gave me a good foundation, which contributed to my success today,” Chin said.
Another team from his school grabbed second place, while the Penang Chinese Girls’ High School (PCGHS) team emerged third.
In the web design category, MBS and PCGHS grabbed the runners-up spots.
The contest was jointly organised by INTI and the Penang Science Council and attracted the participation of six schools.
There were also talks by several industry experts.
INTI student Jezzrishaz Carr, 20, who is pursuing a diploma in Information Technology, won a prize for the best IT final year project with his first-person shooter video game.
Employing an open-world concept, the game allows players to roam around and explore the surroundings.
“It utilises realistic lighting effects in a 3D world, and makes players feel like they’re actually there,” said Carr.
“I like making video games, and it’s my passion.
“This win has really motivated me to continue pursuing my interest,” Carr added.
Coursemates Tan Hsiu Ching and Yin Boon Kit grabbed second and third places.
Source From The Star Newspaper.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/5/3/north/8593485&sec=north
Wednesday April 27, 2011
MBS marks 120th anniversary with new Heritage Centre
By ANDREA FILMER Photos by ZAINUDIN AHAD
IT was in 1891 when ‘Pykett came to blaze the trail’.Rev G.F. Pykett, a Christian missionary, was one of the two pillars behind the establishment of Methodist Boys’ School (MBS) in Penang, the country’s first Methodist school.
Despite having moved several times from its original site at a lonely rented house on Carnarvon Street to its present premises on Jalan Air Itam, the school has stood the test of time — its proud heritage remaining strong and continuing to grow.
In conjunction with MBS’ 120th anniversary this year, a three-gallery Heritage Centre has been constructed in the school’s new Form Six block.
The centre, with its galleries named after three of MBS’ benefactors, houses many of the school’s artifacts including a treasure trove of photographs and information, valuable art pieces, trophies and even a baby grand piano now being restored.
MBS senior assistant for student affairs Ooi Gim Ewe said the centre was currently 70% complete and would be officially opened during the school’s 120th anniversary dinner on May 28.
“Many of the treasures come from the students and old boys, while others have been acquired from Pykett Methodist School, which is a previous site of MBS.
“Inside the Dr Cheah Hock San Gallery, which is the main entrance of the centre, there is a large 7.3m-long mural painted by Abdullah Ariff, a renowned artist and one of MBS’ former art teachers.
“The watercolour piece is painted on soft board and used to hang in the Pykett Methodist hall,” said Ooi, who is heading the centre project.
The brilliant art piece, which covers one wall of the gallery, was painted in 1951 and depicts the country’s traditional professions during that era.
Painted in clear script at the bottom of the mural are five great quotations from American president Abraham Lincoln.
“Along with the mural, 12 half-moon biblical paintings were also brought over from the Methodist primary school.
“These paintings were done by the ACS Art Club in 1936,” Ooi said.
ACS, which stands for Anglo-Chinese School is MBS’ original name.
Ooi added that MBS had spent RM10,000 to restore all the paintings which included patching up a hole in the main mural that was suspected to be caused by a stray football.
The half-moon artworks, which include paintings of The Annunciation and Jesus Calming the Storm, now line the top of the centre’s Hall of Fame.
Ooi said the 22m-long hall, which joined all three galleries in the centre, was separated into eight categories and showcased 150 of the school’s most famous sons and daughters.
Among them are former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who both attended Form Six at the school.
Among other noted personalities are All-England champions and badminton legends Tan Aik Huang and Datuk Teh Kew San, former CID director Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee, local virus buster Dr Looi Hoong Thoong, veteran motor racer Kuan Meng Heng as well as Consumer Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia president S.M. Mohamed Idris.
Ooi said the Arthur H.C. Khoo Gallery, located on the right side of the centre, would house pictures of MBS staff, prefects and students from the 1950s to the 1990s while the Loh Keng Aun Gallery, on the centre’s left-hand side, featured ‘MBS in the New Millennium’.
MBS Board of Governors chairman Datuk Lim Cheng Chuan said one of the centre’s aims was to provide a space where old students could gather and reminisce.
“We want to have a place that will encourage them to come back and visit the school,” he said.
MBS will celebrate its 120th anniversary with a dinner held at the school field on May 28.
Tickets are priced at RM80 and RM350 each. For more information, contact the school (04-2293986) or Ooi (016-4823595 or mbspenang@gmail.com).
Source From The Star Newspaper.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/4/27/north/8554586&sec=north
