Parrying Bugs, Building Communities:
Darryl Yeng, Winner of the Toh Chin Chye Prize
When Darryl looks back on his first year at the National University of Singapore (NUS), one word comes to mind: transformative.
Now a Year 2 Computer Science student at the NUS School of Computing (SoC), Darryl is the recipient of the prestigious Toh Chin Chye Prize, an award that recognises students who exemplify excellence beyond the classroom — through leadership, service, and meaningful contributions to society. Named after Singapore’s first Deputy Prime Minister, the prize honours individuals who reflect Dr Toh Chin Chye’s belief in service, integrity, and nation-building.
For Darryl, the recognition is not the culmination of a single achievement, but a reflection of years spent showing up — for communities, teammates, residents, and peers — often quietly, and always consistently.
Finding Purpose Through Service
Darryl’s journey into community service did not begin with a grand plan. It began by chance.
“I was scouted by my district chairman at an event and was invited to serve as a grassroots leader,” he recalls. “At first, it was just about helping out. But over time, I realised that while I was giving my time to the community, I was also gaining invaluable lessons in leadership and project management.”
What started as participation soon grew into responsibility. As Darryl became more involved, he took on larger roles — helping to organise youth forums, community carnivals, and outreach initiatives — driven by the tangible impact he saw on the ground.
He is also keenly aware of the privilege that comes with studying at NUS.
“Being able to pursue higher education at a place like NUS is a privilege,” he says. “That awareness motivates me to give back wherever I can — whether through my hall, the School of Computing, or the wider community.”
Leadership Across Communities
Over the past two years, Darryl’s contributions have spanned youth policy engagement, grassroots initiatives, hall life, faculty service, and varsity sports.
As part of the PAYM futureYOUth campaign, he helped lead an exhibition-style youth forum on behalf of North East CDC, where Members of Parliament engaged directly with young Singaporeans. He also facilitated youth participation in the SG60 100,000 Voices campaign, gathering insights that contributed to youth-centric policy planning ahead of Singapore’s 60th anniversary.
Within the PAYM Youth Network, Darryl served first as Assistant Treasurer and Events Head before being promoted to Vice-Chair. In this role, he oversaw multiple youth-led initiatives, guiding teams in planning large-scale outreach events that strengthened youth engagement and community cohesion.
Among the projects he is most proud of are signature community events such as a Halloween Extravaganza that engaged over 300 residents, and a Christmas Wishlist Celebration that supported more than 50 children from welfare homes and disadvantaged backgrounds.
At NUS, Darryl has been equally active. As Director of Computing RAG, he led a 28-member senior committee and fostered a strong community of 150 freshmen and seniors over seven weeks of intensive summer preparations. He also volunteered with Computing FLAG, supporting inclusive activities for students with intellectual disabilities at MINDS Fernvale Gardens School and fundraising for Community Chest beneficiaries.
Beyond leadership and service, Darryl represents TeamNUS as a varsity fencer, competing at national-level competitions and securing a second-place finish at the Singapore Open Division 2 Team Event.
On top of that, he serves as a Youth Development Trainer, conducting workshops for youths aged 12 to 22, sharing lessons on leadership, personal growth, and resilience drawn from his own experiences.
Service That Stays With Him
Despite the scale of his involvement, Darryl says the project that left the deepest impression on him was one of the simplest.
The Pasir Ris East Care Store is a community initiative where volunteers pack and distribute groceries and daily necessities to low-income households — based on what residents themselves choose.
“One elderly resident shared that having a choice made her feel seen and respected,” Darryl recalls. “They weren’t just receiving handouts — they were being treated with dignity.”
That moment reshaped how he thinks about service.
“It opened my eyes to the importance of intentional community care,” he says. “Not a one-size-fits-all approach, but initiatives grounded in understanding real needs on the ground.”
Learning Leadership at NUS
Balancing academics, varsity training, community leadership, and directing a major faculty production was not easy — especially during his first year.
“My second semester was a wild ride,” Darryl admits. “I was juggling a rigorous training schedule, multiple community projects, and Computing’s RAG, all while trying to keep up academically.”
That period also shaped Darryl through the people around him. Reflecting on his time as Director of Computing’s RAG, he points to a few peers who left a lasting impression.
“Those long, sleepless nights spent bringing the performance to life were tough, but that’s where I met some truly exceptional SoC peers — Marcus, Xintian, and Shusui,” he shares. “Their sense of responsibility and dedication was incredibly inspiring. They showed me what it means to follow through on your word and give your all to a task. Watching them lead by example pushed me to hold myself to the same standard.”
What helped him through was learning to trust others.
“I realised that balance isn’t about doing everything yourself,” he says. “It’s about building reliable teams, delegating well, and supporting one another.”
NUS also shaped how he understands leadership. Through modules such as IT2900 and CLC3303, Darryl gained new perspectives on responsibility and influence — but one lesson stood out above the rest.
“Clear communication,” he says. “A vision only matters if people understand it. Leadership isn’t just about imagining a better future — it’s about articulating a shared purpose so others can move towards it with you.”
Receiving the Toh Chin Chye Prize
When Darryl first found out he had received the Toh Chin Chye Prize, his reaction was characteristically candid.
“I was happy to find out it came with a monetary incentive,” he laughs. “But beyond that, I was genuinely surprised and honoured.”
More importantly, the award affirmed something he had always hoped was possible.
“This prize shows that you don’t have to choose between academic excellence and community service,” he reflects. “You can pursue personal growth while still giving back — and both can be deeply rewarding.”
Looking Ahead
As Darryl continues his journey at NUS Computing, he hopes to bring his experiences full circle — by integrating technology into community work.
“As I dive deeper into computing, I hope to explore how tech solutions can support community initiatives,” he says. “At the same time, I’ll always be ready to contribute to the Computing community in any way I can.”
If there is one piece of advice he offers to students who want to make an impact but don’t know where to begin, it is simple:
“Start small. Join a project that interests you. Along the way, you’ll meet people who guide you — and before you know it, you’ll find yourself making a bigger difference than you expected.”
For Darryl, impact has never been about recognition. It has always been about people — and the quiet, consistent work of building communities, one commitment at a time.
