Dorcas Koo on Turning Passion into Purpose, One Community at a Time
Through the opportunities made possible by the SIM Impact Fund and the SIM-University at Buffalo programme, SIM Award recipient Dorcas Koo has grown into a purpose-driven leader passionate about building communities and creating meaningful impact. From representing SIM at the Harvard Model United Nations to developing innovative solutions for social good, she continues to embrace experiences that strengthen her leadership, communication skills and commitment to public service.
For Dorcas Koo, building communities has never simply been about bringing people together. It is about creating opportunities for people to connect, collaborate and make a meaningful difference.
Today, she is pursuing that purpose with the support of the SIM Impact Fund, a S$60 million, 10-year initiative that creates pathways for learning and boosts employability through scholarships, industry partnerships and meaningful opportunities.
As a recipient of the SIM Award, which recognises outstanding local and international students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated leadership both in and outside the classroom, Dorcas has been able to embrace opportunities that have broadened her perspectives, strengthened her leadership and reinforced her aspirations in communication and public service.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree through the SIM-University at Buffalo (SIM-UB) programme, Dorcas has made the most of every opportunity - from taking on leadership roles and representing SIM internationally to applying her skills to solve real-world challenges.
Finding Purpose Through Community
Dorcas' passion for community building began long before university. As a primary school student, she started online communities for people who shared similar interests. As those communities grew, she discovered how meaningful it was to create spaces where people felt connected and valued.
That passion eventually extended beyond the digital world. At just 14 years old, she organised her first community gathering, bringing together more than 500 attendees who had previously only interacted online.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared, "Seeing people who had previously only interacted online come together in person was incredibly rewarding. That experience sparked my passion for community building and showed me the impact that bringing people together can have."
Discovering New Possibilities at SIM
Inspired by her mother's stories of studying in the United States, Dorcas enrolled in the SIM–UB programme hoping to experience an education that would develop her both academically and personally.
Having completed a diploma in Mass Communication, she wanted to better understand the social sciences behind communication while continuing to build on her practical experience. More importantly, her time at SIM helped her discover how those interests could come together to shape her future.
She credits the SIM-UB faculty for playing a significant role in her personal and professional development. "I have personally gained so much from being taught by the SIM-UB professors. They have been incredibly supportive in helping me identify my strengths and understand how I can leverage them for my future career."
She also describes Professors Reece, Poon, Blake, Adam and Ms Grace as "pillars in my personal and professional growth", recognising the encouragement and guidance they provided as she explored opportunities aligned with her interests.
Through these experiences, Dorcas realised she could combine communication, creativity and public service in a meaningful career, with aspirations of working in public affairs, cultural policy or stakeholder engagement.
Learning That Leadership Is About People
Alongside her academic journey, Dorcas actively sought opportunities to develop as a leader. One of her most formative experiences came while leading Bufowears, her student council's merchandise team. Initially, she focused heavily on achieving the perfect outcome, placing tremendous pressure on herself to ensure the project's success. Over time, however, she realised that leadership was about much more than delivering results.
Reflecting on that experience, she said, "leadership is about being a voice for the community and using that role to create meaningful impact. It also means understanding the needs of the people I serve, communicating a clear vision and strategy, and bringing others together to work towards a shared goal." The lesson would later prove invaluable as she stepped onto the international stage to represent SIM.
Seizing Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
One of the opportunities made possible through the SIM Award was representing SIM at the Harvard Model United Nations in February 2026. The experience challenged Dorcas to engage with delegates from around the world, collaborate on complex global issues and strengthen her confidence as a leader.
Beyond committee debates, Dorcas also participated in the Harvard National Model United Nations Social Venture Challenge, where she collaborated with teammates Julieana and Nurul to develop a water filtration prototype designed to convert floodwater into clean, usable water for underprivileged communities.
Despite having no engineering or scientific background, the team built the prototype from scratch and sought guidance from water organisations across the region to ensure the solution was safe and effective. Their efforts earned them a place among the competition's top five teams.
For Dorcas, however, the experience was about much more than the final result. "The project ultimately placed in the top five among all participating teams. More importantly, the experience taught me the value of taking initiative, learning beyond my area of expertise, and using what I have to address real-world challenges."
Beyond these experiences, Dorcas has continued to embrace opportunities that push her beyond her comfort zone. Her first solo trip to Chicago strengthened her confidence, adaptability and ability to navigate unfamiliar environments - qualities that are increasingly valued in a global workplace.
Receiving the SIM Award marks an important milestone in Dorcas' journey, recognising not only her academic achievements but also her commitment to leadership and community building.
Looking ahead, she hopes to build a career in public services, using communication to strengthen relationships between governments, organisations and communities. "I hope to use communication as a bridge between people, institutions, and communities to create meaningful impact."
Just as importantly, she hopes to give back to the community that has supported her own growth. Drawing on the guidance she received from her professors and mentors, Dorcas hopes to encourage future students to embrace new opportunities with confidence and discover their own strengths.
For Dorcas, the journey that began with creating online communities as a child has evolved into something much greater. Through the opportunities provided by the SIM-UB programme, the encouragement of her professors, and the support of the SIM Impact Fund, she continues to turn her passion for bringing people together into meaningful action by creating communities, inspiring collaboration and making a positive impact wherever she goes.
About the SIM Award
The SIM Award, a programme under SIM Impact Fund, recognises outstanding local and international students for academic excellence, leadership, and meaningful contributions beyond the classroom. The SIM Impact Fund is a $60M, 10-year transformative initiative that creates opportunity, mobility and employability.