By Chia Yan Min

YOUNGER versions of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, United States President Barack Obama, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and even gaming superstars the Super Mario Brothers took to the stage yesterday as part of Maha Bodhi School's Teachers' Day celebrations.

The festivities at the Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school in Ubi, were held in conjunction with The New Paper's Be Yourself Day, and attended by President S R Nathan.

The President was presented with a cheque for $13,888 - money raised by the school's staff and students for the President's Challenge, an annual charity drive which has 37 beneficiaries including Beyond Social Services and the Community Chest. The worthy sum was raised over three days last week, in the form of a school-wide donation drive.

During yesterday's event, which involved students and staff dressing creatively, upper primary students portrayed personalities they admired on stage. 'Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is my idol as he's smart and always helps people. I hope to become as clever as he is,' said Bronson Cheng, 10, dressed in MMLee's signature all-white outfit.

'Today's theme ties in closely with what we as educators do, in encouraging our students to be more expressive,' said principal Lim Bee Lay.

President Nathan agreed. 'The 'be yourself' theme is important because it allows students to discover what their ambitions are, though the real message will probably sink in only later in life,' he said.

The Maha Bodhi School raised $14,335 for the President's Challenge last year. The New Paper's Be Yourself Day is into its eighth year and has raised more than $1 million for the charity to date.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.