A longtime school worker at Kuala Lumpur’s Confucian Private School received one of the institution’s special service awards, but it was the students’ reaction that stole the spotlight.
En. Karunnakaran, affectionately known as Karu, was recently presented with the school’s Evergreen Service Award during its staff appreciation ceremony at the Confucian Grand Hall. As Karu stepped forward to receive his award, the hall reportedly erupted in applause and cheers from students, with the response even drowning out the applause elsewhere at the ceremony.
The school said the award was not simply about years of service, but a recognition of someone who had quietly dedicated decades of his life to keeping the school running.
A familiar face loved by generations of students
As part of the school’s administrative and support staff, Karu has spent decades helping to maintain the school environment and supporting its day-to-day operations.
His name and photo were displayed on the big screen during the ceremony, marking a moment of appreciation for his years of dedication. But beyond his work, Karu has also become something of a familiar celebrity among the students.
His Instagram account, @karunnakarankaru, features hundreds of photos with Confucian students, many of whom regularly approach him for selfies around the school. From the corridors and canteen to school events, taking a photo with “Uncle Karu” has apparently become a familiar part of school life.
His social media posts have also attracted thousands of interactions, further reflecting just how popular he is among the students.
For the thousands of students at Confucian Private School, Karu may be part of the school’s support staff, but the overwhelming cheers he received showed that, to many of them, he is much more than that.
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