SMU celebrates fourth batch of 860 graduates

Commencement ceremony recognises two distinguished individuals - Mr Yong Pung How and Dr Lee Seng Gee - with SMU's first ever honorary degrees

Singapore, 14 July 2007 – Singapore Management University (SMU) celebrated the graduation of 860 graduands at the university's fourth Commencement Ceremony held this afternoon at Suntec City. This is the fourth and largest batch of graduates to complete their university education at SMU and who are now embarking on a new journey into working life.

Admitted mostly in 2003, 437 students have graduated with Bachelor of Business Management, 144 earned the Bachelor of Accountancy and 93 graduated with Bachelor of Science (Economics). SMU also celebrated the graduation of 78 students from the university's pioneer batch of Bachelor of Science (Information Systems Management), Singapore 's first Business-IT degree programme. A total of 106 graduands obtained double degrees in various combinations of business management, accountancy, economics, information systems management economics and social science. The university also conferred postgraduate degrees on its largest group of 108 master's students ever of which 54 graduated with Master of Science in Wealth Management and 41 graduated with Master of Science in Applied Finance. All 860 students finished their studies between the months of September 2006 and June 2007.

SMU graduates consistently have been in high demand in the job market. The recent Graduate Employment Survey conducted by SMU revealed that, for the third straight year, 100% of SMU graduates found jobs before graduation or within six months after graduation. The study also recorded a bumper crop of graduates with above average starting salaries. The top 20% wage earners are getting an average of S$4,630. There are also a number of SMU graduates who have landed high-flying jobs which pay them monthly starting salaries of between S$4,000 to S$12,000.

SMU's first honorary degrees

This year's Commencement ceremony also marks the first time that SMU has conferred honorary degrees. Two distinguished individuals were so honored – Mr Yong Pung How with the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa and Dr Lee Seng Gee with the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. SMU's honorary degrees are conferred on special individuals whose achievements and contributions to society are consistent with the mission of the university in the advancement of learning and which provide inspiration and leadership. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws is awarded on the basis of exceptionally insightful and distinctive achievements that contribute significantly to the study and practice of law. The honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is awarded on the basis of outstanding human endeavour and special devotion to the greater good of mankind.

Mr Yong Pung How has been instrumental in shaping and transforming the Singapore legal system since he was appointed Chief Justice in 1990. In his 16 years heading the Singapore Judiciary, he built up the judiciary and legal system to sustain the rule of law and administration of justice. During his term, he initiated wide ranging reforms. His leadership resulted in a judiciary that has a high standing internationally. Mr Yong also served as Chairman of the Presidential Council on Minority Rights during his term as Chief Justice. Mr Yong demonstrated his ongoing commitment to the future of our legal system by graciously accepting the role of Chairman of the Advisory Board and Distinguished Fellow of the new SMU School of Law, providing guidance and leadership in helping build the new law school.

Dr Lee Seng Gee is an exemplary individual who has made generous contributions to education and society since the founding years of Singapore. Inheriting a firm belief in education from his father, the late Dr Lee Kong Chian, the younger Lee carries on the philanthropic vision of his father through the Lee Foundation, extending the reach of the non-profit foundation to improve the lives of people in Singapore, Malaysia and beyond. The Lee Foundation, under Dr Lee's leadership, has provided extraordinary financial resources and support to the education sector, ensuring that needy students at all levels are not deprived of an education. While shouldering and growing his family business, the Lee Rubber Group of Companies, Dr Lee never lost sight of his deep conviction to provide for the less fortunate. In 2004, SMU received a generous S$50 million gift from the Lee Foundation for which the university named in perpetuity the School of Business, the building, and the university-wide scholars programme after Dr Lee's father, Dr Lee Kong Chian.

Valedictorian Alvina Teh

Awarded annually to the most outstanding student of each graduating cohort, this year's SPH Magazines Valedictorian Award goes to Ms Alvina Teh who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management (Summa Cum Laude). Alvina is an extraordinary achiever and exemplary student leader in SMU. Her consistently stellar academic performance with perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average score in all four years placed her on the Dean's List for 2003, 2004 and 2005, and won her the opportunity to go to The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for exchange during Fall of 2006. An accomplished emcee and DJ, Alvina's natural talents in showmanship blossomed as President of the SMU Broadcasting & Entertainment Club and in her conceptualization of the SMU Campus Radio. Her maturity shone when she was selected to represent SMU at a highly publicized dialogue with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on national television in the lead up to the General Elections of 2006, as well as a panel discussion with world renowned Mr George Soros. Demonstrating her love for books, Alvina mounted the ReadSMU campaign to encourage fellow students to read beyond their curriculum materials. Putting a lucrative career in the corporate world on hold, Alvina is currently involved in helping grow her family publishing business.

Salutatorian Li Xiangrun

The SMU Salutatorian Award, which is given to the second highest ranking graduate of the cohort, goes to Mr Li Xiangrun who graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Summa Cum Laude). Xiangrun's impressive academic credentials include a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average score in all four years and Dean's List for 2004 and 2005. He spent a semester at the prestigious School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania during Fall 2006. An active member of Cognitare, a student-run club, that trains the top case presenters in SMU, Xiangrun represented SMU in the Thammasat Undergraduate Business Challenge in Bangkok in 2006 and helped organize the Citibank Case Challenge 2007 in SMU. He is also a prominent and active SMU Ambassador, meeting VIPs and taking them on campus tours. His spirit of volunteerism took him to Yunnan on a youth expedition to help the rural poor and to the United States on a Habitat for Humanity project to help reconstruct housing for the poor in Philadelphia . Xiangrun has landed a job with UBS in investment banking.

“Each year we celebrate the graduation of hundreds of graduands who have completed four years of education at SMU. Beyond the important paper qualification which will help them secure good careers, we hope that our graduates will carry with them the more important values of integrity and social responsibility. We also wish to recognize two special individuals and close friends of SMU – Mr Yong Pung How and Dr Lee Seng Gee – with the university's first honorary degrees for their exceptional contributions to the country and to SMU,” said Professor Howard Hunter, President, Singapore Management University.