Korean pop star Psy’s Gangnam Style music and video hit was the theme for this year’s University Student Life Awards. “Dress classy, dance cheesy” is Psy’s much-quoted advice and many of the students, staff and faculty members who attended certainly dressed K-pop “classy”. Towards the end of the ceremony, SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer and a posse of faculty and staff members took to the stage to “dance cheesy” too.

The annual student life awards celebrate the successes and contributions of individuals and clubs in areas such as the arts, sports and adventure, student leadership and community integration. There are ten categories of award, including those sponsored by Tan Tee Chee & Tsan Kah Ngooh, former Dean of Students Professor A.M. Low, the Lee Foundation, and SMU Alumni Association. There is also a category to award staff and faculty members who have significantly supported or contributed to co-curricular learning. There were smiles and cheers aplenty as a string of 75 awards were made in the hour-long formal segment of the ceremony.

[Photo: Dean of Students Professor Ong Siow Heng with the winners of the Dean of Students Award (Student Leadership & Community Integration).]

[Photo: Female faculty and staff members performing the traditional Korean fan dance.]

Following the precedent set last year, faculty and staff members took to the stage to provide the entertainment for the evening. Dressed in traditional Korean costume, a group of ladies performed an elaborate and beautiful Korean fan dance. This was followed by a K-pop-style boy band and girl band, and then came the grand finale. All the performers took to the stage led by Professor De Meyer to perform Gangnam Style, which drew wolf whistles and a roar of approval from the audience.

To round off the evening, there was a generous spread of Korean and international food and drink, allowing award winners, their parents, other students, faculty and staff members to mingle and chat – more often than not about the show-stopping stage performances.

2013 University Student Life Awards List of Winners

[Photo: Mr Rishyakaran Karthigasu, father of late SMU student Rajan, presents the Rajan Rishyakaran Debating Excellence Award to Urmila Mandapaka.]

[Feature photo: Professor Arnoud De Meyer leading SMU staff and faculty members in Gangnam Style dance number.]