[Singapore, 16 August 2014 (Saturday)] – More than 800 alumni and their families gathered at Campus Green in Singapore Management University (SMU) today to celebrate the first SMU Alumni Day.

Since its founding in 2000, 11 batches, or over 14,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students have passed through the halls of the University. The celebration today marks the gathering of all alumni from all cohorts to come together to rediscover SMU and relive some of the best years of their lives.

Themed ‘Celebrating U’, the event saw an exciting line-up of activities, including music and percussion performances by alumni groups, recreation of the ‘SMU Jump’, campus tours, and parallel back-to-school sessions where SMU faculty members shared their expertise on investing and negotiations. In addition, the pioneer SMU cohort Class of 2004 will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their graduation, and the Class of 2005 will mark their 5^th year. SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping, SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, members of SMU senior management, staff, faculty and current students joined the alumni for an afternoon of fun and laughter.

SMU Chairman Ho Kwon Ping said, “Over the 15 years of my association with SMU, I am proud to say that SMU continues to nurture and produce individuals who dare to be different and traverse the road not taken. I could not be more delighted than to be part of this important celebration of our SMU alumni.”

Added SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, “Today is a significant testament to the growing strength of our SMU alumni community. We celebrate our alumni near and far, but especially those who came back today to renew their bonds with the University and their fellow SMU friends and peers.”

The highlight of SMU Alumni Day was the presentation of the inaugural SMU Alumni Awards to celebrate and recognise the achievements of SMU alumni in their fields of specialisation either locally or internationally, as well as to appreciate their significant contribution to the University and the wider community.

The SMU Alumni Awards have three categories: the SMU Rising Star Award, the SMU Pride Award, and the SMU Spirit Award. Three winners were identified for each category this year.

The SMU Rising Star Award recognises established and future leaders among SMU’s alumni, who epitomise the potential of SMU CIRCLE values (Commitment, Integrity, Responsibility, Collegiality, Leadership and Excellence) by achieving extraordinary sustained excellence in their chosen profession and/or have made a significant impact through their service to society. The winners were:

-                   Ms Lim Kexin, Technical Advisor at PwC Indonesia, and a winner of the Young Accountants of the Year in the inaugural Singapore Accountancy Awards organised by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) last week.

-                  Mr Kaushal Dugar, Founder and CEO of Teabox, an online tea retailing business that aims to disrupt the 200-year old tea industry in India;

-                  Mr Calvin Quek Shao-Ming, former banker, now the Head of Sustainability Finance Program at Greenpeace East Asia.

The SMU Pride Award is presented to alumni who have rendered exceptional leadership and service to SMU. It recognises their voluntary service to SMU, including but not limited to their involvement in alumni groups, international chapters, mentoring programmes, volunteer support of university, schools and centres, and the SMU Alumni Association. The winners of this award were:

-                   Mr Tim Mou Hui, who initiated the Social Sciences Conference while a student at SMU School of Social Sciences;

-                   Mr Wong Hur Ming, who has served 7 years in the SMU Alumni Association, of which he served two terms as President, and is currently leading the SMU Alumni Mutual Funds Interest Group;  

-                   Mr Nadir Zafar, a founding member of the SMU Alumni Association in 2004 and currently the President of the SMU Alumni Association UAE chapter.

The SMU Spirit Award honours alumni who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and continued service to SMU student life. It recognises their passion and commitment in being a part of the growth and success of their respective CCA clubs, as well as the University and the student community. The winners were:

-                   Ms Melissa Ho Mei Xuan who serves as an instructor and mentor for the SMU Climb Team;

-                   Mr Nicholas Poon Guo Kun, a Senior Justices’ Law Clerk at the Supreme Court of Singapore and adjunct faculty at SMU School of Law, who coaches SMU moot teams for competitions;

-                   Mr Sim Chin Ta, who choreographs and directs the SMU Caderas Latinas (Salsa Team) to win international competitions.

(Please refer to Annex 1 for more details of the winners.)

[Featured photo: Recipients of the inaugural SMU Alumni Awards are: (back row, from left): Tim Moh Hui, Calvin Quek Shao-Ming, Nicholas Poon Guo Kun, Sim Chin Ta; (front row, from left): Wong Hur Ming, Melissa Ho Mei Xuan, Lim Kexin, Kaushal Dugar. [Nadir Zafar, a recipient of SMU Pride Award, was unable to attend the ceremony in person to collect the award]. 

For more information, please contact

Teo Chang Ching (Mr)

Assistant Director

Corporate Communications

DID: 6828 0451

Email: ccteo [at] smu.edu.sg