SMU founding Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping has been awarded in the Distinguished Service Order in the 2017 National Day Awards, having received the Meritorious Service Medal in 2009 for his contributions in founding SMU. "I am honoured and humbled to be awarded the Distinguished Service Order in this year's National Day Awards," said Mr Ho. "To have been able to contribute to Singapore not just in business but in the development of our educational sector and the growth of our civil society, is to me the true meaning of a purposeful life." A Ministry of Education spokesman said, "In the last 17 years, Mr Ho has led SMU to grow from just having a School of Business into a vibrant university offering various disciplines, and research opportunities, with close to 10,000 students. Its "broad-based, interactive pedagogy has also produced highly sought-after graduates who are confident, articulate and globally oriented". The spokesman added: "Mr Ho defined SMU's fundamental mission as creating a better world. Numerous SMU alumni have responded to this call by incorporating social responsibility into their own start-up businesses, and many continue to contribute to the social projects they participated in while at SMU or return to help fellow students. Mr Ho's vision and leadership of SMU have helped to redefine the university landscape in Singapore."