Singapore President and SMU Patron Madam Halimah Yacob with performers at SMU Patrons Day 2018.

SMU powered up to celebrate its 18^th Patron’s Day (PD18) on 26 January and to welcome Singapore President Madam Halimah Yacob, on her inaugural visit as SMU’s third Patron.

Mdm Halimah Yacob being received at SMU Patron’s Day 2018 by SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping (right) and SMU President Prof Arnoud De Meyer (3^rd from left).

President Halimah toured the Festival Grounds on Campus Green and met and chatted with SMU students, performers, makers and merchants, as well as advocates behind the eight social causes that PD18 adopted. The support for these social causes and opening the event to the public were conceived to make meaningful impact, in line with SMU Vision 2025 to be a “University for the City” through collaborations with partners and neighbours.

Mdm Halimah with advocates from trybe – one of the eight adopted social causes.

In this spirit, Mdm Halimah penned her wish for SMU – “Use your power for good”, on a decorative ball which was later placed on a centrepiece display. Her message aligned with the PD18 theme “I.AM.POWER (I empower)”.

Mdm Halimah pens her wish for SMU – “Use your power for good”.

After the tour, SMU Patron viewed an exhibition on The University’s key milestones and attended a dinner at the SMU Hall together with some 300 guests comprising SMU trustees, advisory board members, senior management, students and alumni. Guests at the dinner were entertained by informative videos, and performances by SMU students and alumni.

SMU Patron viewing SMU milestone exhibition hosted by President of SMU Ambassadorial Corps, Terrence Yeo (School of Law).

In his welcome remarks, SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping introduced Mdm Halimah as a true Superwoman, who had overcome many challenges in life to achieve success in several fields and who actively supports numerous social causes. “Madam Halimah, we warmly welcome you as the third Patron of SMU. You are indeed a role model for our students and everyone in our community of how we can transform to be the best we can for ourselves and to do the best we can for others – such is the theme of our Patron’s Day this year,” he said.

SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, explained how the themes of Patron’s Day supported SMU’s long-term Vision 2025: “Today challenges us all to imagine the possibilities of having superhuman powers to be the best we can be for the greater good. This reflects the goal of SMU’s Vision 2025 to become a great university that ‘imagines better’ and to make meaningful impact on Singapore and the world,” he said.

SMU Ballare dance for the diners.

Over at the Campus Green, the evening continued late into the night with a magnetic show that featured talented students and alumni groups such as Samba Masala, City Samba, Eurhythmix and Eluminix, SMU’s very own undergrad Jasmine Sokko, Sing! China second runner-up Joanna Dong and singer-songwriter Gentle Bones.

Joanna also debut her new original song - 珊珊到访 – a song about good fortune and how things are worth the wait. You can watch her performance here.

There was also a Carnival of seven exciting games and activities, a Makers’ Market featuring 14 vendors and 14 F&B merchants offering tantalising treats. It was a festival of fun, right in the heart of the city, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds of people from the SMU community and general public.

Experiencing superpowers in virtual reality.

The huge success of creating such an enjoyable day was all thanks to the combined collaborative efforts of the talented performers, enterprising stall holders, the Patron’s Day 2018 organising committee comprising of SMU staff, students and alumni, Office of Alumni Relations, X-cept and University Events team (Office of Corporate Communications and Marketing).

Local musician Gentle Bones, a headline act in the evening’s performances.

SMU Patron with SMU Patron's Day Organising Committee 2018.

For more photos, videos, contest results visit SMU Facebook page, SMU Patrons Day 2018 Facebook page, and SMU University Events Facebook page.