Singapore Management University (SMU) celebrated a milestone in its Silver Jubilee with the dedication of 25 Tembusu trees — the first ever on its city campus as a living testament to the generosity of its donors.
Launched to commemorate SMU’s 25th anniversary, this initiative reflects the importance of donors in supporting SMU’s journey, and embodies the University’s values of resilience, growth, and longevity. The trees are dedicated to the first 25 donors—who stepped forward as part of SMU’s Silver Jubilee—to support student financial aid, scholarships, and overseas learning opportunities- widening opportunities for future leaders. Beyond enhancing campus greenery, the initiative highlights how donors and benefactors are shaping a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.
As SMU marks its Silver Jubilee, the 25 Tembusu trees stand tall as living symbols of resilience, gratitude, and the giving spirit in shaping the University’s future.
Professor Lily Kong, SMU President, said, “The past 25 years of SMU would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our donors. It is therefore with great pleasure that we dedicate the first 25 Tembusu trees on our campus to this important group, as a lasting symbol of our gratitude. As we look ahead to the next 25 years, we hope that all who believe in our vision will continue to walk alongside us in nurturing the next generation of changemakers.”
Alumni Giving Back: A Community Coming of Age
Five alumni are among the 25 donors, each choosing to help nurture the same environment that once supported them, so that future generations can grow and pay it forward in the years ahead. As a young university of 25 years, alumni participation in this milestone reflects how philanthropy at SMU has come full circle for this community that is coming of age.
For Darrell Ee (BAcc 2007), perseverance and teamwork defined both his life in sports and in school. As Captain of the SMU water polo team and a member of the national squad, he clinched gold at the 2003 SEA Games while juggling a demanding curriculum.
“SMU’s support gave me the flexibility to pursue my sport at the highest level while keeping pace with my studies. That culture of support and community shaped my perspective for years to come, and it’s what I treasure most,” he recalls.
Together with his wife Frances Yeap, Darrell established The Ee Family Study Award and International Exchange Grant in celebration of SMU’s 25th Anniversary, to enable students to pursue their tertiary education at SMU. “We’ve both been very blessed. We wish for others to have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams and build community freely, without the worry of finances,” Frances shares.
Their gift will also enable students to access life-changing global experiences, a cause close to their hearts: “From our own journeys—one as an international sportsman, the other as an international student—we know how much there is to gain from time abroad.”
Willy Wee (BAcc 2013) credits SMU with broadening his horizons: from a transformative exchange semester in Mexico to project-based learning that honed collaboration and creative thinking. But he also remembers the vital role of scholarships that eased financial pressures and opened doors he might otherwise have missed. “That sense of relief and gratitude has stayed with me, and I want to create the same opportunities for others,” he shares.
To honour his mother’s unwavering sacrifices, Willy established the Mdm Leow Poh Fong Endowed Scholarship in 2024. “Her quiet strength made all the difference in my life. This gift is a tribute to her and a way to support students who, like me, simply needed someone to believe in them.” He hopes that through the gift, students will “feel inspired to pay it forward, creating a lasting cycle of support that continues to open doors for future generations.”
Randy Cheung (BBM 2014), who grew up in a lower-income household, credits SMU with transforming his life and lifting his family’s circumstances. “At SMU I learnt that success isn’t just about IQ—it’s also about EQ, the ability to connect and collaborate, and AQ (Adversity Quotient), the resilience to rise above setbacks with a growth mindset.”
His career in funds management was built on the confidence, global exposure and mentorship he received at the University, and his gift—the Cheung Family Endowed Scholarship—is his way of paying it forward. “I could pursue my education only because others believed in me. By supporting students from financially challenged backgrounds, I hope to ease their burdens so they can focus on learning and growth, and one day feel inspired to pay it forward too.”
Keeve Tan (MBA 2018, MWM 2022), a senior finance professional often called on by Bloomberg, Nasdaq and Business Times, says SMU shaped his early foundation and gave him the perspective he carries into his career today. “From my vantage point in the marketplace, I see the urgent need for leaders who can navigate not just finance, but also technological change, cultural nuance and sustainability,” he reflects.
His gift to SMU, he adds, is about creating that chance for others: “When given at the right moment, opportunity can change not just a person’s trajectory, but entire communities and industries.” With the establishment of the Keeve Tan Wealth Management Scholarship, he aims to empower Southeast Asia’s brightest minds to thrive in Singapore’s wealth management sector and elevate the region’s financial landscape.
Dr Sun Xiushun (CKGSB-SMU DBA, 2022), Founder and Chairman of Winning International Group, established the Winning International Group Study Award to widen access to education and encourage Accountancy students to strive for academic excellence.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Dr Sun has built Winning International Group into a leading player in global shipping and logistics, with operations spanning Asia, Africa, and beyond. Under his leadership, the SMB-Winning Consortium has become a major force in the regional maritime mining supply chain, strengthening trade and connectivity across continents.
Reflecting on his journey and his motivation to give back, Dr Sun said: “SMU has demonstrated that it is both distinctive and world-class. In the same way that Winning International Group strives for excellence in all that we do, I hope this Study Award will inspire students to pursue their aspirations with courage and conviction. By easing their financial burdens, my wish is to give them the freedom to focus on honing their talents, realising their potential, and ultimately shaping a better future for society.”
A Living Legacy
Each tree carries a personalised plaque, ensuring that the names and contributions of the 25 donors will be remembered by generations of the SMU community.
The Tembusu, renowned for its resilience and famously featured on Singapore’s five-dollar note, carries special significance for the University. These are the first Tembusu trees to grace SMU’s campus, adding to the university’s distinctive cityscape greenery.
The tree dedication ceremony also echoed SMU’s history of symbolic plantings: in 2017, then-Chairman Ho Kwon Ping planted a Banyan tree to signify strong roots and expansive growth. The Tembusu grove now deepens this tradition, representing enduring strength and the flourishing spirit of the SMU community.
A Celebration of Giving and Community
In addition to the trees, the ceremony saw the installation of the SMU25 bench and the sealing of a time capsule, capturing the spirit of SMU’s journey and aspirations for the next 25 years.
