It was a lively afternoon of activity that flowed seamlessly into a night of colour, sound, and celebration as Campus Green came alive for SMU Patron’s Day 2026. Students, staff, alumni, and members of the public streamed through the grounds, exploring the SMU Makers showcase, cheering on the Inter-Faculty Tug-of-War, and enjoying performances under the stars.
The excitement had been building even before the big day. From 26 to 28 January, a fun-filled Patron’s Day roadshow on campus rallied the community with games and activities inspired by the event’s theme, “A-Z: Infinite Possibilities”. Participants unscrambled words, filled in missing letters, and won prizes, all while getting a taste of what was to come. By the time 30 January arrived, the anticipation was palpable.
A hallmark of SMU since 2000, Patron’s Day commemorates the University’s incorporation and honours each Patron who has guided its journey — from President S R Nathan to the current Patron, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. This year, the event was a remarkable reminder that just as 26 letters create limitless words, the SMU community creates boundless possibilities together.
Patron’s Visit Anchors the Celebration
A key highlight of Patron’s Day 2026 was the visit of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, attending as SMU’s Patron for the second time. Upon his arrival, he was taken on a tour, during which he visited the SMU Makers showcase, engaged with student organisers, and witnessed the final rounds of the Inter-Faculty Tug-of-War, underscoring Patron’s Day as a platform where student initiative, institutional leadership, and community participation converge.
The celebrations continued with the Patron’s Day Dinner, which brought together University leaders, partners, alumni, and student representatives. Held in a warm and convivial setting at the SMU Hall, Yong Pung How School of Law, the dinner featured speeches by SMU Chairman Mr Piyush Gupta and SMU President Professor Lily Kong.
Mr Gupta highlighted the importance of a broad-based education in a changing world in his welcome address and shared how SMU is sharpening its focus on delivering impact in education and research. In her speech, Professor Kong emphasised that SMU’s goal is to nurture graduates who are agile, adaptive and purpose-driven.
The evening also featured meaningful video segments that threw the spotlight on the impact stories shared by alumni such as Shereen Aziz-Williams and Yip Pin Xiu. Performances by SMU VOIX, SMU INDANCITY, and SMU Eurhythmix added to the vibrant atmosphere, reflecting the passion and talent that define campus life.
For Professor Mark Chong, SMU’s Dean of Students, Patron’s Day uniquely brings the heart of student life into the spotlight.
One of the quirks of SMU is that a lot of student life actually happens out of sight from the public — in the basement, in the concourse. What is special about Patron’s Day is that once a year, it brings it out into the open, on ground level, for everyone to see what a vibrant community we have on campus.
Reflecting on SMU’s journey, Professor Chong added:
The thing that drew me to SMU in the early days was its spirit of daring, its courage to be different, its willingness to push boundaries. I hope SMU will never lose that distinctiveness and that courage to do things differently.
A Day Designed and Driven by Students
At the centre of Patron’s Day 2026 was a 26-member student organising committee, who led the planning and execution of the event over several months. From curating programmes and selecting vendors to shaping sustainability efforts and stage performances, students played a central role in defining what the celebration would look and feel like.
For PD26 SMU Makers Director Tan Hui Ling, the planning process was guided by a simple goal: bringing people together.
Our core inspiration came from the ‘Alphabet’ theme. We wanted our main activity at the SMU Makers stretch to complement the larger event concept while creating a fun and meaningful way for students to connect with one another.
Looking back, she described the journey from concept to execution as the most rewarding part. "The most memorable part was the entire journey from ‘none to done.’ Seeing everything come together on event day, and hearing the Makers’ positive feedback, gave us a strong sense of fulfilment and pride."
For Design Director Humaira Binte Imran, the event was also a personal milestone.
Contributing to PD26 increased my sense of belonging in SMU. The personal growth and relationships gained from working with my team and other departments were most rewarding for me.
Operations & Logistics Director Ng Yan Shuo echoed the same sentiment:
We wanted PD26 to be more than just an event, but a platform where students from different backgrounds could collaborate, connect, and feel a shared sense of pride and ownership.
Their shared hope and efforts reflected Patron’s Day as a shared campus experience, not just a single moment on the calendar.
Tradition, Teamwork, and School Spirit
The Inter-Faculty Tug-of-War returned as one of the day’s most anticipated highlights, with all seven SMU schools and colleges competing fiercely for the championship title. This year, a new cheerleading segment added an extra burst of energy to the competition.
After several hard-fought rounds, the School of Economics (SOE) emerged victorious, a triumphant turnaround for a team that had finished second-to-last the previous year.
Team representative Leo Kai Jie, an SOE freshman, reflected on what the win meant:
Beyond being a great way to sweat out the stress of studying, this win was about School pride. We wanted to show that SOE has a fierce fighting spirit.
He described how strategy and teamwork played a crucial role: "We studied the art of tug-of-war and adapted our techniques to the slippery grass of Campus Green. Constant communication was vital, and callouts like ‘hold’ and ‘stay low’ kept us united. Teamwork and School spirit played the biggest role in our victory."
For the team, the victory went beyond a trophy. Fellow representative, Zen Koh Sheng Sian, added: "Winning the match, especially in the presence of our President, Mr Tharman, made the moment even more memorable."
SMU Makers and the Joy of Creating
Another defining feature of the celebration was the SMU Makers showcase, featuring 28 makers across 26 booths — including students, alumni, and staff/faculty participants.
The curated offerings spanned lifestyle products, accessories, fashion, food, and handicrafts. Highlights included:
- favour.writes: a live poetry studio, turning personal stories into bespoke poems.
- Fogo Fungi: alumni-driven, promoting locally grown exotic mushrooms.
- The Jack Fruit Store: handcrafted crochet creations inspired by everyday Singapore life.
For Year 4 student Caleb Lim, founder of favour.writes, participating as an SMU Maker felt like a milestone.
Being an SMU Maker is the epitome of a culmination of my journey as a student. I committed the time to accumulate knowledge, funnelled my passion into a working concept, and applied what I’ve learnt to make my passion project a reality.
Alumnus Ryan Ong from Fogo Fungi saw the showcase as a meaningful homecoming.
Coming back to campus as an alumnus feels meaningful. It’s great to interact with students, founders, and creators, and to contribute back to the community in a small way.
For undergraduate Maker Nguyen Duy Phuong Mai, the platform represented growth and encouragement:
Participating in SMU Makers reminds me how creativity, when given space and support, can grow into something much bigger than expected.
Purpose with Heart: Project Artis II
Among the booths was Project Artis II, a Centre for Social Responsibility (C4SR) student initiative that partners with social enterprise Social Gifting to support persons with disabilities through home-based crafting activities.
Student leader Roselle Koh Wenyan shared what the platform meant: “We are extremely glad to be representing Social Gifting’s crafters. Our crafters are extremely talented at what they do, and we’re proud to be sharing their gifts with a wider community.”
She added that the project’s impact goes far beyond the products on display.
We hope visitors take away that persons with disabilities have many skills and talents, and that every purchase supports their livelihood, builds their confidence, and reminds them their work matters.
Sustainability in Action
Sustainability was woven throughout the event, including a return of a hands-on upcycling activation by Plastify, where attendees transformed bottle caps into practical items using a hydraulic press.
The activation encouraged participants to reflect on consumption and waste, reinforcing sustainability as a shared responsibility embedded in everyday campus life.
When the Stage Took Centre Spotlight
Evening performances unfolded across three segments, featuring SMU SoundFoundry, SMU Funk Movement, and SMU Samba Masala. Homegrown singer-songwriter shazza headlined the night, followed by SMU Stereometa’s closing DJ set that turned Campus Green into a lively dancefloor.
For fourth-year Undergraduate student Jamie Tan Xin Yee, the atmosphere captured what makes Patron’s Day special:
Patron’s Day is filled with so much hype and unity! It’s a day where we forget about schoolwork and just enjoy being part of the community.
Reflecting on her SMU journey, she added:
From being a nervous freshman to cheering on friends performing and boothing, Patron’s Day reminds us that we’re not journeying alone.
Keeping the Spirit Alive
While Patron’s Day lasts only one day, its impact resonates far beyond the evening. It is a celebration designed and developed by students, supported by staff and alumni, and enriched by partners. Most of all, it is a reminder of what makes SMU more than a university, but a community.
Returning alumna Shayanne Chang, who had hosted previous Patron’s Day events as a student, described the joy of experiencing it anew, and how seeing new generations take the lead was especially meaningful. She summed it up the best:
The vibrancy just gets bigger and bigger! Happy birthday, SMU. I hope you continue to have the most vibrant campus life this year and beyond, and that I can keep coming back to celebrate.
As the lights dimmed over Campus Green, one message lingered in our minds: from A to Z, SMU’s story continues to be written by its community, with infinite possibilities ahead.
Find Out More
Visit https://patronsday.smu.edu.sg
Watch the highlights here: https://youtu.be/pRBkzuOMe7s