2 October 2007

Good to great: Alumni to help build NUS

ENGAGING ALUMNI: Singapore President Mr S R Nathan (left) with Dr Shaw Vee Meng, Chairman of Shaw Foundation at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House Benefactors Dinner.

NUS aims to have more than 100 Founding Benefactors for the Shaw Foundation Alumni House, each pledging $20,000 for alumni cultivation and educational programmes. So far, more than 30 prominent alumni, friends and staff have come forward, including ophthalmologist Prof Arthur Lim and his son, Dr Richard Lim, Chairman of Majulah Connection; Managing Director of Parkway Holdings, Dr Lim Cheok Peng; YCH Group Chairman and CEO Mr Robert Yap. The wife of the late Dr Chao Tzee Cheng has also contributed to the newly-announced Founding Benefactors' Initiative in honour of her husband, the late renowned forensic pathologist.

The Initiative was launched at a special dinner (28 Sept) to honour the generous contributions of Shaw Foundation and the NUS Society as Principal Benefactors as well as the donations of an initial group of prominent and illustrious alumni and friends who have signed on as Founding Benefactors of the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Shaw Foundation has donated $10 million; and the NUS Society, $5 million.

CHEERS: Alumni, friends and staff joining NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong in a toast to Singapore President and Patron of the Shaw Foundation Alumni House Mr S R Nathan for his steadfast support for the University’s commitment to engaging alumni.

At the event. Singapore President and NUS Chancellor, Mr S R Nathan was also named Patron of the Alumni House which is expected to be completed next year.

Prof Shih thanked all benefactors and friends for their "generosity of spirit and support, both tangible and intangible".

"Alumni House breaks new ground as a tangible landmark of our University's commitment to alumni and vice versa. It is dedicated to recognising our alumni as key stakeholders in NUS' aspirations and future. It is our hope that this home on campus will help strengthen the sense of identification and pride among those who have passed through our portals and now carry the mantle of NUS across the world," he said.

Prof Shih sees the development of the Alumni House as key to realising shared aspiration to move NUS up from a good, respected university to one that is great. “The challenge for us as a community is to work together with one heart and mind to stand among the world’s best,” he said.