Celebrating Education through Bursaries and Study Awards

[Photo: KH Tan Study Award Recipient Ivy Wong sharing during the Donor Appreciation Tea]

On 12 March 2014, donors and students gathered for a Donor Appreciation Tea session at the University Lounge. About ten donors who have generously supported bursary and study award programmes at SMU and twenty students attended. This was an opportunity for the SMU community to show their appreciation for the support and generosity of donors, as well as a platform for students to share about their educational experiences at SMU.

SMU Dean of Students Associate Professor Ong Siow Heng thanked guests for their generosity and outlined the vital role of donations in delivering first-class education for all students at SMU, following which Tan Jing Ming, Killiney Kopitiam Bursary Recipient and Ivy Wong, KH Tan Study Award Recipient, shared about how the financial assistance received had made an impact in their undergraduate lives. After the event, donors took time to network with bursary recipients over a tea reception.

“The K H Tan Study Award has allowed me to continue pursuing excellence in my CCA, Muay Thai, where I currently serve as President of the club. I have also spearheaded an Overseas Community Service Programme to Thailand for the past three years to teach children in Chang Mai. Receiving the K H Tan Study award has also motivated me to excel in my studies. I want to say thank you to all the donors present, especially Mr K H Tan, for supporting and guiding students in our learning and development, and for inspiring us to contribute to society,” said student Ms Ivy Wong.

"The Rotary Club of Singapore East is delighted to play our part in education philanthropy which is well aligned with one of our Club’s objectives of serving the society. Our past recipients have proven themselves to be most praiseworthy and we hope to inspire them to do well in their studies and hopefully contribute back to the society,” said Low Wei Ling, past President and Chair of the Rotary Club Singapore East Education Bursary Fund. The Rotary Club of Singapore East Education Bursary, which aims to enable deserving Singaporean SMU undergraduates with demonstrated financial needs to achieve their educational goals, has been renewed for a third time for AY2013/14.