Learning to pay it forward through Lim Siah Mong Scholarship

“Mr Lim Siah Mong’s contribution will help us ensure that no deserving student misses out on the opportunity of an SMU education because of financial need. I must add that not only do our students benefit, SMU also stands to gain because your gift will inspire other community and industry leaders to similarly contribute to SMU, thereby building a richer and more vibrant educational environment for all SMU students,” said SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer in thanking Mr Lim at the donor appreciation tea and scholarship presentation ceremony on 23 September 2014.

Mr Lim Siah Mong, Managing Director of Lubritrade Trading Pte Ltd, has set up the $1 million Lim Siah Mong Scholarship at SMU which will fund five full bond-free scholarships a year to full-time Singaporean freshmen enrolled in any undergraduate programme at the University. In all, 25 scholarships will be awarded over a period of five years, commencing from Academic Year 2014/15.

Mr Lim, who attended the event with his family and staff, said "I chose to support SMU because it is a dynamic university which does not just focus on academic achievements. Its interactive pedagogy of seminar styled teaching and mandatory community service for its students make it a unique tertiary institution. As a strong advocate of education, I hope that more students will benefit from the Scholarship and learn to pay it forward by contributing back to society in time to come."   

[Photo: SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer presenting a memento to Mr Lim Siah Mong.]

The Scholarship aims to inspire needy SMU students with outstanding academic results as well as commendable record of co-curricular activity and/or community service involvement to scale greater heights of excellence.

The inaugural recipients of the Lim Siah Mong Scholarship are undergraduates Joleen Tan Xi Ting (School of Accountancy), Yeoh Yan Ru (Lee Kong Chian School of Business), Wan Mei Ying (School of Information Systems), Brian Huang Lu Yuan (School of Law), and Chan Chan Leong (School of Law).

[Photo: Wan Mei Ying, one of the recipients of the Lim Siah Mong Scholarship, sharing her volunteer experience and appreciation to Mr Lim at the event.]

Speaking on behalf of the scholarship recipients, Wan Mei Ying expressed her appreciation to Mr Lim for the scholarship which would go a long way in lightening the financial load on her parents. “The Lim Siah Mong Scholarship has been a huge relief to us. My father does not need to perform extra shifts, and my mother does not have to take on odd jobs to pay for my tuition fees. My parents do not need to work for more than 14 hours a day, thus allowing them to have dinner together with their children, which is family time that I truly treasure and appreciate.

“I would like to thank Mr Lim for his generosity, and for giving us the guidance and freedom to pursue our studies and our dreams. Mr Lim, you have made a difference to our lives, and we hope that one day we could also make a difference to the lives of others.”

[Featured photo: Inaugural scholarship recipients (from left) Chan Chan Leong, Brian Huang, Joleen Tan, Yeoh Yan Ru and (extreme right) Wan Mei Ying with Mr Lim Siah Mong and SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer at the donor appreciation tea and scholarship presentation ceremony.]