Winners of the SMU Community Service Student Achievement Awards 2025

Published on 5 September 2025

Singapore | SMU is proud to recognise nine outstanding students at the 2025 Community Service Student Achievement Awards. Collectively, these students contributed more than 2,000 hours of service, exemplifying the University’s belief that education extends beyond the classroom to nurture responsible, compassionate leaders.

SMU thanks our donors for their generous support, which has enabled these awards and encouraged our students to serve with impact. Here, we share some of their experiences and the impact of their volunteer work.

As I continue to do community service, I realise that the people I am trying to help are teaching me many things too. I am often inspired by the resilience and strength of many of the beneficiaries I worked with. – Sean Cheng, Year 3, Bachelor of Law, Soka Gakkai Singapore (SGS)-Ikeda Peace Award Recipient

Recipient of the Soka Gakkai Singapore (SGS)-Ikeda Peace Award, Sean Cheng has consistently gone beyond the minimum community service requirement of 80 hours, contributing more than 320 hours to a wide range of initiatives.

Inspired by his former teacher, Ms Eliza Tan, founder of “Mummy Yummy Singapore”, Sean was moved by the group’s work in providing warm meals to vulnerable individuals. This experience deepened his understanding of the barriers faced by underprivileged communities and strengthened his resolve to contribute meaningfully.

At SMU, Sean has taken on leadership roles in projects such as Project YOLO, which supported the holistic education of children from low-income families, and Project Empower 4.0, which helped build self-esteem among youth. As Vice-President of SMU Rotaract, he spearheaded Project Candela, providing support to migrant workers in Singapore.

Beyond campus, Sean also volunteers with Youth Corps Singapore, where he promotes inclusivity for students with special needs and facilitates peer-sharing sessions on mental wellness. His commitment to service reflects a broader belief in the power of connection, empathy, and sustained engagement to make a difference.

“It wasn’t a sudden spark that pushed me to serve. It was a journey that grew stronger with every smile, every laugh, and every thank-you. My goal is to empower others and show them that they matter.”
– Liew Wan Ting, Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management, Yu Xin Community Leadership Award

Wan Ting’s first community service project, Purple Outreach, was initially undertaken as part of her graduation requirement. However, after each session, she found herself looking forward to the next, drawn by the genuine connections she was building and the joy of seeing beneficiaries’ bright smiles. These moments made her realise she was creating safe spaces where people felt valued and heard.

Her passion deepened as she stepped into leadership roles. She served as Project Director for Project Ai 2024 under SMU Caretalyst, and as an EXCO member for several initiatives including Project Illuminare 2024, Project YOLO 2024, and Project Enrich 2024, all of which supported persons with disabilities and underprivileged children. She is now working with the South West Community Inno Lab Initiative, curating a new project that is currently undergoing a needs assessment.

For her sincerity, kindness, and dedication to empowering others, Wan Ting was recognised with the Yu Xin Community Leadership Award. She remains committed to uplifting individuals and showing them that they matter.

Every act of kindness amounts to something bigger. When something as simple as being there for someone results in immense gratitude from the community, I knew this was how we can spread happiness — even if just for a while. – Chloe Ng, Year 3, School of Social Sciences, Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – Persons with Disabilities

Chloe’s first experience with community service came in secondary school, where simple conversations with beneficiaries revealed how small actions could leave a lasting impact. Their warm smiles and sincere gratitude sparked her passion for volunteering.

At SMU, Chloe continued her journey through starringSMU 2023, an initiative that raises awareness and support for people with disabilities. Inspired by its impact, she took on the role of President of starringSMU 2024, providing strategic leadership to a 17-member executive committee and overseeing community service programmes for more than 100 freshmen.

In recognition of her efforts, Chloe received the Pilot Pen Community Champion Award in the Persons with Disabilities category. She remains committed to fostering inclusivity and hopes to inspire her peers to step forward in service.

During our last session with the children, one of them asked, ‘Why is this our last session? When are you coming back?’At that moment, I realised how much our time and effort meant to them. Knowing they felt seen, supported, and valued made me want to continue serving the community. – Tan Yu Qi, Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management, Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – Low-Income Families/Single-Parent Families

Yu Qi’s passion for community service began in secondary school through a Values-in-Action activity at an elderly home. Simple games and conversations revealed how meaningful it was to be present for others, showing her the power of small gestures to create connection.

At SMU, Yu Qi joined Kidleidoscope 2023, a programme designed to inspire disadvantaged children to dream bigger through confidence-building activities. Deeply moved by her experience, she took on the role of Vice-President of Kidleidoscope 2024, where she worked alongside the President to provide leadership to a 17-member executive committee and ensure more than 100 freshmen had opportunities to volunteer meaningfully.

Her dedication earned her the Pilot Pen Community Champion Award in the Low-Income Families/Single-Parent Families category. Yu Qi continues to champion inclusive spaces where every individual feels valued, while promoting kindness and encouraging her peers to serve with empathy.

During our last session with the children, one of them asked, ‘Why is this our last session? When are you coming back?’At that moment, I realised how much our time and effort meant to them. Knowing they felt seen, supported, and valued made me want to continue serving the community. – Tan Yu Qi, Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management, Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – Low-Income Families/Single-Parent Families

Full list of Winners

COMMUNITY SERVICE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2024-25

Soka Gakkai Singapore (SGS)-Ikeda Peace Award

Sean Cheng Yishao (Year 3, Bachelor of Laws)

Yu Xin Community Leadership Award

Liew Wan Ting (Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management)
Bernice Ng Si Hui (Year 4, Bachelor of Social Science)

Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – Persons with Disabilities

Chloe Ng (Year 3, School of Social Sciences)

Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – The Elderly

Lee Yoon Hui (Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management)
Jovin Lee Zhuo Xuan (Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management)

Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – Environmental Advocacy

Estrella Kwok Shi Hua (Year 3, Bachelor of Science in Information Systems)

Pilot Pen Community Champion Award – Low-Income Families / Single-Parent Families

Tan Yu Qi (Year 3, Bachelor of Business Management)
Stella Blenda Chandra (Year 4, Bachelor of Business Management)

As these students show, acts of service — whether through teaching a child, supporting a migrant worker, or fostering environmental responsibility — can ripple far beyond the moment. Their stories stand as a testament to what it means to serve with compassion, and to the lasting change SMU students can inspire in the world around them.