Giving in the name of love

Prof Tan (3rd from right) accepting a cheque from Mr Yeo (3rd from left), with (from left) Ms Sarah Ong, Chairperson, NUS Campus Couples Alumni Group; Mr Johnny Tan, Chairman, Alumni Student Advancement Committee; Mr Kevin Ong, Director, NUS Development; and Mr Bernard Toh, Director, NUS Alumni Relations

Prof Tan (right) and his wife at the Dinner

An NUS Campus Couples Valentine’s Dinner was held on 13 February to thank alumni couples who raised close to $226,000 for the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund to support financially disadvantaged undergraduates.

The latest round of fundraising efforts began in September 2017 and has helped the Fund to garner more than $750,000 to date, benefitting 34 underprivileged NUS students. Contributors to the Fund made donations ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said that he was heartened by the unwavering dedication of alumni in supporting financially needy students, and giving them the opportunity to experience a life-changing university education at the University. “Initiatives such as the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund help to boost the University’s ongoing efforts at enabling more of our talented and deserving students to reach their fullest potential. We are grateful to our alumni and friends for their generous contributions. I hope that their efforts will inspire more alumni to give back to their alma mater.” Prof Tan, an NUS Science alumnus who met his spouse during their undergraduate days, is among the pioneer donors to the Fund.

The Fund, which had its inception in 2015, was initiated by Mr Yeo Keng Joon. Mr Yeo met his wife, Mdm Kong Yuet Peng, when they were pursuing their MBA degrees at NUS Business School (NUS Business). Having received financial assistance with their education, they established the bursary as a way to give back to the NUS community.

“Initiatives such as the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund help to boost the University’s ongoing efforts at enabling more of our talented and deserving students to reach their fullest potential.” — Prof Tan Eng Chye, NUS President

NUS Business alumni Mr Eugene Wong and Ms Emily Chin were inspired by the initiative and decided to chip in. “It’s a meaningful bursary to bless NUS undergraduates whom we can help; it’s also meaningful because NUS is where my wife and I met,” shared Mr Wong. The couple met during their Honours year, and love blossomed when they worked on projects together. Beyond donations, Mr Wong and Ms Chin have contributed to NUS in other ways. Mr Wong was an NUS Adjunct Associate Professor for four years, lecturing MBA and NUS Business undergraduates on venture capital and entrepreneurial finance. In 2016, Ms Chin was invited by NUS Business to judge a case study competition.

The Dinner, held at Kent Ridge Guild House, was attended by more than 100 alumni couples.