[20 July 2005]
SMU celebrates second batch of 520 graduates

Singapore Management University (SMU) celebrated the graduation of 520 students at the university's second Commencement Ceremony held this afternoon. The students are the second batch of graduates to complete their tertiary education at SMU and are now embarking on a new journey into working life.

Admitted between 2000 and 2002, 392 students have successfully graduated with Bachelors of Business Management, 88 who graduated with Bachelors of Accountancy and three who graduated with Bachelors of Science (Economics). Of these, 25 graduated with double degrees in business management and accountancy or business management and economics. This batch of students graduated between December 2004 and July 2005.

The ceremony also marked the graduation of 37 postgraduate students who represent the pioneer class to complete the Master of Science in Wealth Management. This is a new postgraduate programme offered by SMU in collaboration with the Wealth Management Institute and the Swiss Banking School to meet a growing need in the financial sector for wealth managers who can provide professional advice to clients on the wide range of investment products and innovative financial services.

Professor Howard Hunter, President of SMU told the graduating class at the ceremony, “You have done more than earn your degrees. Your hard work and contributions have played a part in helping SMU realize its vision of becoming a premier university. Your excellent academic performance, passion to learn and excel, leadership qualities and maturity have impressed many. You have helped SMU to garner the respect and support of members of the business community and the general public in Singapore and elsewhere. You have helped build the reputation of SMU.”

Awarded annually to the most outstanding student of each graduating cohort, this year's Valedictorian is Ms Lim Kexin who graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy ( Summa Cum Laude ) with a major in law. A PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax scholar, Ms Lim won the Blu Inc Valedictorian Award for her academic excellence and passion for community service. Consistently on the Dean's List for all four years of her studies, Ms Lim is also the recipient of the Ernst & Young Outstanding Student Leader Award and the PricewaterhouseCoopers Outstanding Achievement Award. Ms Lim served as an SMU Ambassador and for her active volunteerism in Rotaract Club, she was given the Luxasia VIE Award in 2004. She is currently a tax associate with PwC.

A group of SMU graduates have initiated and recently came together to form the SMU Alumni Association. This is to build up, from an early stage, a network of alumni who will maintain strong links with their alma mater in areas such as fund-raising, student recruitment, faculty support and placement, mentorship and industry partnership to strengthen university resources. The fund-raising arm of the association has set itself the goal of raising $200,000 towards an SMU Alumni Scholarship Fund. The amount will generate enough interest to support the tuition fees of one needy student every year. More than 130 from the current graduating class have contributed above $11,000 towards the fund in the form of their Senior Class Gift. In recognition of their generous donation, SMU will be making it a tradition from this year to produce a Class Plaque for each graduating class. The plaque will be laid on suitable locations within the city campus to remember the accomplishments of our graduates and mark the strong ties between university and alumni.