Local businessman and philanthropist Mr Wong Kwok Leong and his wife have made a donation of S$1 million to SMU to establish the Wong Kwok Leong Endowed Scholarship. This is the first time that Mr and Mrs Wong are making a contribution to a university, with the objective of setting up a scholarship for undergraduates. Beginning with Academic Year 2007/8, at least three one-year scholarships, valued at S$10,000 each, will be awarded annually to deserving SMU students facing financial hardship. Professor Howard Hunter, President of SMU, remarked, “The Wong Kwok Leong Endowed Scholarship will go a long way towards lifting the financial burden off students from low income families. These students can now, like their peers, concentrate on their studies and at the same time experience character-building through serving the less privileged in society.”

“Credit goes to SMU for taking the wise approach of making community service
a compulsory requirement for all its undergraduates. We are very encouraged
by this commendable education policy of instilling the right character and
values at a young age.” – Mrs Wong Kwok Leong

In line with Mr and Mrs Wong’s strong commitment and lifelong dedication towards philanthropy and giving back to the society, scholars are expected to develop a fund-raising proposal in the area of volunteer and charity work and to execute the project in close consultation with the donor. The new Wong Kwok Leong Endowed Scholarship, which is bond-free, will be included in the growing pool of undergraduate scholarships available to SMU students. This academic year, one in nine incoming SMU students qualified for a scholarship with the university.