A homecoming for NUS alumni at long last
It was homecoming at long last for alumni who gathered in-person, together with their families as well as students and staff, at this year’s Kent Ridge Alumni Family Day on 13 August.
After two years of virtual reunions, the event welcomed over 1,500 attendees for live performances by alumni and student talents at a carnival held at Town Green in NUS University Town (UTown). Organised by NUS Alumni Relations, the event also featured workshops, webinars and lab tours.
The day took off with two engaging webinars, starting with “It Takes Guts!”, where the co-founders of Curated Culture, Ms Shermaine Heng (Science ’20) and Ms Sew Shu Wen (Science ’20) recounted their entrepreneurial journey. They shared insights of how they launched the beverage start-up which makes zero-sugar probiotic cold brew teas. During “What isn’t the Metaverse?”, Dr Lu Weiquan (Computing ’08), Senior Lecturer at NUS School of Computing, demystified the hype on how the Metaverse will revolutionise the way we work, play, live and learn.
I am pleased to announce that the NUS Day of Service has now evolved into a year-long call to action for us to extend our helping hand to the wider community. NUS Day of Service has now been rebranded as NUS Cares. I invite you to be part of this very meaningful university-wide movement by making a difference in our community, wherever you are.
Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President
Around UTown, various NUS departments, alumni and student groups set up exciting and interactive booths, welcoming participants to take part in staged crime scene investigations, rock climbing, balloon-sculpting and having their holographic photos taken. Six busloads of participants also joined guides from the College of Design and Engineering on a rare insider tour of laboratories with an exclusive view of their latest technologies.
Those preferring to take it easy relaxed on Town Green with family and friends; and enjoyed enthralling live music and dance performances by NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble, NUS Chinese Dance, Imprompt-3, Kameleonjazz, Sheares Hall Band and Sheares Geyao.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85) welcomed everybody back to campus for the University’s biggest annual homecoming event. Prof Tan also officially announced the rebranding of
NUS Day of Service to
NUS Cares – a year-long, university-wide movement encouraging everyone to make a difference and give back to the wider community in Singapore. He encouraged everyone present to join in the movement by taking part in meaningful initiatives for society.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, participants laid out their picnic mats, grabbed their snacks and drinks, and settled down for a screening of Disney’s
Encanto, winding down the day with their loved ones.