Members of NUS and the Eusoff Hall community came together for the third Plant-It-Forward Day, where 120 trees found their new homes at Eusoff Hall to mark NUS120.
The third iteration of NUS’ Plant-It-Forward (PIF) Day took root in a big way at Eusoff Hall (EH) on 1 November 2025, when 158 participants gathered at EH for the annual event, which contributes to the University's support for student financial aid while cultivating a greener campus.
First held in 2023, the event pairs philanthropy with sustainability, planting a tree on campus for every S$1,000 raised to support students with financial needs. To date, the PIF Challenge has raised $1.19 million in donations.
The event was graced by special guest Datin Hajah Ragayah, the daughter of Dato Panglima Kinta Dr Haji Mohamed Eusoff, former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Malaya in Singapore and Chairman of the University Council (1953-1957) after whom EH is named. A tree was dedicated to Datin Ragayah at the event to commemorate the University's longlasting ties with the Eusoff family.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (centre, in orange shirt) planted a tree at the entrance of EH together with Dean of Students Assoc Prof Ho Han Kiat and EH 38th JCRC President Joshua Freeborn.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye also attended the event alongside members of the NUS and EH community. Together with Dean of Students Associate Professor Ho Han Kiat and Joshua Freeborn, a third-year NUS Business undergraduate and President of EH’s 38th Junior Common Room Committee, Prof Tan planted a tree at the front of the hall.
Months prior to the PIF event, EH alumni Mr Terence Tan (Architecture, Class of 2025) and second-year NUS Architecture undergraduate Damienn Foo were entrusted with designing a ‘donor tree’ to commemorate the heartfelt contributions from alumni. With each leaf representing a donor, the donor tree is a living, evolving tribute that continues to grow, just like its natural counterparts outside.
"Damienn and I are deeply thankful to (Eusoff Hall Master) Assoc Prof Lynette Tan for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful movement,” said Terence. “Her constant encouragement and belief in student-led initiatives made this project possible, and it was an honour to play a small part in translating Eusoff Hall’s enduring spirit of generosity and sustainability into a piece of design."
(Right photo) The donor tree, which is now a permanent installation at EH, was unveiled at the event. The design was undertaken by (left photo) EH resident undergraduate Damienn Foo (left, in yellow shirt) and EH alumni Terence Tan (right, in black shirt).
A legacy of growth
EH also launched the Plant-It-Forward Eusoff Hall Bursary in conjunction with the event. The new bursary adds on to two existing bursaries supporting students with financial needs at EH, the Plant-It-Forward Lim Bee Lum Bursary and Plant-It-Forward Dr Michael Tan Swee Teck Bursary. The former is named after Ms Lim Bee Lum, the longest-serving Resident Fellow who served at Eusoff College from 1972-1985 and at Eusoff Hall from 1986-2001. Ms Lim is currently a non-resident fellow at EH.
Trees have long held significance in EH, dating back to a pink mempat tree planted on its grounds by former Singapore President Mr Wee Kim Wee when the Hall officially opened in 1989. It continues to thrive and flower today, its pink blooms a joy to the eyes. Providing access to education is also a priority at the Hall, where students are financially supported through the Eusoff Hall Endowed Bursary. The PIF Challenge brings together these two pillars of the Hall's ethos – education and sustainability.
To date, EH has raised S$74,000 for the Plant-It-Forward Challenge, largely through the generous and heartfelt contributions of EH alumni. Planting a tree on the Hall's grounds that carries a physical and electronic tag with their names, these alumni now have a living legacy of their connection to the Hall that they once called home. The beneficiaries of the bursaries are not only EH residents but also the wider NUS student community, magnifying the impact of these giving efforts.
Trees planted by NUS and Eusoff Hall alumni are electronically and physically tagged, leaving a living legacy of their connection to the Hall that they once called home.
The trees planted by 158 participants will contribute to the natural surroundings at EH, while enhancing accessibility to education for students in need of financial assistance.
A total of 120 trees were planted on EH’s grounds at the event, a fitting commemoration as the University celebrates NUS120 this year. Beyond advancing access to education and sustainability, the trees will beautify the hall’s grounds and enrich its biophilic surroundings, strengthening the residents’ connection to nature and enhancing their physical and mental health during their educational journey at NUS.
EH Master Assoc Prof Lynette Tan (front row centre, in blue shirt), together with members of the EH Green Committee, who led a workshop at the event to upcycle old t-shirts into new recycled bags, as part of their efforts to champion sustainability education and causes in the Hall.
“We are so grateful to all donors of the 2025 Plant-It-Forward Challenge and colleagues from NUS Giving, who worked with us tirelessly for months leading to this day,” said EH Master Associate Professor Lynette Tan.
“The planting of five rambutan trees at the centre of our hall grounds is especially meaningful for us as a community, as we can eagerly anticipate the first harvest and a celebratory fruit festival together.
It is poignant for me as an alumna of Eusoff Hall, where I stayed during my days as an undergraduate, being able to contribute tangibly to beautify the grounds and empower our students while we live out the hall’s ethos. We can now look forward to extending NUS’s world-class education to an even greater number of students, giving them the environment to thrive and reach their full potential,” Assoc Prof Tan enthused.
To support the Plant-It-Forward Challenge, click here and make a gift today.
This story was first published on 31 October 2025 on NUS News. Click here for more NUS News stories.
