The inaugural SMU Alumni Awards established a new tradition, to take place every five years, of honouring SMU graduates who have not only achieved professional heights but have also demonstrated the University’s values of integrity, inclusion, sustainability and serving the community. It proved to be a memorable occasion set against the backdrop of a thoughtfully curated occasion, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as Guest of Honour.
Recognising accomplishment
In his welcome remarks, on 12 November 2025 at SMU Hall, SMU Chairman Mr Piyush Gupta highlighted the diverse strengths and contributions of the award recipients.
“As we look at our recipients tonight, we see leaders who inspire by example: entrepreneurs redefining industries, servants of the public strengthening communities, and changemakers who use their success to serve,” he said.
“Their achievements are a powerful reflection of what it means to be both successful and significant.”
Mr Gupta noted that the Awards underscore SMU’s continued commitment to nurturing graduates who demonstrate leadership and responsibility across sectors and disciplines.
Marking a Silver jubilee
SMU President Professor Lily Kong reflected on the significance of launching the Awards during the year of the University’s 25th Anniversary.
“It is fitting that we are introducing these alumni awards in our 25th anniversary year,” she said. “This evening, we celebrate not only our award recipients’ achievements, but also the enduring spirit of SMU, embodied in our people.”
She emphasised that excellence manifests in different forms, observing that awardees include “changemakers who improve the lives of those in the community they serve, innovators who imagine and create that which did not exist before, and achievers who persevere despite the odds”.
Professor Kong affirmed that the Awards would strengthen SMU’s long-term efforts to recognise graduates who lead with purpose and contribute to the public good.
A diverse cohort of recipients
A total of 22 recipients were recognised at the inaugural ceremony, reflecting the breadth of the SMU alumni community and their impact across industries. Honourees included entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, public service professionals, social innovators, academics and athletes.
Among the recipients were:
- Tan I-Ren Gabriel (Bachelor of Business Management, 2019) — Founder of Bamboo Builders, a social enterprise that equips individuals with practical skills to generate positive community impact
- Lin Fengru (Bachelor of Science (Information Systems Management [BSc ISM], 2011) — Chief Executive Officer and Founder of TurtleTree, which has pioneered dairy-free nutrition using animal-free lactoferrin to support immunity and gut health
- Aaron Tan Wei Cheng (BSc ISM 2010), Aditya Lesmana (BSc ISM 2010) and Chng Soon Yeong Kelvin (BSc ISM 2011) — Co-Founders of Carro, a regional full-stack automotive ecosystem supporting customers through every stage of vehicle ownership
- Yip Pin Xiu (Bachelor of Social Science, 2017) — Seven-time Paralympic gold medallist and seven-time World Champion
- Charles Chen Yidan (Doctor of Business Administration, 2019) — Core Founder of Tencent and Founder of the Yidan Prize Foundation, established to advance global education
Collectively, the awardees exemplify the University’s ethos of leading with purpose and contributing to the wider community through innovation, service and sustained professional commitment.
Establishing a new institutional tradition
While the final notes of the alumni a cappella performance may have faded, the impact of these 22 inaugural recipients continues to ripple across industries and borders. These awards are not merely a look back at 25 years of achievement; they are a beacon for the next generation of SMU leaders. As the university embarks on its next chapter, it does so with the knowledge that its greatest legacy is its people—graduates who continue to prove that true success is measured by the significance of one’s contribution to the world.
See also:
