Don`t just return a kindness, spread it around.

Alumni Relations Office
Singapore Polytechnic, InnoVillage
500 Dover Road, Singapore 139651
T: 6772 1342 | F: 6870 4616
alumni.sp.edu.sg | [email protected]
SP
Alumni
Magazine
JuLY
SN 38
A Bi-Annual Alumni Magazine
Your Memories, Our Legacy..
My SP Memories, Graduation 2012
Foreword
If our memories live on, so too will our
aspirations and dreams...
Memories are culminations of toils and emotions of
those involved in creating them, weaved into the fabric of
time...and good memories should be valued as treasures,
preserved for inspiring our future SP generations, and
certainly worth keeping for our prospectus. Find out
in this issue on how you can contribute to “My SP
Memories”- a project to preserve the proud legacy of SP.
As we welcome the new graduates from the Class of
2012, we must not forget our life experiences; struggles
and successes, which all hold precious and inspiring
life lessons that need to be passed on to our future
generations. We appreciate every bit of your support to
SP, small or large. Discover ways of contributing back to
SP in the brochure that comes along with this issue of
aSPire.
Thank you for our good SP memories and let us keep
them coming on strong.
Contacts
Valerie Koh
Alumni Communications Manager
Alumni Relations Office
Tel: 6772 1796
Email: [email protected]
aSPire is produced bi-annually for the
SP Alumni Relations Office by
A Subsidiary of Bvleon Investment Group
85 Playfair Road #04-02 Tong Yuan Industrial Building Singapore 368000
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Printed by
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Email [email protected]
Contents
02
03
07
12
14
16
18
26
SPecial Highlights
SPotlight
inSPiring Alumni
aSPiring Alumni
Around SP
SPectacular
SPlendid
SP Alumni Relations Office
Disclaimer:
aSPire is mailed free to all alumni of Singapore Polytechnic.Letters, articles and messages from alumni are most welcome. The views and opinions of the authors are not
necessarily expoused by Singapore Polytechnic, nor can the Polytechnic be held responsible for the claims made in the advertisements.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 01
ecial Highlights
Present your
new benefits…
Company
Cheezz
Studio
Website
Valid Until
Details of Discount
www.
cheezzstudio.
com.sg
31 Dec, 2012
25% off usual stipulated price at
Cheezzstudio for self-portraiture/selfstudio photo taking session.
31 Dec, 2012
15% off all ala carte food and beverages,
including bottles. Price is subjected
to 10% service charge and prevailing
government taxes. F&B discount is
not valid in conjunction with other
promotions, discounts and vouchers.
Other terms and conditions may apply.
Link Hotels
International
Pte Ltd
www.linkhotels.
com.sg
Royal Secrets
Beauty
Indulgence
www.royalsecrets.
com.sg
Sentosa
Cineblast Pte
Ltd
SkinWeaver
The Music
Clinic Pte Ltd
to enjoy the following
www.
sentosa4dmagix.
com.sg
www.skinweaver.
com
www.
themusicclinic.
com.sg
31 Dec, 2012
31 Dec, 2012
31 Dec, 2012
31 Aug 2012
Choice of ONE of the following
treatment (a or b)
A) $68 Goldlift Facial Treatment + FOC
Eye Treatment (60 min, u.p. $380)
B) $38 Sensual Facial (45min U.P. $180)
Source Code: M12032
15% off Cineblast single admission
ticket (u.p. $18 per adult $11 per child).
Valid for up to 4 persons per alumni card.
Not valid with other on-site promotions
and offers. Island admission and
transport charges apply separately.
10% off laptop skins, iPad cases,
iPad Sleeves, iPad Screen Protectors,
Laptop sleeves and more from www.
skinweaver.com.
Promotion is not valid at 9.99-shop.
Promotion code: SP112011
10% discount for Mandarin/English
vocal singing classes and registration
fee of $30 will be waived for alumni card
holders.
The information is correct at the time of print. For the latest list of merchants and updates on privileges, please refer to
the alumni website at alumni.sp.edu.sg
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 02
otlight
My SP Memories
Fine Reflections - making our past last
more distinctive and
endearing.
Since our inception as Singapore’s
first polytechnic, Singapore
Polytechnic has upheld a rich
heritage and colourful history,
while evolving with the times
and moving forward on everprogressive thrusts.
As we continue to forge new
grounds, we must also ensure that
our past and proud tradition is not
lost through time’s annals. We have
thus embarked on an essential
project to collect, preserve and
To help us in this
project, we are inviting
all alumni to share and
contribute your personal
SP memories.
provide
access to the
memories of academy members and
events that have served to make
life at our beloved institution all the
Your role is pivotal in adding
to the SP legacy; and we
strongly encourage everyone
to contribute to this worthy
and meaningful cause.
otlight
Here are some constructive questions to help you along in recollecting and penning down your SP memories.
1. What are your memorable moments in SP?
2. Who are your favourite/memorable lecturers in SP? How have they impacted
your academic life?
3. What activities/events did you enjoy most at SP?
4. Where are your favourite or most frequented places in SP?
5. What makes you feel proud to be a SP graduate?
You can share your cherished memories through personal stories and photos, using any of the
following channels:
1. Facebook:
facebook.com/myspmemories
2. Flickr:
flickr.com/groups/myspmemories
3. Email:
[email protected]
4. Website:
myspmemories.sp.edu.sg
5. Mailing Address:
Singapore Polytechnic Library
500 Dover Road
Singapore139651
Start getting involved and begin sharing with us
today - you may just see your contributions
in our online and print
communications.
otlight
Singapore Polytechnic announces
New Board of Governors
A new Board of Governors (BOG) for Singapore Polytechnic (SP) was appointed on 1 April 2012.
After 12 years of distinguished service, Mr Tan Kay Yong retired as Chairman on 31 March. Mr Bill Chang came on
board as the new Chairman from 1 April onwards, with six new members joining him.
Outgoing Chairman
Mr Tan Kay Yong
Vice President
China & India Sourcing & Supply, RPS
GlaxoSmithKline PLC
Mr Tan assumed Chairman responsibilities on 1 October 2000 and was
the first SP diploma alumnus to have served his alma mater in his capacity.
During his tenure, he steered and nurtured students to be work-ready, worldready and life-ready. He took personal interest in the holistic development
of the students, creating a student-centric campus and building technical
capabilities. He envisioned SP to leave global footprints through the export of
niche training programmes and consultancy services, and drove SP's brand of
technology-based education globally through the establishment of Singapore
Polytechnic International. He is also well remembered for propelling SP on
the front of design, making Design Thinking a hallmark of SP graduates and
establishing the SP Design School.
New Chairman
Mr Bill Chang
Executive Vice President of Business Group
SingTel
Mr Chang, also a SP alumnus, joined the Board in April 2003 and was
appointed Deputy Chairman since 1 April 2009. After graduating from SP
with the Diploma in Electrical Engineering in 1986, he received a Bachelor of
Engineering (Honours in Electrical & Computer Systems Engineering) from
Monash University, Australia in 1990. With substantial experience in the InfoCommunication Technology (ICT) industry, Mr Chang is recognised for his
strong leadership, corporate achievements, contributions to the ICT industry,
and involvement in the community. He was MD of Advanced Services Group,
Asia Pacific Operations at Cisco Systems (USA), and then the Executive
VP (Business Group) at SingTel since 2005. He also served on the Board
of Workforce Development Authority until 2011, during this period he was
conferred the National Day Public Service Medal Award in 2007.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 05
otlight
New Board Members
Mr Chia Boon Kuah
Ms Chong Phit Lian
Mr Goh Teik Poh
Mr Allan Yeo Hwee Tiong
Ms Amanda Chen
AG and AC Tan Chye Hee
Chief Operating Officer & Executive
Director (Property Sales Business
Group), Far East Organization
President (Singapore & Vietnam),
Thomson Medical Pte Ltd
Chief Executive Officer, Singbridge
Holdings Pte Ltd
Managing Director,
Bank Morgan Stanley
President,
South Asia Region, APL Co Pte Ltd
Director, Police Intelligence
Department, Singapore Police Force
Amongst the members are SP alumni Mr Chia, Ms Chong, Mr Goh and Mr Yeo. It is always heart-warming and
encouraging to see alumni coming back to SP to serve in various ways, connecting with their alma mater.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 06
in
iring Alumni
Reminiscing the Past, Connecting to the
Present, Bestowing the Future…
(SPUR programme launched by
WDA).
SP was Red Hat’s natural partner
because of my connection,
and because it holds a more
comprehensive and longterm plan in
workforce training when compared
with other polytechnics. Working
with EEE and PACE, we secured
SP’s involvement in the PACE
programme, as well as certifying
SP as an authorised training centre
through WDA.
We recently spoke to Mr Alan Ho
on the collaborations between
Red Hat Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
and Singapore Polytechnic, his
aspirations to create a more
meaningful and fulfilling IT
enterprise, and the fond memories
he has at SP. Here are the
highlights of the interview.
We are thankful and
grateful for your
extensive contributions
to SP over the years. Tell
us how you initiated the
SP-Red Hat Collaboration
Centre project.
This project was developed from a
Red Hat objective, started during
my days at Business Objects – to
establish collaboration of enterprise
software with schools, so that the
education institutions can leverage
on the latest technologies. When
I joined Red Hat, the intent was
to continue pushing through this
initiative.
This was also the year when the
financial crisis hit, resulting two
push factors: to introduce Linux
training in schools, and to capitalise
on Government support for job
conversions through IT training
There on, it took another year to roll
out the program as the Government
was crafting a guideline to regulate
what is deemed as valuable training.
That was when the NICF framework
was established, and upon reviewing
the framework and making
comparisons, we realised there were
disparities. Hence, we tweaked our
program and came up with COPELA
(Certification of Performance in
Enterprise Linux Administration),
where 80% of content comes from
Red Hat, and 20% from SP.
It was this collaborated content
that best served the workforce
at that time. In return, WDA
sponsored 90% of course fees.
That was the proudest moment of
this collaboration. SP now runs 19
classes with about 20 students each.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 07
in
iring Alumni
What other ways have
you contributed to SP in
terms of time, talent or
treasure?
Red Hat’s contribution to SP goes
beyong providing course content.
The collaboration started with
knowledge sharing with the school,
and making learning as affordable
as we can for students. It became
a SP-Red Hat-WDA tie-up, where
programmes running over 2-3
years were rolled out to provide
education to the workforce, as well
as part of the students’ continuous
education. This will evolve further
this year, as an internship program
for students to build solutions that
will be immediately useable by
other insitutions within Asia Pacific.
Red Hat is currently working with
SP on a partnership with a China
university to build a cloud platform
that caters for an APAC wide
competition, testing in Lunux skills
where we see 8 to 10 countries
participating. If the students are
chosen, they will head to Beijing to
build this platform.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 08
Contributions, aside
from financial ones, can
be valued in various
forms – motivational
talks, vocation
internships, and
overseas opportunities.
It can also come in
indirect ways, like
buying a SP Pendent,
where you get to own
a precious keepsake,
while contributing to
the SP Student Support
Fund, and recognising
the SP Alumnus.
Contributions can
also be participation
in events like the
Alumni Homecoming in
October this year, and
subsequent years.
What motivates you to
stay actively involved
with SP other than
because of your work in
Red Hat?
When I first graduated from
SP, considering my financial
situation then, I had to turn down
the admission to an Australia
university. What kept me going
was the valuable experience I
received during my education
at SP, where it taught me to be
independent, resilient and strong
in spirit. I am thankful that my O
Levels scores got me into the
Engineering faculty at SP. I claim
this with the deepest sense
of pride, as it was the hardest
engineering school to get into at
that time. And because of what
it has given me, I will always be
connected to SP.
In what way has staying
in contact with SP
and contributing to SP
benefit you?
On a personal level, maintaining
contact with SP has helped me
advance further in my career.
In the software industry, the focus
tends to be how much money
one can bring in, in the quickest
time. My working collaboration
with SP, on local as well as Asia
Pacific projects, is testament that
corporations need to stop focusing
solely on revenues, but look
instead to building up a new set of
IT professionals that can come into
their own and benefit the industry.
Back in 1996, IT and “dot-coms”
held a sexy image that people
working in the industry could
become millionaires overnight. We
have now arrived at the second
wave of dot-coms, where it has
become a bigger playing field than
ever, but no longer as sexy as it
was perceived to be.
in
iring Alumni
It is my personal ambition to
ensure this collaboration will
continue and be successful,
and henceforth I know that this
will be my personal and lasting
contribution to the IT industry. My
present goal is to look at bringing
Red Hat solutions effectively
into the market through different
channels.
wrong reason the relationship will
never stand over time.
Even though my roles have
evolved at Red Hat, my connection
with SP remains strong. The
“want to do” will always win over
“why you should do”, and it will
ultimately create a lasting fixture.
In other words, you should always
do things for the right reasons.
With ARO showing the various ways
that alumni can contribute back to
SP, it will encourage and allow more
individuals to give back to SP. At the
end of the day, there are many ways
that we give back to SP as alumni.
Any fond memories of
SP when you were a
student here?
I will always hold these memories
close and dear to my heart:
1. Dr Dave Cong and his signature
silver hair.
2. The arcade centre in Clementi
where I went after school.
3. My final year project, where
I worked on turning a book on
Hydroponics by Dr Atomic Leow (he
was responsible for hydroponics in
SP) into a multimedia CD complete
with animation. The final product
was launched and sold for $15 each.
More importantly, it was memorable
because we were featured in The
Straits Times for our work.
You are indeed a role
model for all alumni to
stay connected with
SP and to give back
in various ways. How
would you encourage
your fellow alumni to do
the same?
Contributing to SP should be
on a voluntary basis, but always
coupled with personal passion and
drive. Are you are doing it with an
underlying agenda or genuinely
supporting SP? If it is for the
Mr Alan Ho
Director
Marketing Strategy & Planning, Asia Pacific
Red Hat Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Diploma in Electronics, Computer and Communication Engineering, 1988
in
iring Alumni
Institutional Medal Winners 2012
All Hail, Our Academic Heroes!
1. Koh Shi Min
A grounded and self-supporting Biomedical Science
enthusiast who loves working with children, and is
working towards becoming a doctor.
Awards won:
4
2
Lee Kuan Yew Award
• Alfred Robert Edis Prize
• Health Sciences Authority Award
• Biomed Diagnostics Gold Medal
• Shell Companies in Singapore Prize
• OCBC Prize
3
2. Song Shang Qian
The on-start of a healthy lifestyle led to him
scoring nine ‘O’ Levels As, completing a 10km
marathon, and achieving a Nutrition Health and
Wellness diploma. Next stop – an overseas
Dietetics scholarship, and achieving his PhD.
1
Awards won:
Chua Chor Teck Gold Medal
• Shell Companies in Singapore Prize
• Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association
Gold Medal
3. Alan Yeo Jun Xiong
A firm advocate of hard work with a “die die must
do” attitude who was once waylaid, but now
made good; he will persevere on in his Electrical
and Electronic Engineering degree, and aims to
emerge as top graduate.
Awards won:
Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal
• Motorola Prize
4. Goh Si Kai
A music virtuoso who plays the piano, bass
guitar, drums and violin; working towards a
scholarship at Berklee College of Music to
become an accomplished jazz musician one day.
Awards won:
Lee Kuan Yew Award
• Shell Companies In Singapore Prize
• Media Development Authority Gold Medal
• OCBC Prize
• IMS Mahajak Pro Audio Award
6. Jessica Lee Meng Hui
An accounting and archery expert with targets
set on learning Korean, excelling in her university
education, and succeeding as a Chief Financial
Officer in ten years’ time.
6
Awards won:
8
Low Guan Onn Gold Medal
• Shell Companies in Singapore Prize
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
Singapore Gold Medal
• AGD Merit Award
7
7. Amanda Yeo Qian Yu
An architecture buff who appreciates the discipline
for its combination of design and science;
continues her passion in the Architecture &
Sustainable Design degree on scholarship, building
towards starting her own studio.
5
Awards won:
Tan Kay Yong Gold Medal
• DP Architects Prize
8. Ong Yong Lin
A technology genius who is passionate on
developing apps and serving the community; aims
to secure his stateside scholarship, and to one day
start his own tech company.
Awards won:
5. Wong Yan Ting
A marketing and communications maestro, as
well as a proficient reader and singer; aiming
to fulfill her dreams of setting up her own
marketing consultancy company.
Awards won:
Toh Chin Chye Gold Medal
• Media Development Authority Gold Medal
• Shell Companies in Singapore Prize
Lee Kuan Yew Award
• Shell Companies in Singapore Prize
• Motorola Prize
• SMT Gold Medal
• OCBC Prize
• Ya Kun International Prize
Around
A Beary Warm Welcome…
Our graduation bears greeted the new members
of our alumni community when Alumni Relations
Office (ARO) handed them out during the
Graduation 2012 ceremony.
ectacular
Enjoying the
New Spaces in SP
Aerohub and
Business School
We are all set for a new era as
two exciting facilities near their
completion. Located a stone’s throw
away from the MRT station, the new
AeroHub will incorporate the latest
aeronautical facilities, while the new
Business School brings an advance
learning edge for Business students.
Aerohub and Business School
SIT-Student Hub
SIT-Student Hub
The Singapore Institute of
Technology (SIT) will set up a
satellite campus in SP, right next to
the new Student Hub, where they
will collectively become the focal
point for students pursuing their
passions in music, sports or the arts.
There is now another reason to enrol
yourself in one of the specialised
degree programmes offered by SIT
at this in-campus facility.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 16
Da Vinci Floor
@ Main Library
There are no boundaries in learning,
and this point is aptly proven
with SP Library’s latest learning
space. Named after the famed
Renaissance polymath known to
have an “unquenchable curiosity”,
Da Vinci Floor on level 4 features
a Harry Potter Corner fitted with
floor-to-ceiling shelvings and sliding
book ladders, all to invoke a bit of
Da Vinci Floor @ Main Library
magic and to bring the bookworms
out of us.
The SPectrum
Spectrum
The Agency
The Writers’ Room
The Agency
The Writers’ Room
The corporate action comes alive
at The Agency, where campuslife imitates reality of a full-fledge
agency. Diploma in Media and
Communication (DMC) Students
get to experience the real-life pulse
inside rooms designed for meetings
and brainstormings, studios to turn
ideas into audio and visual proposals,
and a pitch room to assimilate client
presentations.
The Writers’ Room is the new
playground for students in Diploma
in Creative Writing for Television
and New Media (DTVM). Inside
this updated enclave, instead of
conventional chairs and desks,
participants can utilise mobile
furniture and stack blocks to create
personal “fortresses” and flexible
work spaces, so that they can make
the most of their imagination, in any
way they can.
Business
Innovation &
Design Studio
An innovative space to inspire
creative thoughts and design, the
new Business Innovation & Design
Studio is the latest addition to SP’s
seminal initiatives in creativity. The
state-of-the-art studio continues to
showcase and firmly ensconce SP
Business School’s pioneering and
premier status in the dynamic field
of business designs and solutions.
Change is the only constant, thus to
be aligned with changes, our older
study areas have made headways
with time. After completing its
rounds of makeovers, The SPectrum
is now one of SP’s most popular
hotspots. Check out the cool and
colourful site next to McDonald’s,
and adjacent to the MRT station.
Business Innovation & Design Studio
The M.A.D. Studios
The M.A.D.
Studios
The M.A.D. (Media-Art-Design)
Studios is a cluster of homebased, fully-equipped production
studios that provide students
from the School of Digital Media
and Infocomm Technology with
a personalised workspace for
sculpting, production design,
animation and visual effects classes.
These distinctive spaces bring a
collaborated effort in simulating
a real-world pipeline that calls for
unbound creativity. Not too mad
after all...
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 17
lendid
The
The
Spice of Peranakan
Mystique of South African Wines
&
leisurely session, as they enjoy
savouring the tantalizing Baba-Nonya
spread paired with exotic South
African wines.
Malcolm is the Chief Instructor at
PACE Academy’s Wine Program
(Science and Business of Wine). He
is an International Wine Educator
accredited by the Prestigious
Bordeaux Wine School, as well as
a German wine advisor certified by
the German Wine Institute.
A wine tasting workshop was
organised at InnoVillage, SP, on
23 March 2012 to thank dedicated
EEE alumni for their ongoing
contributions to SP. Unlike the usual
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 18
wine appreciation sessions, the
introduction of Peranakan cuisine
brought a tasty twist to the event.
Wine instructor, Mr Malcolm Tham,
took the audience through the
The EEE alumni had a fantastic time
networking, while learning about
South African wines and indulging in
the traditional fares.
Diploma in
Engineering with Business
(DEB)
Graduation Insight 2012
The pioneering batch of graduating
students and staff of Diploma in
Engineering with Business (DEB) will
remember 22 March 2012 as a fun
and exciting evening. The graduation
was graced by Director of SEEE
Mr Ng Weng Lam. The committee
headed by Mr Leonard Ng and Ms
Elyza Yao, both from the pioneer
batch, helped to plan and organise
the event from the start.
Activities for the night included a
dance performance by Leonard,
a guitar-and-song item by the
students, a pageant and a lucky
draw. The evening’s highlights
included a graduation theme
complemented with a rap verse.
Specially commissioned for the
event, it was performed by Mr
Dexter Lee, Mr Andreas Toh and
Mr Tavence Heng. Everyone then
joined in the emotional singing of
Mandopop hit “朋友” , bringing the
evening to a rousing close.
Aside from the euphoria, the event
was filled with nostalgia, charged
with insights from the past three
years leading up to the students’
graduation. Undeniably, the evening
left an indelible mark for all who
attended.
The organising committee thanks
the SP Alumni Relations Office
for funding the event, with special
credits to Mr Lim Zijie for the
photos, and Mr Zen Lee Yu Chao for
producing a stunning event banner.
Musical Delights
XXXV
110 musicians from the Singapore
Polytechnic Symphonic Band
presented its annual concert,
Musical Delights XXXV at the
Esplanade Concert Hall on 20
January 2012.
Led by the band director, Mr Adrian
Chiang, the musicians entertained
alumni, students and staff with
an expansive repertoire including
selections from Celebration, Die
Fledermaus, TinTin, Pomp and
Circumstance March 1, and many
more.
The concert also featured our Alumni
Band and Daiko Drummers, making
the evening an enjoyable aural
feasting from a musical buffet.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 19
lendid
Toastmasters
80th Chapter
The
Meeting
Held on the 21 December 2011, The
Toastmasters 80th Chapter Meeting
was an extraordinary meeting. It was
a day to celebrate the Christmas
festivities, and also the final meeting
for 2011.
Club members fervently shared on
the tabled topic, ‘You can never
be poor when you keep giving’,
coinciding with the festive spirit of
giving while celebrating. During the
evening preceedings, they welcomed
a new member, a first year student
at SP. The meeting continued with
Diploma in
members enjoying festive delicacies,
and ended on a joyous note with
a gift exchange. “2011 was a
wonderful year for SP Toastmasters
Club,” says Club President Ms Poon
Yoke Lin. “At SP Toastmasters Club,
we not only shared and learned from
our members; we are benefited by
regular exchanges with experienced
toastmasters from other clubs, which
helped expand our learning horizons.
Business Administration
School of Business (SB)’s Diploma
in Business Administration (DBA)
team led by Senior Lecturer, Mr M
Thiyagarajan, hosted some 60 DBA
alumni for a Lunar New Year Reunion
get-together. 15 current students and
several SB staff joined the event, held
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 20
2011 was a fruitful year with great
support from the Alumni; I believe
2012 and subsequent years will be
even more rewarding.”
SP Toastmasters Club welcomes
all students and alumni to join
the club, and wishes everyone
a wonderful 2012. Learn more
about SP Toastmasters Club at
sp.toastmasters.sg.
Alumni Event 2012
at The Hall on 2 February 2012.
The evening kicked off on an
auspicious note with the traditional
Yu Sheng toss, followed by opening
addresses by SB Director, Dr Timothy
Chan, and Course Manager, Mr Tang
Kah Heong, welcoming alumni home
to their alma mater, and sharing the
latest developments and achivements
of SB and DBA. The Alumni Relations
Office also took the opportunity to
promote the Alumni Website, along
with the Alumni Card’s benefits and
privileges.
The program continued with a digital
tour of new teaching initiatives
(SPELL - Singapore Polytechnic
Entrepreneurship Living Laboratory),
SB’s revamped facilities and amenities
(Hilltop Library, Business Innovation &
Design Studio, ERIC-Entrepreneurship
Resource & Ideas Centre, and Retail
Studios). These news impressed
the audience and evoked many fond
memories.
received enthusiastic applause and
cheers from the appreciative audience.
While enjoying a sumptuous buffet
spread, guests were entertained by
Mr Wilson Chan and Mr Cheong Jon
Rui, both Year 3 DBA students. Jon
Rui wowed with his rendition of Katy
Perry’s “The One Who Got Away”,
while Wilson belted a hearty Hokkien
standard “我问天”. Both numbers
The evening then proceeded into
its two high points. A multimedia
presentation showing clips of
lecturers sharing their well wishes
and encouragement moved many
members to reciprocate with their
thoughts and experiences in SB. The
emotion went into high gear when
staff performer Ms Alice Tang took
to the stage and dedicated her song,
Carpenter’s “Top Of The World”, to
all alumni present. A full festive mood
was accomplished, with the serving
of Bak Kuas (Chinese sweet meat),
Chemical & Life Sciences
School of
Homecoming 2012
a generous lucky draw, and photo
sessions that saw everyone going
round to capture memories of the
evening. The SB alumni also took time
to pen their thoughts and appreciation
into “Letters of Love”, and addressed
them to their respective lecturers.
The successful event showed clearly
that the SP alumni’s spirit is going
strong and ever-present, and everyone
in attendance felt immense pride of
their SP heritage and connections. It
was indeed a momentous reunion that
everyone will remember for years to
come.
(CLS) Alumni
The School of Chemical & Life
Sciences (CLS) celebrated an alumni
homecoming on 4 February 2012.
Organised by CLS Alumni Relations
committee, the successful event
was attended by 250 CLS alumni.
Senior Director, Dr Thomas Chai,
addressed the attendees, and gave
a very informative account on the
history and the latest developments
of CLS and SP. Ms Rachel Lou
from the Alumni Relations Office
spoke on the office’s forthcoming
vision going towards 2014. This
was followed by a presentation by
SP alumnus, Mr Desmond Choa,
Du Pont’s Development Manager in
Market Research & New Business,
who spoke on “How to move up the
corporate ladder”.
A total of 12 awards were present
to the CLS alumni in appreciated of
their contributions. Performances by
the SP Japanese Daiko Drummers,
SP Chinese Orchestra, SP Vocal and
SP Guitarists added excitement and
the glitz factor to the evening.
This event gave organisers the
opportunity to raise funds in support
of Overseas Student Community
Care projects, and CLS Student
Needy Funds through sales of
food products and “bonsai” plants
donated by alumni. The event’s
success came from the organiser’s
hard work and efforts, as well as
the strong support rendered by
CLS staff, the management team
and the Alumni Relations Office. It
provided CLS alumni the opportunity
to network... and also to establish
a deeper connection to their alma
mater.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 21
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Diploma in
Accountancy
(DAC)
Farewell 2012
The students enjoyed games, prizes
and food throughout the afternoon,
and had the chance to showcase
their theatrical skills, acting out clips
from Titanic, Apple of My Eye, Green
Lantern, as well as a Malay skit
and an Indian dance item, in their
bid to clinch the “Mister and Miss
Enthusiastic” titles.
Riding on the theme of “Colourful
Memories”, members from the
Diploma in Accountancy (DAC)
Chapter bade farewell to Year 3
students on 8 February 2012.
Some lucky students even won
Starbucks cards from the lucky draw.
Before leaving, each attendant
received a framed photograph
that captured the memories for
themselves and their classmates.
SP Students Union
52nd Anniversary
Reunion
at The Hall
52nd Anniversary Reunion for
Singapore Polytechnic Students
Union (SPSU) was held on 3
February 2012 at The Hall, SP.
The event saw approximately 150
attendees consisting of SPSU
council members from 1960s to
present. The food and programme
for the night brought back memories
from ‘Good Old Days’ which was the
night’s theme.
‘My SP Memories’ Project was also
introduced on the same night. The
project aims to collect memories of
students, staff and alumni who want
to share memories of Singapore
Polytechnic. These memories and
research will be collated and shared
on a permanent web portal for
everyone to view.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 22
The night started with a roaring
performance by the SP Lion Dance
Club. It spurred excitement among
the guests who attended the event.
The highlight of the night was a
sharing session with three alumni
who were the presidents of SPSU in
1960s and 1970s. Mr Lam Lychow,
Mr Lim Eng Chuan and Mr Michael
Hogan shared their experiences as
SPSU presidents during their time.
Subsequent items for the night’s
programme include dinner and Lo
Hei that was led by the current batch
of SPSU Committee Members.
Guests mingled amongst
themselves and enjoyed the food,
such as Chee Cheong Fun, Fried
Seafood Noodles, Salted Fish Fried
Rice, Satay Sticks, Muah Chee and
many more. It was heartening to
see SPSU members of 50 years
back sharing stories and some
of them are still good friends till
today. The night was concluded by
the contribution of SP memories
on Memories Wall by alumni. It
was a beautiful night for alumni to
reminisce the good old days and
forge new ones with the reunion of
SPSU members from 1950s to the
present time.
SP Entrepreneurs’ Club
The Singapore Polytechnic
Entrepreneurs’ Club (SPEC) Lohei
dinner took on a meaningful twist
this year. The annual gathering, held
during the Chinese New Year period,
was joined by other members in
the alumni community as well as
SP Business School students who
specialise in Entrepreneurship Option.
This prominent event was held at the
Singapore Polytechnic Graduates’
Guild on 27 January 2012. The event
brought the opportunity for students
and other alumni to learn from the
SPEC members’ experiences through
their real-life and encouraging stories.
This rare out-of-classroom occasion
Chinese New Year Lohei 2012
inspired and propelled the students
to pursue their entrepreneurial goals
even more.
SPEC President and CEO of
TechSource Systems Pte Ltd, Mr
Alex Lo, and SPEC ex-committee
member, Mr Daniel Tan, took turns to
share their personal entrepreneurial
experiences with the audience, and
encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs
to join SPEC as an alumni group.
Going with past traditions, SPEC
presented a donation cheque to the
SPEC Scholarship Funds, which
was accepted by SP Principal, Mr
Tan Hang Cheong, on behalf of the
school.
The Department of Industry Services
provides two schemes for aspiring
entrepreneurs which are the ACE
Startups Fund and SPICES Fund. ACE
Startups provides SP students or
alumni with grants of up to $50,000
to start their business. SPICES
provide SP students with funds
of up to $3,000 to test-bed their
business ideas. For more information
on these two schemes, click on the
“Industry” link on sp.edu.sg. For
more information on joining SPEC as
an alumni group, please visit
www.sp.edu.sg/spec or call
6772 1342.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 23
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SP Community Service Project
Baray, Cambodia
A Food & Fun Carnival was lovingly
put together to bring joy and laughter
to the villagers. The children were
especially delighted with the soft
toys and stationeries (donated and
shipped from Singapore) won at the
game stalls manned by SP alumni
and Diploma in Material Science
students, and kept returning to play
the games until all the prizes were
given out.
Full time students from Diploma
in Food Science and Technology
helped to set up stalls that served
treats like tea-boiled eggs, spaghetti,
sandwiches and Rojak, which were
all gobbled up with utmost relish.
The carnival proved to be a big hit,
filling every heart and stomach with
content and appreciation.
The SP Community Service Project
team brought their special touch
of care and community spirit to
Cambodia when a group of 15 SP
alumni arrived at Baray, a village
situated between Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap. Led by Mr Ho Thiam Aik
from the School of Chemical and
Life Sciences, the affectionate team
members gave their time and efforts
to bring aid to the villagers during
this 7-day expedition, their first
entreprise in Cambodia.
At the village, the project team
worked hard to lay cement platforms
that helped the villagers’ daily
laundry and washing routines, as
well as tended to infrastructural
repairs throughout the settlement.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 24
The day was not all fun and play.
The villagers were taught useful artand-craft skills to make candle gels
and “plaster of Paris”, so that they
can provide for themselves, and to
improve and sustain their livelihood.
The team set up an online website to
promote and sell these crafts, where
proceeds will benefit the Baray
education funds. In addition, rice,
cooking oils and soya sauces were
rationed out to about 100 needy
families, which were received with
gratitude and welling emotions.
All participants certainly agreed that
the project was an inspiring one,
where everyone got to play a part
in touching the hearts and lives of
the less-fortunate, and making a
difference in turn.
Special thanks went out to local
host, Director of Khmer Homestay
in Baray, Ms Esther Ding, for making
the trip possible.
Pioneer Electronics and Communication
Graduates’ Alumni
Get-Together
Even though time has passed, ties
between people who have bonded
will remain strong. The point is
proven with the recent get-together
of the pioneering batch of Electronics
and Communication alumni, who
made time for a catch-up and to
revisit the good old days over lunch.
The reunion was organised on 25 May
2012 at SP’s InnoVillage, and was
made even more significant as it was
more than four decades since the
participants graduated in 1971.
Everyone enjoyed the leisurely
luncheon, nicely rounded off with
aromatic coffee specially brewed
by SP’s very own School of Coffee,
the collaboration with students
from Diploma in Food Science and
Technology. Aside from the appetizing
fares, the participants learned more of
the InnoVillage’s eco system – how it
acts as an effective business incubator
to test prototypes, which are then
transformed into actual products.
Before the end of this memorable
reunion, the participants were rallied
to stay connected to their alma
mater, by attending more business
advisory functions, and making
contributions through various SP
initiated social funds.
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 25
Alumni Relations Office
Paying it forward
Don’t just return a kindness, spread it around.
The process cannot be simpler: when someone does something nice for you, keep it going by doing good for another
person. As an alumnus who has tasted the fruits of success, you too can help pave the way for the next generation of
SP graduates, giving them the opportunity to excel as you did.
Your support will allow SP to continue giving deserving students a chance to realise their dreams and reach their
fullest potentials.
If you wish to make a difference today, you could do so at
glad2give.sp.edu.sg.
Staying in touch
We are on Facebook
The Web is the new place to get
together. Check out the SP Alumni
Groups on Facebook. Don’t be left
behind. Join us now on Facebook
at facebook.com/myspalumni
Update your particulars
We want to stay connected with
you. Update your personal particulars
online at alumni.sp.edu.sg or fill in
the update form on the following
page and fax / mail it back to us.
Contact us
Contact the SP Alumni Relations Office (ARO)
@ InnoVillage, Singapore Polytechnic
500 Dover Road
Singapore 139651
Tel: 6772 1342
Fax: 6870 4616
Email: [email protected]
Website: alumni.sp.edu.sg
Facebook: facebook.com/myspalumni
July 2012 SP Alumni Magazine 26

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