The Year of the Dragon is known to be auspicious, and this year holds exceptional significance for NUSS as it commemorates its 70th Anniversary in 2024. To usher in this very special year, the NUSS Annual Lo Hei dinner took place on 14 February at the Kent Ridge Guild House – Della & Seng Gee Guild Hall, graced by esteemed guests including NUS President, Professor Tan Eng Chye; Pro-Chancellor of NUS, Mr Po’ad Mattar; Chairman of NUS Board of Trustees, Mr Hsieh Fu Hua; Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Mr Wong Ngit Liong, Members of NUS Alumni Advisory Board, NUS Senior Management and NUSS Distinguished & Outstanding Members.
NUSS recently kickstarted the 70th Anniversary celebrations with the Tree Planting Day which was held on 27 January, in support of the NUS Plant-It-Forward Challenge. In his welcome address, NUSS President Mr Edward S Tay said “There can be no meritocracy without equality of opportunity and I am proud that our alma mater puts this mantra into practice. I am therefore also proud that NUSS will maintain its strong support for NUS’ Enhanced Financial Aid Scheme (EFAS) – our 70th Anniversary Celebrations, in particular, the support for the Plant-It-Forward as well as a charity golf event, will be hoping to raise $1 million towards the NUSS 70th Anniversary Bursary”, underscoring the close bond between NUSS and NUS, and reaffirming the Society’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities in education for all.
Mr Tay then presented a cheque of $250,000 to Professor Tan Eng Chye, marking NUSS’s annual contribution to the NUS Alumni Bursary Fund, which aids financially challenged undergraduates. Mr Tay also outlined the NUSS-NUS Mentorship Programme which aims to provide a platform for undergraduates to take a leaf out of their alumni’s book. In addition, he expressed his appreciation to Professor Tan, Chief Alumni Officer, Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram and other NUS Senior Management for their kind support over the years.
Beyond the formal proceedings, the guests also enjoyed a night filled with festivities and entertainment. A Chinese orchestra troupe delighted attendees with a repertoire of beloved Chinese New Year songs. Of course, no Lo Hei Dinner is complete without the highlight—an impressive 8-metre-long Yu Sheng specially crafted by the chefs of The Scholar Chinese Restaurant. The guests gathered around and tossed into a roaring great year ahead, filled with abundance and longevity.
