IN BRIEF | 4 min read

• 40 exceptional individuals were recognised at the NUS Alumni Awards 2021, making this the largest cohort of trailblazers honoured in a single year since the awards were introduced in 2005. Organised by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, this year’s awards was hosted in two ceremonies last week.

Held in two ceremonies on 3 and 5 November 2021, the NUS Alumni Awards this year are honouring the achievements of 40 outstanding alumni – 32 individuals and four groups of two – who have distinguished themselves through significant and impactful contributions to Singapore and the larger community. This is the largest cohort of trailblazers honoured in a single year since the awards were introduced in 2005.

Eminent Alumni Award

The University conferred the Eminent Alumni Award on three NUS alumni who have distinguished themselves nationally or globally for their exceptional and sustained contributions and achievements – Ambassador-at-Large Professor Chan Heng Chee, first-generation leader Mr Ong Pang Boon, and former top civil servant Mr Philip Yeo.

Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the first woman to graduate with First Class Honours in Political Science from the then University of Singapore (US) in 1964. Prof Chan began her diplomatic career in 1989 as Singapore’s first permanent representative to the United Nations. In 1996, she was appointed Singapore’s, and East Asia’s, first female ambassador to the United States. She also represented Singapore in Washington between 1996 and 2012, making her one of the country’s longest serving diplomats. She is currently a member of the NUS Board of Trustees.

Former Minister Mr Ong Pang Boon is one of the pioneer generation of leaders who helped lay the foundations for a stable and successful Singapore. In a political career spanning 29 years, he served as Minister in the Home Affairs, Education, Labour and Environment ministries. For his sterling contributions to the government and the nation, Mr Ong was conferred the Order of Nila Utama (First Class) in 1990.

Mr Philip Yeo is well known for his transformative contributions to Singapore’s military, economic and biomedical fields. After three decades of illustrious service in the Singapore Administrative Service from 1970 to 1999, Mr Yeo chaired a number of public and private sector organisations including the Singapore Economic Development Board, the National Computer Board (now Infocomm Media Development Authority), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING Singapore).