Congratulations to UCSI Alumni Achievement Award recipients 2019

For the very first time, UCSI University presents the Alumni Achievement Award. This year, UCSI has selected from among its alumni, one exceptional organisation and two individuals, who has been instrumental in their contributions towards their own field and society in general.

Heartiest congratulations to all the Alumni Achievement Award recipients, Suzzane Ling, Lim Yuet Kim, Lee Swee Lin, Cynthia Ng and San Weng Onn who received the award in the UCSI University 32nd Convocation Ceremony on 17th and 18th August 2019.

Let’s understand some background of the Award receipients and we will start from the exceptional organisation, PichaEats. PichaEats is a Kuala Lumpur-based social enterprise, which partners refugees in Malaysia in a catering and delivery business.

The main objective of PichaEats is to provide financial empowerment to marginalized groups in Malaysia in order to build sustainable livelihoods, especially those from Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan. This social enterprise is founded by three of UCSI University’s alumni in 2016. The founders are Ms. Lim Yuet Kim, who graduated with the Bachelor of Contemporary Music (Hons) in 2016, Ms. Suzanne Ling Sook Shian, who graduated with the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology in 2017, and Ms. Lee Swee Lin, who graduated with the Bachelor Suzanne of Arts (Hons) in Accounting and Finance in 2015.

Next, Ms Cynthia was the Valedictorian of Class 2007 and graduated from UCSI University with the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Mass Communication. Ms. Cynthia is an anchor, editor and journalist for Astro Awani, the country’s leading 24-hour news channel, covering national and international news stories. She is also an anchor for Hari Ini 8, the channel’s prime time news program.

Ms. Cynthia has vast experience in the industry and has in-depth knowledge on various sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues. In fact, in November 2014, Ms. Cynthia earned an award by the Health Ministry for her report entitled, “Drugs and HIV among fishermen in Kuantan” which zoomed in on HIV-prevalence drug addicts among fishermen.

Among the most notable interviews she has conducted are with American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and political donor, Mr. Sheldon Gary Adelson and the 18th President of Portugal, Mr. Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio. On July 30, 2019, Ms. Cynthia interviewed the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during his coronation.

Lastly, Mr. San Weng Onn is a Malaysian composer for film, television and various stage productions. He graduated with the Bachelor of Classical Music (Hons) from UCSI’s Institute of Music in 2005 and later on, he went on to complete the Master of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater from the prestigious New York University, TISCH School of the Arts in 2010.

Mr. San has won several awards including
• “Best Original Music” and “Best Musical Director” for the musical, Everworld;
• “Best Musical Director” for Marrying Me the Musical
• “Audience Choice Award” for The Secret Life of Nora
• “Best Original Score” award for the critically-acclaimed Malaysian film, Ola Bola.

In fact in 2017, Mr San was chosen to compose the music for the official ceremony of the 9th ASEAN Paralympic Games. His inspiring scores for Ola Bola was also performed by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) making it the first of its’ kind in Malaysia.

The first Prominent Alumni Lecture Series was held on 19th November 2016 in exploring the topic of Beyond the Alphabet “D” & “R”, which stands for DoctoR. Dr. Goh Aik Ping, our prominent alumni from the Doctor of Medicine programme shared his experiences as a medical student in UCSI University, his advice to get through the university life, his challenges in housemanship, and his success to open his own clinic – Care Family Clinic in Johor Bahru.

Kuala Lumpur – The UCSI University Alumni Association Extraordinary General Meeting was successfully held on 5th November 2016. We appreciate all the supports and feedback from our members to confirm the agenda including the Activity Proposal for the Alumni Association Two-Year Planning (Nov 2016 – May 2018) and the Functions of the Secretariat.

If anyone of you would like to support to be the organising committee for the upcoming alumni events or interested to join our alumni programme, feel free to contact us at [email protected]

The Complementary Competency Programme (CCP) is an opportunity to gain industry-emphasised skills for employability and career advancement. This programme is open to UCSI students, alumni, staff and the public. Please find out more at http://ccp.ucsiuniversity.edu.my.

Public Bank offers full time Management Trainee positions to fresh graduates from all disciplines. For more information, do bring along your updated resume and meet their Talent Acquisition team at FoBIS Mini Career Fair 2016.

Kuala Lumpur, 15 January 2011 – The UCSI University Alumni Network held its first Alumni Homecoming Dinner at the Blue Ocean Strategy Hall in the North Wing of UCSI University’s Kuala Lumpur campus in Taman Taynton View. Under the patronage of UCSI University Founder and UCSI Group Chairman Dato’ Peter Ng, the event, entitled “Homeward Bound,” marked the beginning of the University’s 25th Anniversary celebrations.

With close to 200 staff, faculty and alumni members, the event aimed to reconnect past graduates with their alma mater and each other and provide them an opportunity to network. As one of the University’s most anticipated events of the year, the programme featured free health checks, a raffle drawing and performances, including two songs by renowned violinist and 1997 UCSI University graduate Dr Joanne Yeoh.

In her message, UCSI University Foundation Chief Operating Officer Ms Margaret Soo thanked the Alumni Network’s patron and UCSI University Founder, Dato’ Peter Ng for his blessings to name the UCSI Group’s latest acquisition; a three-storey bungalow at Taman Taynton View as “UCSI ALUMNI HOUSE”. This will be the alumni committee’s meeting place, and where the alumni and foundation offices and all other small sized alumni fellowship gatherings will be held.

Alumni Pro-Tem Committee President Mr Vayne Kam also spoke, outlining the association’s focus on membership development, marketing and branding, as well as lifelong learning.

“In building and strengthening these three pillars, the alumni will be able to achieve its ultimate aim in serving both the University and also society,” he said. “Our hope is that with each member’s contribution to the Alumni Network, all our combined efforts, experiences and expertise will ultimately strengthen the alumni.”

In one of the main events of the evening, the Alumni Network revealed its official logo, a house cum graduation cap with the University’s signature eagle wing, officiated by Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Musa Mohamad, Chairman of the UCSI University Council, Dato’ Peter Ng , Patron of the Alumni Network and Founder of UCSI University, Dato’ (Dr) Haji Karim bin Haji Abdullah Omar, Chairman of the UCSI University Foundation, Dr Robert Bong, Vice Chancellor of UCSI University, Ms Margaret Soo and Mr Vayne Kam.

The group also launched the Network’s time capsule, a tailor-made box in the shape of the Alumni logo filled with notes from the University’s alumni. The capsule will be opened years down the road to signify the first gathering of the UCSI University Alumni Network.

Alumni who attended the event said they were happy to have come and were impressed with the changes they’ve seen in the University since their graduation.

Mr Tan Eng Kean, who graduated in 1995 with a degree in computer science, commended the University’s efforts in pursuing its mission and vision in terms of building expansion, as well as student body growth.

Mr Prakash Daniel, a graduate from the Class of 2007 who is currently a writer with The Star newspaper said, “It’s amazing to see how the University has expanded as there was only the South Wing when I completed my studies here”. He further added, “The Alumni Network is indeed a good initiative to bring all of us together to network and catch up with old friends, lecturers and other staff.”