Vice Chancellor Dr Robert Bong sharing life time experience which he hoped could inspire foundation scholars to take up challenges in life without fearing of difficulty and failure

A group photograph taken in front of the Christmas tree to commemorate the scholars’ first Christmas on campus.

AP Dr Lachman, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr Robert Bong, Vice Chancellor, Dato’ Peter Ng, UCSI Group Chairman and Professor Lee, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs singing carols together with the scholars.

AP Dr Lachman, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr Robert Bong, Vice Chancellor, Dato’ Peter Ng, UCSI Group Chairman and Professor Lee, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs singing carols together with the scholars.

Kuala Lumpur, 13 December 2010 - Close to 100 UCSI University Trust Scholarship recipients for year 2010 gathered recently for a year-end festivity held at the Blue Ocean Strategy Hall of North Wing campus. The gathering aimed to foster closer relationships among scholars as well as provide an opportunity for them to meet the leadership of the university in an informal setting.

The evening started with carol singing followed by a special Christmas message by YBhg Dato’ Peter Ng, Chairman of UCSI Group and a trustee of UCSI University Trust. In his message Dato’ Peter shared with the scholars his founding principles of integrity, perseverance, excellence and audacity and how these values should be applied in life. 

After a traditional Christmas dinner, the scholars were treated to a fireside talk by UCSI University Vice Chancellor Dr Robert Bong. Dr Bong walked down memory lane by sharing with the scholars on how, as a young boy, he was inspired by the moon rock brought back by Apollo 13 to understand the importance of knowledge to human civilisation. This event, Dr Bong said, inspired him to take on assignments that often challenged him beyond his status quo. He called on the scholars to always adopt an attitude of trying instead of giving in to fear of the unknown or failure. 

Also present at the gathering were Professor Dr Lee Chai Boon, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor Dr Lachman Tarachand, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Ms Margaret Soo, Chief Operating Officer of UCSI University Trust, Ms Ooi Pei Boon, Director of Student Affairs, Ms Shannen Choi and Ms Joyce Lim, managers at the UCSI University Trust and Alumni Office, respectively. 

The evening wound down with a gift exchange. Dr Bong played Father Christmas by presenting each scholar a personal development book, which he hoped would help the scholars as they journey through life.