A salute to Singapore

Members of the NUS family raising the Singapore and NUS flags

Decked out in the national colours of red and white, 300 NUS faculty, staff, students and alumni gathered at University Hall on 8 August for the annual National Day Observance Ceremony. 

The award-winning NUS Choir led guests in a spirited rendition of the National Anthem, while three members of the NUS family — Year 5 NUS Design and Environment student Simon Gwozdz, Ms Mageswari Balakrishnan from the NUS Registrar’s Office, and alumna Ms Marie-Antonie Chua (Business ’05) — raised the Singapore and NUS flags. The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt recitation of the National Pledge, led by Mr Jeffrey Lee, President of the 39th NUS Students’ Union Executive Committee and recent NUS Science graduate. 

Simon, a native of Poland who became a proud Singapore citizen earlier in the week, said he was honoured to be a flag raiser for the ceremony. Reflecting on Singapore’s 53rd birthday, he said, “I think what makes Singapore strong is that we are not afraid to admit our country is still a work in progress. It is our generation’s job to shape Singapore's grand journey in the years to come, and we mustn’t be afraid to think big and think differently.”

NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye (3rd from left) posing for a wefie with staff from NUS Safety, Health and Environment