LASALLE College of the Arts proudly celebrated the achievements of 832 graduates from the Class of 2023 at a Convocation ceremony held at the Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre on 4 August. The graduates received their Diplomas, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master’s degrees, and 16 graduates received the LASALLE Award for Academic Excellence, awarded to the top students in the cohort.
Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo was the Guest of Honour at the ceremony, where she gave a speech to congratulate LASALLE's multidisciplinary graduates. Minister Teo also presented the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts, LASALLE’s valedictorian award, and interacted with graduates after the ceremony.
Professor Steve Dixon, President of LASALLE, said, “In Singapore, the cultural and creative industries are blossoming, and there is a clear vision for the nation to take a leading position on the global arts stage. Our graduates are an integral and essential part of that vision. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our graduates and wish them immense success in their creative pursuits."
Among the graduates recognised for their exceptional achievement in their disciplines is BA(Hons) Arts Management graduate Jordan Tham, recipient of the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts. Jordan decided to pursue arts management to be part of the community that helps shape the creative industries, and during his time at LASALLE, he has proven to be a distinguished researcher and arts manager, exploring how arts organisations can leverage the digital landscape to forge meaningful connections with their audiences.
His novel research on utilising Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance the experience of museum visitors has garnered recognition both locally and internationally. As part of his final-year dissertation, Jordan designed a new assessment framework to measure the effectiveness of AR experiences in museums, and collaborated with the National Heritage Board to apply this framework to an AR project, ‘Escape Batik Shop’, a digital experience aimed to educate the public on Malay heritage.
“My journey at LASALLE has been nothing short of unforgettable learning experiences, amazing friendships and the opportunity to fuel my passions and discover myself. I want to use my skills, experiences and knowledge acquired at LASALLE to ensure that the arts are constantly accessible to everyone, help uncover the voice of arts organisations and shape cultural policies to develop the creative industries in Singapore,” Jordan shared.
Adelyn Koh, a graduate of the School of Contemporary Music with a Diploma in Music, mesmerises audiences as a freelance voice actress and singer, specialising in animated shows and musical theatre. Despite being visually impaired due to a rare eye disorder, Adelyn, also known as Melody Snowflake, fearlessly pursues her dreams, engaging in a wide range of artistic projects and captivating live vocal performances.
Siti Nurfatin Binte Jumari, also known as Nora Jo, a BA(Hons) Design Communication graduate, explored during her studies topics of design ontologies, gender and identity. Her passion in this area led her to organise the inaugural Women in Design Week 2023 at LASALLE, where she served as project manager.
Annie Hung Ching Wen, a BA(Hons) Animation Art graduate of the Puttnam School of Film & Animation, impresses with her unique style and mastery of 2D and 3D graphics. Annie has collaborated with notable clients and provided support for events by the local queer community. Her illustrations and short films have also been showcased at prestigious animation film festivals.
Teh En Matthias, recipient of the LASALLE Award for Academic Excellence and a BA(Hons) Acting graduate, shines as a multitalented artist in the field of dance and theatre. With a fervent dedication to acting, sound design, and songwriting, Matthias skillfully captures the essence of human experience through their artistic pursuits. Their contribution as a sound designer and composer on the acclaimed animated short film To Kill The Birds & The Bees highlighted Matthias’s diverse creative talents, propelling them towards promising prospects in the vibrant film and theatre landscape in Singapore and beyond.
Muhamad Lokman Bin Mohamad, a BA(Hons) Fine Arts graduate, impresses with his thought-provoking work that challenges social behaviours and interactions. Lokman has been an art educator since 2015, and is a father of two young children. After five years of teaching, he decided to pursue a BA(Hons) Fine Arts at LASALLE for personal development and to break away from his bubble. Lokman's dedication to the arts and his exploration of sculpture and sound as mediums of expression have earned him various accolades, including the LASALLE Award for Academic Excellence.
