CEE 70th Anniversary Walk
While examinations may be over for the students, the staff of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) laced up their shoes for a 2.8km walk on a sunny Friday afternoon - an energetic celebration of the Department’s 70 years of rich history.
Joined by members of the Industry Advisory Board, generous donors, alumni from the Class of ’74 and ’78, the CDE Dean’s Office, research staff and students, the event drew over 250 participants. Dressed in specially designed blue T-shirts—part of a commemorative goodie bag that also included a cap, towel, and drawstring bag—the crowd was an unmistakable sight as they made their way from Block EA to the Central Library.
In his opening remarks, Professor Richard Liew, Head of the Department, expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the generous support from alumni and industry partners. He reflected on the Department’s legacy of achievement and excellence and shared his hope that the strong bond with the industry will continue to inspire innovation in the years to come.
The 70th anniversary celebrations were a joyous occasion for the Department to reflect on its rich history and to reconnect with its community. Chairman of the CEE 70th Anniversary Committee, Assistant Professor Chew Soon Hoe, emphasised that the activities were designed not only to celebrate achievements, but also to foster better bonding among staff, guests, graduates, and students. In addition, a key objective was to promote holistic well-being, encouraging a healthy lifestyle through walking, exercising, and enjoying nutritious food. He highlighted that such occasions provide valuable opportunities for members of the CEE family to build team spirit and strengthen social connections, all of which are important elements in shaping resilient and well-rounded engineers.
The CEE 70th Anniversary Walk was more than just a walk—it was a vibrant celebration filled with performances, a 360° video booth, a photo booth, Zumba, games, lucky draws, nostalgic snacks (merah banana, kacang puteh, and ice cream), and a sumptuous buffet dinner featuring roast lamb.
Zumba got both young and senior walkers dancing with enthusiasm during the warm-up. The walk began with a lively flag-off and loud horns, sending groups of alumni, staff, and students on their journey filled with activities. Along the route, selfie videos, nostalgic university photos, and group shots of diverse backgrounds were shared via WhatsApp, building a collective memory of the occasion. Upon their return, walkers were greeted with cheers and awarded a customised design medal to mark their achievement.
Dinner was made extra special with a heartfelt performance by Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Dr Victor Ong, who sang 朋友 by 周华健. While playing the guitar, Dr Ong, a long-time supporter of the Department, reminded everyone of the enduring friendships and strong alumni ties that continue to shape the CEE community. The musical mood continued with MTV music on Malay and Indian songs, and with the duo BlueBalloon, who entertained with uplifting renditions of Try Everything, 那就这样吧, 海阔天空, and Count on Me.
The night ended on a high note with more prizes for almost everyone. Sixty lucky participants walked away with shopping vouchers. In addition, prizes were presented for the best activity videos and photos. Competition was stiff, and the audience was asked to select the winner with a wheel spin or their applause.
With goodie bags, engaging activities, nostalgic snacks, heartwarming music, sumptuous dinner, and plenty of laughter, the CEE 70th Anniversary Walk was a joyful and meaningful way to wrap up the semester and to celebrate seven decades of camaraderie.
