INSPIRxE AY25/26 Closing Appreciation Session:
Honouring Five Years Of Mentoring And Connection
The Closing Appreciation Session of INSPIRxE AY25/26 brought together mentors, mentees and staff to celebrate a memorable nine-month journey of mentorship and personal growth, while commemorating the programme’s fifth anniversary milestone.
INSPIRxE mentors and mentees from diverse healthcare and industry fields.
Established in AY21/22, INSPIRxE was created with the aim of bridging students and alumni through mentorship and shared experiences. Over the past five years, the programme has grown into a meaningful platform, connecting students with alumni mentors from diverse healthcare and industry fields. Since its inception, INSPIRxE has connected 274 mentees with 62 mentors, fostering a supportive alumni network across generations of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science students and graduates.
On 8 May 2026, the NUS INSPIRxE Alumni Mentorship Programme celebrated the successful conclusion of its fifth run with a warm and vibrant Closing Appreciation Session. Bringing together 50 mentors, mentees and staff, the night was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations and words of gratitude, reflecting the strong bonds, valuable exchanges of knowledge and the vibrant community spirit fostered throughout the past nine months.
A Walk Down AY25/26 Memory Lane
In August 2025, INSPIRxE AY25/26 welcomed 40 mentors and 68 mentees, continuing its aim of connecting Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science students with NUS Pharmacy alumni through a dynamic group-mentoring model.
Participants engaged in meaningful discussions and sharing about career aspirations and values.
The programme began with a networking session, allowing participants to connect with one another through meaningful conversations and shared aspiration. Participants were grouped into thematic zones to encourage discussions surrounding different career interests and personal values. To learn more, click here to read our past article on the opening session in PharmConnect’s October 2025 issue.
Over the next nine months, mentors and mentees strengthened their connections through coffee chats, sharing sessions and various activities, further building rapport and creating opportunities for open conversations, career guidance and personal growth.
Participants had an insightful session of alumni sharing at the inaugural Fireside Chat.
INSPIRxE AY25/26 also saw the introduction of the first Fireside Chat Session, where alumni speakers shared valuable insights on networking, career development and professional growth with more than 30 participants. The session encouraged mentees to reflect on important soft skills such as adaptability, resilience and effective communication. Read more here in PharmConnect’s January 2026 issue.
A Night To Remember
Time flew by and in a blink of an eye, participants gathered for the Closing Appreciation Session on 8 May 2026, which began with a buffet dinner and light-hearted networking activities. Mentors and mentees reconnected through conversations and an interactive Scrabble game, with the warm and lively atmosphere reflecting the meaningful friendships and connections built across the nine-month programme.
A key highlight of the evening was the Mentor Appreciation Segment, where mentors were presented with a personalised coaster and crochet keychain, which are tokens of appreciation in recognition of their dedication and guidance throughout the year. Heartfelt messages and reflections were compiled and shared through a commemorative video montage.
A group photo with mentors who attended the Closing Appreciation Session with staff advisors and Department Leadership Team.
As part of the programme’s fifth anniversary celebration, INSPIRxE also recognised its Alumni Champions, mentors who have continuously contributed to the success of the programme over the past five years. To recognise the dedication and contributions of mentors who have been with us since the programme’s inception, eight mentors were presented with the INSPIRxE 5-Year Honour Roll Mentor award.
We once again thank Ms Lou Huei-Xin, Mr James Cheong, Ms Chung Wing Lam, Mr Tan Choon Han, Mr Sean Ang, Ms Jasmine Koh, Mr Kevin Ben Laurence and Ms Vivian Chin Hui Min for their service.
The honour roll mentors received commemorative appreciation tokens, including customised minifigure plaques and picture frames with notes from past mentees. Recipients will receive a digital credential issued by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations. Verified for its authenticity, recipients can seamlessly share these credentials across professional platforms such as LinkedIn. The mentors also shared words of wisdom and reflections, which were featured in a special appreciation video shown to mentors and mentees during the event.
As part of the appreciation video, Mr Sean Ang (Class of ‘10) reminded mentees to embrace challenges, highlighting that growth often occurs when we face our greatest obstacles. Meanwhile, Ms Vivian Chin Hui Min (Class of ‘17) encouraged mentees to lead with kindness and empathy, reminding everyone that we may never fully understand the challenges others are facing.
Reflections and Aspirations
The impact of INSPIRxE’s mentorship journey continues to shape the mindsets and aspirations of both mentors and mentees. Over the past five years, the programme has continued to evolve through the collective efforts of alumni mentors, student leaders and faculty advisors, while remaining committed to fostering mentorship, collaboration and professional growth within the Pharmacy community. We have summarised the impact of INSPIRxE and the growth of the programme in the infographic below.
How the INSPIRxE story began.
While the timeline captures INSPIRxE’s growth over the past five years, the programme’s greatest impact lies in the meaningful connections forged between mentors and mentees.
Many mentees shared how their mentors provided valuable guidance, encouragement and perspectives towards their academic and professional journeys, while mentors reflected on the fulfilment of supporting and learning from the next generation of students.
As INSPIRxE celebrates its fifth anniversary, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation to all mentors who have shared their expertise and dedicated their time to guide our proactive mentees over the past five years. We would also like to thank the outgoing AY25/26 INSPIRxE committee (Anthea, Keith, Hao Yi, Wayne and Xiu Ling), Dr Chng Hui Ting, Dr Donavan Neo and Ms Ng Shi Ying for their tireless efforts in bringing yet another academic year of teamwork, collaborative learning and support to life.
INSPIRxE continues to be a pillar of support for students to widen their network and develop professionally as they transition to the working world. As the programme looks ahead to its sixth run, we hope to continue inspiring future generations of mentors and mentees for many more years to come.
Article by Tee Xiu Ling (Y3 Pharmacy) and Goh Siong Jean (Y2 Pharmacy).
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