One Pharmily, One Legacy, 120 Years Strong: A Homecoming Carnival to Remember
Celebrating 120 Years of Pharmacy Excellence through Community, Heritage, and Purpose
Founded in 1905, the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science predates the official establishment of NUS itself and has grown steadfastly alongside the nation. Over the past century, it has nurtured generation after generation of exemplary pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists while fostering a strong, tight-knit community affectionately termed the “Pharmily”. To mark its 120th anniversary, the department commemorated this momentous milestone with a year-long series of events and rounded out its celebration with a homecoming carnival on Saturday, 13 December 2025.
From 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, the NUS Central Library Central Forum was transformed into a vibrant gathering space that drew a strong turnout, with more than a hundred staff, students and alumni gathering to join in the festivity. This was preceded by a heritage walk earlier that morning, led by Prof Eric Chan and Dr Chng Hui Ting.
The carnival itself featured a wide array of booths manned by students and alumni alike, offering guests a range of activities to engage in. These included a Caricature Booth organised by Ms Ainsley Tan and Ms Tan Si Yu (Class of ‘28), as well as a Make-Your-Own-Bracelet Booth by Mr Ong Wei Siong (Class of ‘23). Live performances such as a Tahitian Dance by Ms Evonne Fouesnant (Class of '96) and a poetry reading of “The Poem Dispensary” – an original piece by Ms Shania Marani and Mr Lau Chak Lam (Class of '26) – were among the highlights of the event. Food carts were also strategically scattered around the venue, ensuring that guests were well-fed throughout the event.
Beyond entertainment, the carnival sought to serve a meaningful cause too. Funds collected from the event were directed to the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Bursary to support financially disadvantaged students within the department.
Among the many student volunteers at the carnival was Mr Andrew Chew (Class of ‘28), who helped out at the Claw Machine Booth – a station where guests could redeem small prizes after completing a stamp card. When asked about his thoughts on the event, he reflected that it was an insightful experience as it had allowed him to interact with members of the wider Pharmily community and learn more about their diverse experiences. He also found it heartwarming to see many alumni bring their children to participate in the booths.
More than just a festive celebration, the 120th Pharmily Homecoming Carnival was a space for alumni to reconnect and reminisce about their undergraduate years, and for current students and staff to mingle and have fun. Through shared memories, meaningful interactions, and collective joy, the event beautifully embodied what it means to be part of a close-knit Pharmily – then, now and for many more years to come.
To read more about the event, click the link below!
https://pharmacy.nus.edu.sg/newsletter/pharmconnect-0126-a02/
Written by: Kaily