In 1985, Stanford University alumnus Tang Wee Lip and Nancy Tan shared a vision of increasing social and fraternal association among Stanford Alumni in Singapore. 1985 was a year steeped in significance, as it marked the centenary anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Stanford University. Both Wee Lip and Nancy sought similar inspiration in establishing a club for fellow Stanford Alumni in Singapore, and together with others, began to seek Stanford Alums who were in Singapore.

The first meeting of Stanford Alumni was held sometime in June the same year at the Executive Club in OCBC Centre, and following the enthusiastic exchange of ideas and responses, a pro-tem Council was formed and the Stanford Club of Singapore was registered in October. Wee Lip was elected as the President, Nancy the Honorary Secretary, and Chuang Shaw Peng as the Vice-President, with the office of Shaw Peng being used as the Club’s place of business. During the initial years, several Council members, particularly Wilfred Yeoh, Polly Hwang, Watson Ong, Peter Tan, Julie Quinn and many others were generous with their time and ideas. To commemorate the founding of the Club, a plaque listing all the 71 founding members was made and many of these are still existing members of the Club.

Sub-committees were formed to establish three areas of initiatives: Social Events, Membership Recruitment, and a Quarterly Journal for Club members. The aim was to plan at least six events a year, and activities quickly went underway. The first Annual Dinner was graced by Professor Lim Pin, the then Vice Chancellor of the National University of Singapore.

In the earlier years, the Council felt that a main object was to promote Stanford education. Thus, talks on Stanford University were held at Junior Colleges, and send-off tea parties were also held for those pursuing studies there. Indeed, the number of students going to Stanford grew in numbers, which led the admissions office there to commend us of the effort that we have put in.

In 1988, the Club helped to arrange local families to play host to the members of the Stanford University Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra performed in several places including free-admission concerts at the Botanic Gardens and the Victoria Concert Hall. In response, we organized a lion dance performance to welcome our overseas guests who were suitably surprised.

To promote educational enrichment for members, the Club extended invitations and hosted several University Professors from different faculties for speeches and forums over the years in Singapore. Past Presidents of the University, Don Kennedy and Gerhard Casper, as well as former US Secretary of State George Schultz were also guests of the Club when they transited though Singapore. Several distinguished Government and Business leaders have also been our guests and speakers over the last two decades.

In 1997, the inaugural Stanford Book Prize was organized. The Club believes that this competition is an excellent way to raise local students’ level of awareness about university education opportunities in the US, and especially about Stanford University, which has become one of the most popular schools in America for Singaporeans. The competition focuses on skills in writing, speaking, and communicating, and is designed to identify and recognize an outstanding young individual who demonstrates uncommon talent in school and the community and who has the potential for success in an American university environment. Three finalists are awarded book prizes and the ultimate winner earns a trip to Stanford campus. The competition has grown in scale ever since in the past decade, and esteemed public figures have presented the prizes at the Annual Dinner.