832 graduates from LASALLE College of the Arts received their Diplomas, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master’s degrees at a Convocation ceremony held at the Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre on 2 August. 16 graduates from the Class of 2024 also received the LASALLE Award for Academic Excellence, awarded to the top students in the cohort.
Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Mr Chee Hong Tat was the Guest of Honour at the ceremony, where he gave a speech to congratulate LASALLE's multidisciplinary graduates. Minister Chee 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, artists and designers play an increasingly important role, not only in the cultural and creative industries but across all industry sectors. Our graduates are imaginative, resourceful, courageous and adaptable, and they are well equipped to help define the future of art and design in Singapore. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our graduates and wish them every possible success as they chart their future.”
Among the graduates recognised for their exceptional achievement was Elliott Tan, recipient of the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts. A well-versed musician, Elliot graduates with a BA (Hons) Music, majoring in electronic music. Elliott’s compositions and sound designs reflect a deep understanding of music and a unique creative vision, and she has not been afraid to push the boundaries of her field. Following graduation, Elliot hopes to pursue a master’s degree before working in the field of sound design.
Chan Suen Ling, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Interior Design and was one of the recipients of the LASALLE Award for Academic Excellence, practiced interior design for many years before enrolling in LASALLE at 54 years of age. Despite Suen Ling’s love for learning, circumstances had prevented her from attending university during her youth. Nonetheless, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of knowledge. As she graduates, Suen Ling is excited to apply all the knowledge and skills she has acquired to new projects. She also hopes to help train and encourage other aspiring designers.
Another graduate who has demonstrated the courage to innovate is Mohamad Zhafran Bin Sazali, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Animation Art. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), Zhafran endeavoured to explore how AI can augment artistic processes. His thesis film, The Story of Ritual, provokes thoughtful reflection on people’s relationship with technology. In developing the film, Zhafran integrated AI technologies such as ChatGPT to serve as a virtual advisor, providing insights ranging from art-related queries to technical guidance. The project challenged him to think critically about the integration of technology in art, pushing him to explore new boundaries and blend traditional animation techniques with cutting edge software.
