The year 2024 marks a momentous milestone for Residential College 4 (RC4) as it celebrates a decade of fostering community and innovation. The year has been filled with a medley of special events, including the RC4 Symposium and the reintroduction of Parents’ Night, each reflecting the college’s vibrant spirit and rich legacy. 

To conclude this milestone year on a high note, RC4 hosted the 10th Anniversary  Gala Dinner on 7 December, bringing together over 400 students, alumni, fellows, faculty, and distinguished guests for an unforgettable evening of celebration and reflection. The night featured captivating performances, heartfelt award ceremonies, and a significant highlight: the unveiling of RC4’s bursary fund, a testament to the college’s unwavering commitment to supporting future generations of students. 

The Gala Dinner opened with a heartwarming montage video, where both current and former students shared their fondest RC4 memories—from late-night suppers to the amusement brought by light-hearted pranks among peers. Ms Winnie Tan Tan, President of the 10th College Students’ Committee (CSC) reflected on RC4’s diversity, which exposed her to peers from various disciplines, while Mr Jason Lek, current Vice-President of CSC, appreciated the opportunity to be in a community of like-minded individuals. This thoughtful juxtaposition elegantly showcased RC4’s unique blend of simultaneous specialisation and diversity. 

Following a welcome address by RC4 Master Associate Professor Peter Pang, the evening continued with a second montage video showcasing the thoughts of current students, alumni and fellows on the new RC4 bursary fund.  

“Our closest friends and fondest memories in university are from RC4,” shared Zitin Bali, a Year 4 Data Science student. “There are some opportunities in RC life, like STEER (Study Trips for Engagement and Enrichment), that are not accessible to all students. It would be great if we could help others have the same enriching experiences that we have had at RC4.” This initiative reflects RC4’s dedication to inclusivity, ensuring that no student is deprived of the vibrant, transformative experiences that define the college. 

The evening reached a pivotal moment with the official unveiling of the RC4 Bursary Fund. This landmark initiative was launched by key figures in RC4’s history, including Professor Pang, founding rector Professor Choo Chiau Beng, and founding master Professor Lakshminarayanan Samavedham. Joining them on stage were Mr Toh Chin Howe (7th President of CSC) and Ms Val Guo Liyun (7th President of CSC), whose contributions further underscored the college’s enduring commitment to its community. 

“As we celebrate our achievements of the past 10 years, we also look forward to the next 10 years and beyond. Today, we pledge that in the next 10 years, RC4 will offer even better living-and-learning programmes that will even better prepare our graduates to be effective leaders of change in a complex world. We pledge to enable all RC4 students to participate fully in these living-learning programmes. With the launch of the RC4 bursary, today we are taking the first step towards this pledge,” said Prof Pang, emphasising the significance of the new bursary fund and its impact.   

Professor Pang then took the stage to express his heartfelt gratitude to founding leaders Professor Choo Chiau Beng and Professor Lakshminarayanan Samavedham, emotionally quoting “You Raise Me Up to More Than I Can Be” in their honour.  

Mr Reuben Loh, the 1st President of CSC, reflected on his role in shaping RC4’s early years, offering students a glimpse into its pilot years. This was followed by the CSC Executive Awards and Outstanding Resident Assistants Awards, presented by founding leaders Professors Choo and Lakshminarayanan, to honour key contributors to the RC4 community. 

The evening’s entertainment began with an R&B and funk performance by The YMFB Collective, followed by RC4 Fellow Professor Sreenivasulu’s rare and memorable act, singing in Hindi, Telugu, and English—his first onstage English performance, making it a standout highlight. 

Musical performances continued with The Unemployed injecting rock into the evening, followed by the Black Sheep’s high-energy set. RC4 alum and magician Ian Tan then delighted the audience with his dazzling tricks, inviting Professor Lynette onstage for a playful act that left the crowd entertained. 

A cake-cutting ceremony gathered the key figures who shaped RC4 onstage. From the founding Rector, Professor Choo Chiau Beng, and founding Master, Professor Lakshminarayanan Samavedham, to Ms Rachel Loke, Director of Student Affairs, and Mr Jason Lek, Vice President of the 10th College Students’ Committee, their presence reflected the legacy of leadership and community that defines RC4.  Joining them were college office fellows, staff, current resident assistants, and members of the 10th College Students’ Committee. Together, they marked RC4’s decade of excellence, symbolizing the shared efforts and enduring spirit that have made the college what it is today. 

The night progressed with a round of trivia on RC4’s history, blending competition with nostalgic insights from the emcees. To close, the audience enjoyed a live performance of RC4’s new song, "Where We Call Home," an original song by RC4 students Navin Kumar, Nicole Liu and Sherwin Lam, who were accompanied by fellows and staff, marking a heartfelt end to the celebrations. 

“The past year of RC4’s 10th anniversary celebrations have been a wonderful opportunity for residents, alumni, faculty and staff to come together, reflect on our journey, and look forward to the exciting possibilities for the future,” said third-year Environmental Engineering and Economics undergraduate Teo Jia Xin, who was part of the Gala Dinner planning committee. “To me, RC4 is a home away from home. It’s where I have met incredibly talented friends, built lasting relationships, and created countless cherished memories.”