DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore - Commencement Ceremony Class of 2023

A Message from the President

October 14th, 2023

Dear Graduates,

Congratulations on your achievement! I am very proud of each and every one of you, and you should be proud of your accomplishments. Graduating from DigiPen is a formidable feat, and although it may have tested your abilities at times, you succeeded with all the hard work, discipline, and perseverance that you dedicated to your education. The honor we bestow on you today is well deserved, and I applaud you.

As we send you off into the world to make your mark, please allow me to offer you four pieces of advice that I have given to my own children. First, as a college graduate, you are now among the small percentage of people who are the most educated in the world. With this privilege comes great responsibility. Therefore, as you begin this new chapter in your lives, I encourage you to strive for excellence in all you do. With the solid foundation you have built during your years at DigiPen, you are armed with the knowledge and expertise to excel in the careers you have chosen. Continue to use your imagination to achieve great things, and persevere when times get tough, as there is no easy road to success.

Second, as you pursue your dreams, continue to live by the values, ethics, and integrity that we have encouraged you to uphold during your years at DigiPen. Your integrity will speak more about you than you imagine. Be kind to those you live and work with, and remember to express gratitude to those who help you because they, too, have contributed to your success. Along the way, reach out and give back to even those who do not know you, for this is the kind of giving that is most rewarding.

Third, continue your pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement, because learning is a life-long process. Learn more about your field of work, the subjects that intrigue you, the world, and yourself. My father often told me that the only treasure that I can count on and take with me anywhere in the world is my knowledge. Today, I pass on to you the same advice that served me well throughout the years.

Finally, be humble. The virtue of humility will allow you to cultivate other virtues. It will help you build character and give you the insight to understand others more fully. Humility is also necessary in your quest for knowledge. It has been said that, “If we do not learn humility, we will learn nothing.” As you become more successful in your careers and become leaders in the industry, you may at one point feel that you know it all. But there is always something new to learn. Be humble so that you can expand your minds and your hearts.

Together with your loved ones, the entire DigiPen family congratulates you on your achievement, and we celebrate your new beginning. I encourage you to stay connected to your alma mater, and we eagerly look forward to hearing about the outstanding accomplishments I know you will achieve.

With all my best wishes,

Claude Comair President and Founder DigiPen Institute of Technology

Order of Exercises

OPENING REMARKS

Ms. Joanna Chia, Registrar’s Office

DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore

PROCESSIONAL WELCOME

Mr. Jason Chu, Chief Operating Officer, International DigiPen Institute of Technology

CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS

Professor John Thong, Deputy President (Academic) & Provost

Singapore Institute of Technology

INTRODUCTION OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Mr. Tan Chek Ming, Managing Director

DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Mr. Vladimir Zatsepin, Vice President, Head of Global Platform & Singapore R&D Centre, Acronis

PRESENTATION OF DEGREE PROGRAM VALEDICTORIANS

Mr. Vladimir Zatsepin, Vice President, Head of Global Platform & Singapore R&D Centre, Acronis

Valedictorians are students who have achieved the highest GPA in their degree program’s graduating class.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation

Kevin Hartono

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design

Yap Yong Woon

Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

Khoo Kean Fai

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation

Ho Pin Ru

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES

Students graduating with honors have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. During the ceremony, students’ names would be read by degree program, in alphabetical order.

Dr. Tang Liang, Associate Dean of Academic

Mr. Calvin Tan, Associate Dean of Academic

DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore

PRESENTATION BY THE NOMINATED STUDENT SPEAKER

The Student Speaker exemplifies the high academic and professional standards of DigiPen (Singapore) and was nominated by DigiPen (Singapore)’s faculty and staff.

Yap Yong Woon

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design

PRESENTATION OF TOKEN OF APPRECIATION

Mr. Prasanna Ghali, Provost

DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore

CONGRATULATORY VIDEO

CLOSING REMARKS

Ms. Joanna Chia, Registrar’s Office

DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore

GROUP

2023 Graduation Candidates

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE IN REAL-TIME INTERACTIVE SIMULATION

Aloysius Chun Zhi Yong

Andrew Yong

Ang Wei Feng

Benedict Low Ren Jie*

Chan Yong Ching Claudia

Chew En Yao, Simon

Chong Jun Yi*

Chong Nian Kai*

Choo Chi Keong Bryan

Chuan Guang Hao

Clarence Chye Min Liang

Darren Lin

Darren Poo Jia Wei**

Darren Sim Jing Heng

Derrick Chia Si Kai

Farzaana Binte Roslan

Gabriel Wong Choon Jieh

Javon Lee Xiong Wei

Jeroen Tan Yi Xu

Jerome Tiong Jun Ming

Kenneth Ong Teck Jian

Kenric Tan Wei Liang

Kevin Hartono***

Khoo Wei Qi

Koh Wee Ann**

Lau Jan Wei, Joshua

Lau Kian Wei Willy

Lee Jun Jie

Lee Kang Rui

Lee Liang Ping

Lee Wei Yang

Lim Yong Kiang, Darren

Lin Yanping, Rachel

Luo Yu Xuan

Malcolm Lim Hong Cheng

Mohamad Shahril Bin Moha-

mad Sazali

Ng Li Wang, Ryan

Ong Hui Sheng

Oon Vinceen

Pham Thao Mien

Ryan Ong Kok Chin

Sakthiish s/o Vijayadass

Seow Junhao Darren

Shaikh Faid Bin Omar

Tan Hoe Meng, Benedict

Tan Yong Wee

Tay Mei Zheng

Teo Zheng Yong Theon

Victor Tan Guan Xu

Xie Haozhe

Yin Shuyu

Zayden Chan Jun Wei*

Zhang Xinyu

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND GAME DESIGN

Adele Sim Ee Ling

Ambrose Wee Chong Yin

Ang Pheng Siang

Bernard Chia Wang Cheng

Cantius Chew Chong Sian*

Chia Yi Long Samuel

Chng Yong Quan

Chong Jin Kiat

Chong Qiao Yunn

Christopher Eng Yong Xiang**

Chua Sheng Xiong, Favian

Chua Shuet Ting, Grace

Chue Jun Hao

Clara Chin

De Souza David Michael

Derek Gan Chee Chin

Edwin Teoh Yan-Jie

Fikrul Islami Bin Abdullah

Gary Chuan Zhan Hui*

Goh Wei Zhe

Heng Zeng Le

Ho Jun Hao

Huang Xurong

Irfan Hidayat Bin Rosland

Joey Foo Jia Jun

Jolyn Wong Kaiyi

Kenneth Yeo Jie

Khoo Teik Yew

Kristy Koh Yan Xin**

Law Zhi Xuan

Lee Jian Herng

Lee Jun Pu

Lee Shi Lin

Lim Hong Sheng Bernard

Lim Ziyi Jean*

Loh Chang Zhen***

Low Shun Qiang Bryan

Mok Wen Qing**

Neo Chen Kang*

Neo Jian Sheng Kevin

Neo Qi Wen

Ng E-Jon

Ng Tian Kiat*

Nicolette Chan Mun Leng

Nien Wei Xiang*

Ong Guan Hin

Pang Yusheng, Sherman

Quek Wei Jing, Aloysius

Renzo Joseph Domingo Garcia

Ryan Michael Goh Ri Qiang

Seah Ming Da, Richard

Seam Weihan Leonard

Shawn Cheah Chenxuan

Shawn Leow Wei Kwang

Tan Tong Wee

Tan Wei Jie

Tan Wei Jie Ivan

Tay Jun Sheng Jeffrey

Teo Chin Ming

Thong Weng Lok, Max

Tian Yu

Toh Gim Hsiang

Tong Yimin

Troy Low Yee

Wong Kin Kay

Wong Swee Jong Nico

Yap Yong Woon***

Yeow Eng Haw

Yip Ling Kit Justin

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN GAME DESIGN

Boh Zhenxuan, Sheryl

Brina Chia Cai En

Choo Junhan, Jordan

Chu Rui Heng*

Elcoms Khang Jun De*

Ho Qi Hao

Janelle Tan Geok Teng

Khoo Kean Fai**

Koh Jin Peng**

Lee Wei Liang*

Lee Yan Yi

Leok Boon Siang

Lim Jia Wei*

Liong Yong An Denny

Low Seng Tat Darren

Michael Seah Jin Han

Muhammad Haseif Bin Surahman

Muhammad Muhaimin Bin Manap

Muhammad Zulfa Fathin Bin Zubir

Nazrul Izuan Bin Abdul Hadi

Ng Sze Ying*

Ng Yu Lun*

Tam Ting Ying Jade

Wang Cheng*

Wong Sui Yang

Woo Seik Yee

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN DIGITAL ART AND ANIMATION

Ang Kai Yan

Benjamin Howe Wen Kai

Bryan Ang Roung Chyin

Callista Ng Jing Yi

Chen Ya Li

Cheng Jia Yi Johnna

Choo Jian Hao

Dian Asyiqin Binte Lokman O Mahat

Gan Lin Xiang

Gideon Yeo Wei Shun

Heidi Ng Xiao Rui

Ho Kiam Teck

Ho Pin Ru

Ho Ying Hui

Hoo Xin Jie

Joscelin Goh Jia Li

Loo Yin Yin

Muhammad Izzuddin Bin Muhammad Suandi

Neo Shi Jie

Ng Wen Yan Ryan

Ng Yiwen

Nicholas Tan Wei Xiang

Ong Kit Heng Joseph

Ong Shu Yun Joanna

Pang Chen Xi

Rena Heng Zhi Qi

Ryan Lau Yu Xuan

Sundramoorthy Nagaraj

Teena Martina Binti Mohammad Azman

Teo Miao San

Teo Wei Ren Darren

Yip Zhen Hong

Gold cords signify students who are graduating with honors.

Teal cords signify students who participated as DigiPen (Singapore) Student Ambassadors.

Faculty

PROVOST

Prasanna Ghali

Calvin Tan Eu Jin Associate Dean of Academic

Dr. Tang Liang

Associate Dean of Academic

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Prasanna Ghali**

Elie Hosry

Dr. Vadim Surov

Dr. Liu Fang

Dr. Chen Lujie

Dr. Zheng Shou Kang (William)

Dr. Jeremy Chew Ping

Dr. Bhargav Jayaprakash Bhatkalkar

Gerald Wong Han Feng

Goh Jing Ying

DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS AND ANIMATION

Dominic Chang Yeat Cheng*

Calvin Tan Eu Jin

Low Chee Mun (Don)

Keh Choon Wee

DEPARTMENT OF DIGITAL ARTS

Marc Tan Chin Chuan*

Fin Teo Song Tiang

Sandara Tang Sin Yun

Noraset Rerkkachornkiat

Lawrence Pak Zhi Heng

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Fong Foo Hoong*

Dr. Tang Liang

Dr. Liaw Hwee Choo

Dr. Khoo Teck Ping

Dr. Ng Kian Ann

Gan Lian Chai

Tay Xiang Wei

DEPARTMENT OF GAME SOFTWARE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Michael David Thompson*

Dr. John Michael Quick

Elie Hosry

Tomas Arce-Gil

Holger Liebnitz

Lee Chee Yuan (Alwyn)

Patrice Crespy

Jonathan Kwek Shie Sien

Cheng Ding Xiang

Danielle Fong Sum Yee

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Shanthina Ravindran* Lim Boon Tien

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS

Dr. Wu Yilin*

Dr. Do Duc Tai

Rosa Paulina Anajao

Dr. Ronald Koh Joon Wei

Dr. Lin Qinjie

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC AND SOUND DESIGN

Vuk Krakovic Director

ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER

Elie Hosry

Dominic Chang Yeat Cheng Director Senior Lecturer

LEARNING RESOURCES CENTER

Mira Tantri Librarian

*Department Chair

**Acting Department Chair

Executive Administration

Claude Comair

Jason Chu

Christopher Comair

Michael Gats

Michele Comair

Raymond Yan

Samir Abou Samra

Prasanna Ghali

President, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operating Officer, International

Chief Operating Officer, Redmond Campus

Chief Financial Officer

Co-Founder and Senior Executive Vice President

Senior Vice President

Chief Technology Officer, International

Provost and Acting Department Chair of Computer Science, Singapore Campus

John Bauer

Dr. Erik Mohrmann

Melvin Gonsalvez

Angela Kugler

Dr. Charles Duba

Senior Advisor

Dean of Faculty, Redmond Campus

Senior Vice President of Facilities Management

EVP Administration and Operations

Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Initiatives

Benjamin Ellinger

Johnny Deek

Vice President of Software Production

Vice President of Information Technology and Computer Systems

Mr. Vladimir Zatsepin

Vice President, Head of Global Platform, Head of R&D Centre in Singapore, Acronis

Heading the Global Platform & Singapore R&D Centre at international cyber protection company Acronis, Vladimir Zatsepin builds the Acronis Cyber Platform — a core Acronis product and the foundation for all other Acronis products and many third-party applications for service providers. He also designs and drives the growth of a team with more than 150 engineers, managing the research in AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity, as well as product development, QA, DevOps, and other areas.

Previously, Vladimir was the Executive Director for Cloud R&D at Ingram Micro, holding leadership positions at Odin and Parallels before that. He started his journey as a software developer, specializing in the automation of business processes, software for scientific experiments, and medical device integration.

Vladimir holds a Masters in Applied Mathematics & Computer Science, as well as numerous certifications and patents. He is a Singapore Permanent Resident who has been living here since 2018 with his wife and three children.

Vladimir is no stranger to DigiPen (Singapore). In 2018, he started partnering with DigiPen (Singapore) on an internship program, where tens of students completed their internships at Acronis. Many of them are still full-time employees at Acronis today. In 2019, he supported the “Attach-and-Train Programme for Cybersecurity Software Developer” to craft a bespoke curriculum to train and convert PMETs looking for a mid-career switch. Vladimir has also been a part of DigiPen (Singapore)’s Program Advisory Committee for years, helping to shape the Institute’s computer science curriculum to ensure that the students are industry-ready.

Professor John Thong

Deputy President (Academic) & Provost, Singapore Institute of Technology

Professor John Thong is the Deputy President (Academic) and Provost, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), overseeing the university’s academic policies and curriculum, applied learning, faculty development and student administration.

Prior to joining SIT in August 2020 as Vice Provost, Prof Thong was the Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He graduated with a B.A. (1st Class Honours) in Electrical Sciences from Cambridge University in 1985, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the same university in 1989. In the same year, he was elected to a research fellowship at King’s College, Cambridge, where he remained until 1991 before joining NUS in 1992.

He has served on various grant and oversight panels and committees for A*STAR Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) and the Ministry of Education’s Academic Research Fund (AcRF). He was co-director of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Quantum Engineering Programme before stepping down in August 2020.

Following his PhD research, Prof Thong’s early research interests were in scanning electron microscopy and related techniques, electron-optical instruments, and electron sources. He co-founded Scanning Beam Technology Pte Ltd in 2000 to commercialize electron-beam techniques for integrated circuit analysis. His interests turned to nanotechnology in the early 2000’s, with his most recent research being focused on structural, electrical and thermal properties of 1D and 2D nanomaterials.

DIGIPEN

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE

CPE Registration No.: 200711322H

Latest Registration Period: 21 June 2018 to 20 June 2024

DigiPen (Singapore) is registered with CPE since 21 June 2011