By Jazmine Lin (Global Studies + NUSC ’26).
Alumni, students, staff, family and friends reunite at the 2025 Cinna Grad Party and Homecoming.
On the 5th of April 2025, Cinnamon Wing was filled with a lively and warm atmosphere as over 300 alumni, students, staff, family and friends returned home for the 2025 Cinna Grad Party and Homecoming.
As the heart of the University Scholars Programme (USP) and NUS College (NUSC) community for the past 14 years, Cinnamon Wing has held a special place in the hearts of both current and former students, as most guests expressed being long staying residents of the college. Alumna Zhang Xintian (History + USP ’15) expressed this sentiment when describing Cinnamon as a “close knitted community [that is] unique to USP”. For her, the most memorable part of the event was “coming back to Cinnamon College and meeting old friends and professors”.
This sentiment was similarly shared by alumna Saashtika Mohan (Engineering, USP + NUSC ’24) who valued the many relationships forged. She expressed joy in being able to catch up with alums and professors and, “At the core of it all, there was still that same energy that we all shared back in our USP days. Being back in the dining hall, all together as we once were. The event truly felt like a homecoming.”
The event kicked off with tours of Cinnamon led by alumni volunteers bringing attendees around the treasured spaces—one last time.
For organising committee member Tham Jun Han (Engineering Science + USP ’19), the most memorable part of the event was the spontaneous addition of the West Wing tours. “While we’d originally planned for alumni-led tours of Cinnamon College, some attendees expressed curiosity about our future home in West Wing—so we quickly mobilised the Ambassadors, who were just there to attend the Cinna Grad Party & Homecoming, to lead the West Wing Tours. It was incredible to see how organically it came together: alumni reminiscing about Cinnamon while envisioning NUSC’s next chapter, current students sharing their excitement for the new space, and the Ambassadors embracing their role as bridges between past and future.”
Alumni reminisce as they take in the photo wall.
While the tours were going on, guests got to paste photos of their memorable moments on various photo boards scattered around the building, creating many photo collages in the process. Organising committee member and Management Club Committee President, He Yiyang (Sociology + NUSC ’27), shared his thoughts about this moment, “Watching alumni bond while browsing old photos and achievements on the boards was special. It sparked conversations, laughter, and shared memories—simple but meaningful. The way younger members curated and displayed photos from past batches deepened the symbolism of ‘passing the torch.’ It reflects how, as earlier groups step back and we leave Cinnamon, the responsibility—and spirit—now lies with the current generation to carry it forward.”
During the event, Professor Simon Chesterman, Dean of NUS College, delivered heartfelt remarks to the gathered guests. He reflected on the special nature of the occasion, describing it as “a chance for all of (them) to catch up, to share stories, to learn some history of USP, and to rekindle connections”. The day was not only about looking at the past, but also about celebrating the enduring spirit and unity of the NUSC community. He expressed deep gratitude for those who came to celebrate Cinnamon.
Professor Simon Chesterman catching up with students and alumni at the event.
Even as the event officially came to an end, alumni stayed on to chat with one another, relaxing at various campus spots such as the lounge and Blue Room. At the close of the event, Yiyang expressed feeling a mix of relief and joy when everything came together, “I was thrilled to see the turnout exceed expectations, and it was rewarding to witness all the careful planning unfold smoothly.” Tham shared a similar sentiment: “The most rewarding moment was witnessing the intergenerational connections: alumni sharing stories with current students, laughter filling the spaces we’d all called home, and even impromptu reflections about what the college meant to people. It felt like we’d created exactly what we’d hoped for—a space where nostalgia and excitement for the future coexisted”.
While the College community moves into the West Wing to create new memories, the USPirit and friendships forged at Cinnamon continue on for a lifetime.
Click on this link for more photos of the event.
