Alvin Hew, Com’86
The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed brought unexpected changes to everyone’s lives, including mine and my family’s. Like many others, my daughter Tansy, Artsci’24, is in her second year at Queen’s, and had to learn to deal with starting her university experience completely online. Thankfully, she is enjoying her time on campus where she is meeting many new friends from Canada and other parts of the world physically and digitally.
Queen’s University is a special place for me and my family. You could say Queen’s runs in our blood. In addition to my daughter attending Queen’s, my son, Inaki, Com’21, played on the Queen’s Varsity Soccer team. My brother, Cyril, is a Commerce 1990 grad. My cousins are Artsci 1986 and 1995 and my uncle, Choy Sin Hew, obtained his MSc and PhD in the 1960’s from Queen’s. My best friends are from Queen’s, even if they are spread out across the world. Queen’s University has been the stepping stone for us all to get to where we are today, whether it is in the field of business, science, medicine or technology.
I am now the Queen’s Alumni Branch President for Singapore, Queen’s University Alumni Association Assembly member, and Smith Global Advisory Council member. Most recently, I volunteered to help with the Arts and Science Student Calling Initiative and had the opportunity to connect with 15 second- and third-year students spread across Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Canada.
All of this inspired me to contribute back to Queen’s through the creation of the Alvin M. Hew & Family Award to support two upper-year Smith students who are in need of financial assistance. I always look forward to meeting the recipients of the award every year.
Even though COVID-19 has brought many challenges, I remain committed to funding the Alvin M. Hew & Family Award. And I will do my very best in my roles as a Global Advisor to Smith and Assembly member to play a part in driving change to make Queen’s a more inclusive place for all.
