December graduation Saturday; head of Malaysian campus to speak

BUIES CREEK – The head of Campbell University’s partner school in Malaysia will serve as commencement speaker at Saturday’s December graduation ceremony.

Commencement will begin at 9 a.m. at the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center at Campbell’s main campus in Buies Creek. More than 500 students are scheduled to receive their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Tan Chik Heok has served since 2008 as the principal/CEO of Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Campbell has partnered with TAR College in offering a bachelor of science degree program since 1979.

Tan first joined TAR College as a lecturer in 1982. He was appointed as head of the microelectronics and physics division in 1995, as deputy head of the college’s School of Arts and Science in 1999, and subsequently head of the school in 2000. His initial work as a faculty member was formative in introducing and developing the highly successful microelectronics program which would produce many qualified graduates to work in multi-national semiconductor firms.

Over the years, Tan has led the modernization of TAR College’s infrastructures and facilities, and the school has since won several accolades, awards, competitions, and prizes both nationally and internationally. In recognition of his contribution to the nation of Malaysia, he was conferred the award of Panglima Jasa Negara, which carries the title “Datuk,” by Malaysia’s King on the occasion of His Majesty’s birthday on June 2.

Lineup for Saturday’s ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. in the Fred McCall practice gymnasium in the rear of the convocation center. Students from all six of the University’s schools – the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, School of Education, Divinity School, Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and Norman A. Wiggins School of Law – will receive degrees Saturday.

Photo by Bennett Scarborough