SMU alumna and backstroke specialist Yip Pin Xiu is one of the nominees for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2021 award. She won two gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games earlier this year to add to her haul of two medals each at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016. Her inspirational feats year after year were the result of hard work, tenacity and personal sacrifice. The former Nominated Member of Parliament is also a disability advocate and has used her platform to push for more inclusiveness in Singapore's society. After her wins in Tokyo, Pin Xiu and other members of the para-sports fraternity called for parity in the cash incentives for medallists at the Paralympics. Another nominee is SMU alumnus John Cheng, Founder of Innovate 360. John has spent time sharing his knowledge and skills through volunteer work with the philanthropic council at SMU, North West Community Development Council and the Youth Business Affairs Committee at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others.