On 15 December 2012, at the Winter Commencement ceremony in Campbell University, Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, Principal of TAR College gave the commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree awarded to him by Campbell University's President, Jerry Wallace.
"We are so proud of Datuk Dr Tan and his exemplary work with the University's program in Malaysia. He has been involved in Campbell's program at TAR College nearly since the beginning and is helping to produce Campbell graduates that live and work all over the world," said Wallace.
A specialist in the field of laser technology who received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in science from the Universiti of Malaya, Datuk Dr Tan joined TAR College as a lecturer in 1982. He became Head of the College's Microelectronics and Physics Division in 1995, Deputy Head of the College's School of Arts & Science in 1999 and Head of School in 2000. After serving about six years as founding dean of the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman's Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Datuk Dr Tan returned to TAR College in 2008 as Principal. His initial work as a faculty member was formative in introducing and developing the highly successful microelectronics program which would produce many graduates to work in multinational semiconductor firms.
A day earlier, Datuk Dr Tan and his wife, Dr Ng Soo Boon, along with Campbell senior administrators, Dr John Roberson and Dr Dwaine Greene, accepted a plaque with the key to the city at Dunn City Hall. Datuk Dr Tan said it was a special moment that would strengthen the partnership between Campbell's home in Harnett County and Malaysia.
"It's definitely an honour. We will put (the plaque) up in our gallery so that every student will see it and know of our good relationship with the city," he said.
The plaque given to TAR College with the inscription, "The gateway to Campbell University" has a symbolic meaning. It signifies the important role TAR College plays to prepare many aspiring young people who through Campbell University's partnership with TAR College obtain the Bachelor of Science degree program which has been offered since 1979. Through most of these years, Datuk Dr Tan has been a valued faculty and administrative leader with the program.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1:
Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok (third from left), Principal of TAR College, being conferred the award of honorary Doctor of Science degree by Campbell University President, Dr Jerry Wallace while his wife, Dr Ng Soo Boon (extreme left), Dr Mark L. Hammond (second from left), University Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, Campbell University and Dr Dwaine Greene (extreme right), Vice President for Academic Affairs at Campbell University, looked on.
Photo 2:
The key to Dunn was presented to Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, Principal of TAR College. From left were Dr John Roberson, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Campbell; Dr Ng Soo Boon, Datuk Dr Tan's wife; Datuk Dr Tan, Principal of TAR College; Dunn Mayor Oscar Harris; and Dr Dwaine Greene, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Campbell University.
