The first formal dinner saw five different houses of Tembusu College named after five endangered species of Asian animals in its native language. The elephant or Gaja, the red panda or Ponya, the crane or Tancho, the Komodo dragon or Ora, and the snow leopard or Shan.

During the dinner, Prof. Tommy Koh shared his ambitions for Tembusu College to have the happiest students, the most international, inclusive and harmonious student body, and also to have the richest collegiate life, intellectually, socially and culturally.