On May 11, 2022, Fulbright University Vietnam held a warm Appreciation Event for Mr. Pham Phu Khoi and his generous gift to the university’s Music Room.
Mr. Pham Phu Khoi, Deputy CEO and Head of the Financial Market Division of the Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank), has made a gift of VND 1.5 billion (US$65,000) to fund instruments, audio equipment and sound system for the Music Room at Fulbright’s flagship campus in District 9, HCMC.
Part of the gift is currently used for the Music Room at the university’s campus in District 7, where the Appreciation Event for Mr. Pham Phu Khoi took place. For this special event, members of the Fulbright Music Club performed a medley of songs accompanied by piano, which perfectly captured feelings of pride and joy, the talent of Fulbright students, as well as the hearts of all guests.
Ms. Nora Taylor, Interim Provost of Fulbright University Vietnam, presented Mr. Pham Phu Khoi with the nameplate of Fulbright’s Music Room.
Ms. Nora Taylor, Interim Provost of Fulbright University Vietnam, remarked: “Mr. Pham Phu Khoi’s generous donation to the Music Room of the university has afforded students the opportunity to pursue their musical passions and unleash their creativity. It’s a testament to our focus on a liberal arts education, that all students develop not only excellent citizen skills, but also develop as artists and builders. Mr. Pham Phu Khoi’s gift is not only an investment in the future generations and in music, but also brings together generations of Fulbright students of today and years past.”
Mr. Pham Phu Khoi delivering his remark at the event
Mr. Pham Phu Khoi said: “I’m pleased to be here today among Fulbright students, faculty and staff. Your spirits remind me of my own days in school, where our passion to pursue knowledge, dreams and music runs high. In my youth, I used to play trumpets and drums. Surely, music is something I love the most. That’s why when the opportunity arose, I chose to give to the Music Room of Fulbright University Vietnam, with the sincere hope that it will be the place for all Fulbrighters to come, practice, and enjoy music together.”
Mr. Pham Phu Khoi’s gift to the university’s Music Room also highlights the strengthened tie between Fulbright scholars and students. In 1997, he was a recipient of the Fulbright Scholar Program to obtain an MBA degree at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently, his charitable donation not only represents a goodwill gesture to “pay it forward” – of giving to education, but it also shares Fulbright University Vietnam’s vision of fostering transformative impact for the next generation of change-makers in Vietnam.
The Music Room at Fulbright now bears the name of Mr. Pham Phu Khoi
“I firmly believe in the well-rounded values that a liberal arts education can bring to students,” Mr. Pham Phu Khoi said. “Our young people should not only excel in academic study, or solely focus on financial success later on, but they also need to acquire other important life skills, chief among them is genuine appreciation for the arts. I believe it will help you to discover the beauty of life, find balance in life, and enjoy it to the fullest.”
Nguyen Viet Ha, representative of the Fulbright student body, gave thanks to Mr. Pham Phu Khoi
The Music Room at Fulbright, thus, has become an indispensable part of students’ lives inside and outside the classroom; as Nguyen Viet Ha, representative of the Fulbright student body, spoke at the event: “The Music Room has allowed us tremendous opportunities to pursue our musical dream through every staff and bar line. The instruments here have brought life to unforgettable melodies; it’s where we hold rehearsals for the university’s many events.
“For that reason, the Music Room will remain a place ever filled with music, joy, happiness, love and pride for all of us. And I believe, today’s and future’s music enthusiasts at Fulbright will always be thankful for Mr. Pham Phu Khoi’s support and contribution to the development of talents among our fellow students.”
Fulbright undergraduate Quynh Anh sang “The Blue Danube” with the piano accompaniment of her fellow Music Club member Minh Tam.
Xuan Thy and Hieu Thuan performed “You’re Gonna Live Forever”
Hang Nga, Quynh Anh, Xuan Thy and Hieu Thuan with “We’re All in This Together”
Mr. Pham Phu Khoi with Fulbright students, faculty and staff.
