On 10 April 2013, STOU organized celebrations for the coming Songkran holiday, which celebrates the traditional Thai New Year. These started in the morning with donating food to 9 visiting monks and a ceremonial bathing of Buddha images and a statue of King Rama VII by university administrators. Following this, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chailerd Pichitpornchai, M.D., President of STOU, formally opened the day’s festivities and on behalf of the university presented an educational donation to Wat Tan School. There were also cultural performances and food provided for university personnel and participants. A special highlight of the day’s activities was the traditional annual Songkran practice of pouring water on the hands of elders and asking for their blessings for the coming year.