The commencement ceremony for UA Class of 2018 took place on Saturday, June 30, 2018, as 445 graduate students from Antonine University three campuses received their diplomas in the presence of prominent guests, deans, professors, staff, and family members. During the ceremony, President Fr. Michel Jalakh conferred the first UA honorary doctorate of the Faculty of Engineering to Mr. Raymond Najjar.
UA President Fr. Michel Jalakh congratulated the graduating students. In his speech, he raised the issue of unemployment and the lack of job opportunities in Lebanon. Addressing students, he invited them to follow the example of the honorary doctorate recipient whose outstanding and remarkable journey, is a good model to follow.
On his part, Mr. Najjar announced that the Raymond and Aida Najjar Foundation decided to grant an annual and permanent Excellency Award (the equivalent of 15 000 US dollars) to brilliant students in the Faculty of Engineering, in order to encourage and motivate them. Furthermore, the philanthropist urged the audience to promote the spirit of mutual aid, support and brotherhood.
Marked by a musical interlude by international tenor Bechara Moufarrej, the ceremony started with the speeches of students’, Carine Shheitly Valedictorian of the Department of Dental Laboratory Technology and Jean-Marc Azzi Valedictorian of the Faculty of Engineering. At the end, the graduating students processed across the stage to collect their diplomas and pause for a commemorative photo.