“Dear Antonine University graduates, you should know that we are proud of you wherever you go. Be the yeast and spread positive energy and hope in society.” It is through this invitation to solidarity, courage, and entrepreneurship that the Antonine University’s Rector, Fr. Michel Jalakh, addressed the Class of 2019 on the evening of July 5. Through these few words, he solemnly announced to the 439 young women and men who blossomed intellectually during their academic journey at Antonine University (UA), their official entry into the workforce. It is now their responsibility to use what they have learned during their time at UA to lay the groundwork for their professional life.

Delighted and honored to witness this rite of passage, the graduating students' family and friends would not have missed the graduation ceremony for the world. Political figures attended the ceremony, among them the guest of honor of the ceremony H.E. Gebran Bassil, who represented the President of the Republic, the Deputy Fadi Alamé, representative of the head of Parliament, and Dr. Daoud El Sayegh, representative of the Prime Minister. Many religious figures were celebrating the ceremony, among them the Superior General of the Antonine Maronite Order, Abbot Maroun Abou Jaoude, as well as deputies and legal, social, and diplomatic personalities such as the Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon, Jose Maria Ferre de la Pena.

The presence of Bassam Barrak left a mark that evening. Thanks to his oratory skills, the famous journalist, who was the host of the ceremony, highlighted the importance of the present moment. One after the other, Mr. Barrak warmly introduced and welcomed the valedictorians on stage. Some of them, such as Marwa Zeineddine, Ahmad Noureddine, Chloé Mireille, and Grace Chidiac, gave a short personal speech emphasizing on the importance of work and the will to succeed. Others like Lara Maalouly or Jana Hamzé pronounced with their peers, the oath of discipline. Finally, yet importantly, Jana Hamzé and Elissa Khalil, two exceptional students, were rewarded for their perseverance and determination during their academic journey. Elissa, who happens to be an alumnus of the “College des Pères Antonins” – in other words, an “Antonine” since her childhood – received the Raymond Najjar Academic Award from the Faculty of Engineering. Additionally, Jana Hamzé, who scored the highest grades in the whole University, received a scholarship from the University as an award for her hard work.

Everyone's pride and emotions were palpable. The Rector affirmed, "It is your big day, the successful conclusion of all these years of efforts, perseverance, and ambitions. Now, it is up to you to keep the energy alive and continue the way with passion and nobility of spirit". In his speech, Father Jalakh also reminded everyone that the essence of the University's mission is to shape the student's minds in order to improve their critical thinking skills and the ability to tell the truth from the false in a new world where one can easily be overwhelmed information that comes to us every day. In other words, turn them into guardians of democracy, active participants in public life and society, women and men who hold a reflective and responsible voice who would always choose dialogue over sterile discussions for the sake of democracy.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Gebran Bassil, to whom the Rector offered UA’s silver pen that night, saluted in his speech the courage of the graduates’ parents, the hard-working fathers and mothers who spared no effort to give their children the education they deserve. He also congratulated UA students on their willpower. Thanks to their tenacity, these young people were a few seconds away from being officially graduated from Antonine University, “a university that reflects the image of Lebanon with its highly diverse student and staff bodies. A university that chose to become implanted in mixed areas of Lebanon. A university that is ambitious too and worked tirelessly to receive institutional accreditation from the prestigious Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ) [...], but above all, a university proud of its Lebanese identity and based in the Oriental region yet open to the whole world.”

Minister Bassil also stated that if Lebanon did not have the means to win the battle of the traditional economy, it could nevertheless "keep its positioning in the industrial and services sectors thanks to the development of its human resources, knowledge, and technology. The latter view is shared by Antonine University, which keeps creating new academic training courses adapted to the current market, like the MBA in Sports Management or the gerontology training” [...]. H.E. Gebran Bassil ended his speech by affirming that his ambition as a minister is to make Lebanon able to offer the youth jobs that meet their aspirations.

These parts of the graduation ceremony do not depict it all. To mark the end of their studies, Antonine University had also prepared a short documentary on the theme of this year featuring interviews with UA alumni who have developed successful careers around the world. Moreover, when came the time of the musical interludes performed by the famous Marc Hatem, which added joy to the emotion. At the end of this beautiful graduation ceremony that lasted a little less than three hours, colorful fireworks lightened the sky over the Hadat-Baabda Campus. The new chapter of UAmbassadors’ life was only a few seconds away. We are sure that they will shine bright like fireworks. Congratulations to the class of 2019!

The Valedictorians for the Class of 2019 are:
- Jana Hamze, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (English section), valedictorian of the 2019 valedictorians (she was awarded a scholarship for her MBA);
- Elissa Khalil, Master’s in Computer and Communications Engineering, she received the Raymond Najjar Academic Award from the Faculty of Engineering;
- Lea Ghafary, Bachelor’s in Business Administration (French Section);
- Christel Ashjian, Bachelor’s in Business Administration (English section);
- Michel Tannoury, Master’s in Business Administration (MBA);
- Cynthia Berberi, Bachelor of Arts in Advertising – Audiovisual;
- Chloé el-Kallas, Bachelor of Arts in Advertising – Graphic Design;
- Lara Abi Rafeh, Bachelor of Arts in Advertising – Journalism;
- Chloé Mireille Grace Chidiac, Master in Information and Communication;
- Ahmad Noureddine, Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Sport;
- Marwa Zeineldine, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Sciences;
- Mahdieh Alawad, Master of Science in Nursing Sciences;
- Nadine el-Chaar, Bachelor of Science in Dental Laboratory Technology;
- Maria Azar, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (French section);
- Alice Assi, Bachelor of Arts in Music and Musicology;
- Abbas Alsadeq, Master 2 in Music and Musicology.