Commencement 2019. Look how it went
July 4, 2019
On Saturday, June 1 the annual Commencement ceremony was held at the ÍøÆسԹÏ. ÍøÆسԹÏ’s graduation is a meaningful and solemn event—the culmination of nearly a half-decade of one of the best educations in Central Asia. Fitting the event’s pomp, the ceremony itself is a colorful and well-attended event. Besides the graduates and their families, representatives from the Kyrgyz government, international organizations, and embassies, ÍøÆسԹÏ’s board of trustees, faculty, and staff, as well as honored guests from overseas could be found at the ceremony.
"Today is a day to remember and celebrate your hard work, academic achievements, wonderful professors, and friendships that you formed here, which I hope will last a lifetime" David Lakhdhir, Chair of ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees delivered an amazing commencement speech to graduates.
"Many successful people who work today not only in Kyrgyzstan but also abroad are graduates of ÍøÆسԹÏ"Ìýaddressed one of the honored guest Altynai Omurbekova, Vice Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic.
This year, ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï was honored to welcome Dexter Filkins, American journalist, and Pulitzer winner, who underscored the gravity of the ceremony in his opening remarks.
U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Donald Lu ÍøÆسԹÏ’s keynote speaker at graduation. He shared with the graduates some wisdom from his life.
President Andrew Kuchins delivered his first Commencement speech at ÍøÆسԹÏ.
After the speeches, the graduates received their much-anticipated diplomas. Like every other year, the graduation ceremony started with a procession on the stage with flags from more than twenty different countries. The flags represent the variety of countries ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï faculty, staff, and students call home, a symbol of ÍøÆسԹÏ’s multi-national environment. One by one, the graduates took the stage in their cap and gowns to receive their diplomas.
The ceremony concluded on the steps outside ÍøÆسԹÏ’s new campus where blue and gold balloons were released as the new graduates threw their caps into the air and then set off to celebrate a university education well done.
More photos available here:
