On Saturday, June 30, 2018, the commencement ceremony for Antonine University Class of 2018 took place, as 445 graduate students from the University’s three campuses received their diplomas in the presence of prominent guests, deans, professors, staff, and family members. During the ceremony, Rector Fr. Michel Jalakh conferred the first UA honorary doctorate of the Faculty of Engineering to Mr. Raymond Najjar.

Placed under the patronage of Mr. Najjar, the ceremony was moderated by Mr. Bassam Barrak in the presence of many personalities including Mr. Najjar; Father Maroun Abou Joaudé, Abbot of the Antonin Maronite Order and Grand Chancellor of the UA; MP Hikmat Dib; Reverend Father Michel Jalakh, Rector of the UA; Reverend Father Joseph, Bou Raad; Dr. Daoud Sayegh, Advisor to the Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri; Ms. Tan Yan, representing HE Jiang Jiang, Ambassador of China to Beirut; Father Boutros Azar, General Secretary of the Catholic Schools; former Minister Damianos Kattar; Reverend Father Najib Baaklini, President of Ajem; the University Council as well as a crowd of guests including the directors and representatives of universities and schools, directors, deans and faculty of UA as well as parents of young graduates.

In his speech, Fr. Michel Jalakh congratulated the students and discussed 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 journey was an exemplary 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 to encourage and motivate them. Furthermore, the philanthropist urged the audience to promote the spirit of mutual aid, support, and brotherhood.

The national anthem was presented by the UA Choir and a musical interlude by international tenor Bechara Moufarrej marked the ceremony. The Commencement started with the speeches of our valedictorians: Carine Shheitly, Valedictorian of the Department of Dental Laboratory Technology, and Jean-Marc Azzi, Valedictorian of the Faculty of Engineering.

To conclude the ceremony, the young graduates marched across the stage to receive their diplomas and pause for a commemorative photo.
The ceremony was also marked by the broadcast of two documentaries on the granting of institutional accreditation to UA by the Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ), as well as the accreditation of our physical therapy program by the World Confederation for Physiotherapy (WCPT).