Antonine University (UA) welcomed members of the Class of 2016 back to their University on July 16, 2026, for a special evening organized by the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR). Alumni first gathered for drinks, conversations, and warm reunions with former classmates, faculty members, and staff before coming together for the official unveiling of the Time Capsule they had entrusted to UA a decade earlier.

The event was hosted by Mr. Bassam Wehbe, a 2015 UA graduate from the Faculty of Information and Communication, and brought alumni together to revisit the aspirations they had left behind in 2016, celebrate the paths they have since taken, and renew their connection with their University.

In his welcoming address, Fr. Jean Al Alam, Vice President for Integral Human Development and Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, described the reunion as a homecoming. He reflected on the Time Capsule as a link between the aspirations of the past and the lives alumni have built since then.

“The University is not measured by its buildings and classrooms,” he said. “It is the people who passed through it, the stories written within its walls, and the relationships that remained stronger than time.”

In a warm reference to the World Cup atmosphere of the week, Fr. Al Alam added: “The most beautiful and strongest goal you scored was the day you enrolled at Antonine University.”

The program included a World Cup-inspired musical performance by Ms. Sarah Nehme, Class of 2026 alumna, and Mr. Eyad Raydan, UA alumnus, before alumni Mr. Hussein Cheikh Ali and Ms. Rawan Chararatook the stage to share their story. The couple, who met while studying at the Antonine School of Business, spoke openly about the challenges and milestones that shaped their lives after graduation, including professional ambitions, health struggles, resilience, parenthood, and their determination to continue building their future in Lebanon.

Addressing current students, they encouraged them to make the most of their university years and to value the people who accompany them throughout the journey. “Let your degree and your knowledge be your true connection,” he said, reaffirming the importance of competence, dignity, and perseverance in professional life.

Representing UA’s administrative staff, Ms. Eliane Abou Rjeily, Coordinator of the Office of Examinations, and Ms. Suzanne Feghali, Administrative Assistant at the Language Center, then shared their own memories of the Class of 2016, from registration periods and petitions to the familiar questions and concerns of student life. They expressed their pride in seeing alumni return with greater confidence, experience, and accomplishments.

The evening also introduced Sunbula, UA’s mascot representing its students. Inspired by a wheat ear that bends with the wind without breaking, Sunbula made a lively appearance among attendees, inviting children and families to take photos.

In his address, Fr. Michel Saghbiny, Rector of Antonine University, reflected on the meaning of reopening the Time Capsule after a decade. He noted that although graduates had left campus with their diplomas, they had also carried with them human experiences, friendships, and values that continued to shape their personal and professional lives.

“Over these ten years, much has changed. You have changed, and so has the University,” he said. “It has grown, developed its programs, expanded its horizons, and continued its mission despite every difficulty, just as you have in your different fields of work.”

“Today, as we welcome you once again, we are not welcoming former graduates, but partners in the University’s mission. You are its ambassadors in society, and your successes are part of its success.”

Fr. Saghbiny invited alumni to see the reunion as the beginning of a renewed relationship with their University and with one another, affirming that the relationship between UA and its alumni does not end at graduation, but takes on a new form from that day onward.

The evening also featured a dance performance by Maya Events before the presentation of the Outstanding Alumni Award to Captain Rita Zaher, a 2016 graduate of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

Captain Zaher shared her journey from UA student to military officer and helicopter pilot, becoming the first female pilot in the Lebanese Army. She also spoke of her continued connection to UA, where she has been teaching at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology for the past four years.

“Antonine University was never simply part of the past,” she said. “It remains part of my story and part of every achievement I have made.”

Prof. Talar Atechian, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, then addressed the alumni on behalf of UA’s faculty members, emphasizing that the long-term impact of university education lies not only in the knowledge acquired, but also in the values students carry forward. She highlighted Captain Zaher’s discipline, perseverance, integrity, responsibility, and courage as values that had grown from early seeds into a distinguished path.

The long-awaited moment arrived as the Time Capsule was officially opened. Alumni eagerly gathered around the box, searching for their names before opening their bags with anticipation. Inside were objects filled with personal meaning: a pen used during a final exam by an alumna who graduated at the top of her faculty, an old student ID card, examination papers, a good-luck watch, a photograph from 2016, and a treasured note from an instructor. Each discovery became a reminder of the people, experiences, and moments at UA that had quietly shaped the paths they would later follow.

Some objects carried even deeper emotions. One alumna found a letter expressing her hope of succeeding in the banking sector and returning one day with her husband and children, who were now standing beside her. Another alumnus recovered a rosary given to him by his late grandmother. Through laughter, surprise, and tears, the Time Capsule brought past hopes face-to-face with the lives the Class of 2016 had built over the decade.

To conclude the evening, Ms. Amani Abdel Samad, Coordinator of the Office of Alumni Relations, invited graduates to visit the Alumni Booth, where they received a bonsai tree as a symbolic gift representing growth, patience, and the continued nurturing of dreams. Alumni were also able to receive their Alumni ID Cards, reinforcing their place within a community that continues to grow.

The celebration ended with the cutting of the cake and a commemorative photo bringing together the Class of 2016, University leadership, faculty, staff, and the Alumni Relations team.

By creating opportunities for graduates to reconnect with their memories, classmates, and alma mater, UA continues to foster an engaged alumni community whose experiences, achievements, and values extend the University’s mission far beyond its campuses.