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Haigazian University
Beirut Lebanon
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Vartoug Balekjian
Public Relations
Haigazian University

Haigazian University’s 44th Commencement
June 30, 2004
Beirut

Haigazian University- Beirut: Clad in gowns and caps, 88 graduates (35
students with the BA degree in the Faculty of Business Administration &
Economics, 21 with the BA in the Faculties of Humanities and Social &
Behavioral Sciences, 31 students with the BS degree in the Faculty of
Sciences, and one student with the MA in Education – School Administration)
of Haigazian University marched, following their instructors, to the
platform to receive their degrees from the hands of Haigazian University
President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, then marched out of the University, as
the President put it, “as potential business leaders, as educators and
teachers, as social workers and as lab scientists.” Eight students
graduated with honors and one with high honors.

Rev. Nishan Bakalian, the Campus Minister, offered the invocation. Then
President Haidostian welcomed the almost 1,300 invitees – politicians,
diplomats, officials representing President of the Lebanese Republic
General Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Mr. Rafik Hariri, House Speaker Mr.
Nabih Berry and Army Commander General Michel Sleiman, clergy, community
leaders, parents, relatives and friends of Haigazian University.

“Haigazian University promises to continue its academic activities
believing that a wholesome educational system is a unit that includes
mental, spiritual, social and physical education,” said the President, and
added that Haigazian is convinced that Lebanon not only needs educated
people, but also people who are mature, honest, fair and servant-spirited,
and that in this precise sense Haigazian will continue to serve Lebanon and
humanity.

The keynote speaker was the Personal Representative of the UN
Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon, Mr. Staffan De Mistura.

Mr. De Mistura’s previous assignments have taken him to “where human-made
or natural disasters have hit nations and countries,” thus exposing
essential but invisible human needs besides those of safety and
nourishment. The distinguished guest speaker, based on firsthand, personal
experiences in Kosovo, Croatia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ethiopia, Sudan, and
Chad, seasoned his speech with anecdotes, and highlighted three fundamental
human needs: dignity, truth and positive thinking. His words were a
heartwarming blend of academics and human needs. Mr. De Mistura challenged
the graduates to steadfastly cherish their human dignity by being useful,
to always have truth as an ally and to nurture positive thinking – filling
the white space of a sheet of paper rather than focusing the one black dot
in its center.

Deans Dr. Fadi Asrawi and Dr. Arda Ekmekji presented the candidates for the
degrees in the Faculty of Business Administration and Faculties of
Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences and Sciences respectively, and
President Haidostian handed them their degrees.

The program also included a valedictorian address. Mireille Bogharian, a
Business Administration major, thanked the faculty & staff of Haigazian
University and the parents for assisting them to reach graduation day.
Speaking both in Arabic & English, Ms. Bogharian urged her classmates to be
aware of the emigration allure and instead of waiting for opportunities of
success, she challenged them to create such opportunities with
self-confidence and all that Haigazian gave them.

After singing of the Alma Mater, the President of Union of Armenian
Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Megrditch Karagoezian, asked
God’s blessings upon the graduates. Finally, everybody joined in to
congratulate the happy and proud students in the Mugar Garden of Haigazian
University.

Prior to the Commencement Exercises, a Baccalaureate Service was held in
the First Evangelical Church, on Sunday, June 27, to thank God for His
grace and goodness throughout the academic year 2003-2004. The sermon was
delivered by Dr. Mary Mikhael, the President of the Near East School of
Theology. Then two students passed on the light they received from
President Haidostian to their classmates and pledged, on behalf of all the
graduates, to “hold high the light of truth, to defend the light of freedom
and to spread the light of service” to their communities.

Haigazian University
Public Relations Office

Lebanon

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress