HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY, CITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HOLD CEREMONIES FOR GRADUATES

The Daily Star
July 10 2008
Lebanon

BEIRUT: Beirut celebrated the spirit of education over the weekend
with the graduation ceremonies of two prominent institutions in the
capital. Haigazian University honored 157 students on Friday, while
City International School celebrated its fifth commencement ceremony
on Saturday.

Haigazian’s graduation ceremony was held in the First Armenian
Evangelical Church courtyard in Beirut, where 150 students received
Bachelors degrees and seven students were honored with Masters degrees.

Among the 1,200 students, family members, politicians and diplomats
present at Haigazian’s ceremony were Higher Education Minister Khaled
Kabbani, representing President Michel Sleiman; Minister of State for
Administrative Affairs Jean Hogasapian, representing Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora; and MP Hagop Pakradounian, representing Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri.

While addressing the graduates, the university president, Reverend
Paul Haidostian, stressed the role of education and how the younger
generation can improve the lives of people in the country. "Key words
in our world include development, advancement, openness, inclusiveness
and globalization. And yet, loneliness, stress, lack of trust, racism,
violence, disorientation, injustice and dissatisfaction characterize
the modern human situation … The young generations deserve all
the chances, all the support, and all the guidance we can give,"
Haidostian said.

"After all, quality of life and quality of education are inseparable,"
he added.

The university’s two valedictorians voiced similar thoughts on the
role of education. Mirvat Ammouri, speaking in Arabic, emphasized
education’s importance in improving the status of humanity. Nayiri
Kalajian, speaking in English, encouraged the graduating class to
face future challenges.

"Let us serve our community purposefully, for it is through our
service that we will realize our strengths to face the challenges
that will confront us," Kalajian stressed.

The guest speaker, Economy Minister Sami Haddad, reminded the
audience about the importance of Lebanon’s human capital. "Lebanon’s
great wealth is its people, or what economists refer to as human
capital. And it is the noble role of enhancing the knowledge of our
youth, sharpening their skills and challenging their intelligence
that our elite educational institutions, such as Haigazian University,
are fulfilling so well," Haddad said.

The minister also emphasized the growing importance of high-value-added
sectors such as banking, medicine, education, agriculture and industry.

"The future of the Lebanese economy lies in high-value-added industries
and not ordinary ‘staple’ products that can only compete on the basis
of price. High-value-added industries tend to employ large numbers
of qualified people like the students who are graduating today from
this esteemed university," he said.

Meanwhile, principal Nather Simhairi and guest speaker professor Souma
BouJaoude, the chairman of the education department at the American
University of Beirut, addressed an audience of graduating students,
teachers and parents at the City International School ceremony in
Beirut. The ceremony, held on the school campus, honored students
from the Lebanese Baccalaureate and the American Program, including
three valedictorians. – The Daily Star