Peking University, Aug.1, 2015: On July 15, 2015 Peking University graduate commencement and degree ceremony was held in the Khoo Teck Puat Gymnasium. Party secretary Zhu Shanlu, President Lin Jianhua and other school leaders attended the ceremony. Many members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, representatives of professors and alumni were also invited to attend the commencement. The commencement was presided over by executive vice president Ke Yang.
At the beginning of the ceremony, graduates of 2015 expressed their feelings and thoughts through a short video. Then with accompaniment, two graduates and teacher representatives passionately recited the classic poem by Xie Mian titled “The Forever Campus”to honor the memory of their days of youth in Yan Garden. When the anthem had been played, the commencement officially started.
Then executive vice president Liu Wei declared that this year Peking University would confer 1635 doctoral and 5914 master’s degrees. Follow this, Zhu Shanlu read the recognition decision of 2015 excellent graduate students. Zhao Tiekai, from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature as representative of 2015 graduates, gave a speech. He mentioned how much they appreciated the education they received here and it was Peking University that taught them to “learn from books, practice and life”. Besides, he, on behalf of all the graduates, committed to do utmost to live up to the high expectations of alma mater. After that, the tutor representative Yao Yang and the alumni representative Guo Zhengtang also made speeches. They first expressed their sincere wishes to all of the graduating students then further exhorted the graduates to forever keep in mind their senses of mission and social responsibilities so as to escort the future development of China.
Zhao Tiekai
Professor Yao Yang
Alumnus Guo Zhengtang
Afterwards, Lin Jianhua delivered a speech entitled “Keep Positive Innovation to Lead the Future”. He congratulated all the graduate students on their graduation and made a special video for them. He said, “PKU is more than a university; it is a totem in people’s mind entrusted with the future and hopes of the nation…PKU is a spiritual homeland for truth seekers and dream runners… PKU is an everlasting riddle to which everyone who lives and studies here will find their own answers in the shared experience.”
Finally, all teachers and students sang the song “The Love for Yan Garden” together. Hopefully, all the graduates of 2015 will become the pillars of tomorrow and lead the future of China.
Reported by: Wang Qian
Edited by: Choisum Kwok
