Minister Chidiac at LGU graduation ceremony
Chidiac to students: Seize every opportunity and challenge yourselves
Under the auspices and in the presence of H.E. Dr. May Chidiac, Minister of State for Administrative Reform, the Lebanese German University – LGU held its eighth commencement exercises, class 2019, at Eddé Sands in Jbeil on July 16th 2019.
The ceremony was attended by the German Ambassador to Beirut Dr. Georg Birgelen, Monseigneur Georges El Azzi representing Patriarch Bechara Boutros El-Rahi, a host of military, political, religious, and social figures, current and former deputies, representatives of ministers, political parties, unions, and syndicates, NGOs, as well as several media figures and journalists, members of LGU Board of Trustees, LGU President Professor Samir Mattar, Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs Mrs. Marianne Adaimi, Vice President for Development Dr. Pierre El-Khoury, deans and heads of the various faculties as well as the administrative and academic staff, and the students’ parents and friends.
Following the Lebanese and German national anthems, President Mattar took the stage calling on graduates to keep on developing their cognitive capacities and preserve the values that LGU has instilled in them. He also encouraged them to display responsibility in their national and family duties.
In turn, Dr. Alexander Najjar, President of LGU Board of Trustees, praised the various programs that have helped LGU gain recognition among well-established academic institutions, among which masters programs in public health, schools management, MBA, and its DPT program. He also stressed the assistance LGU provides its students with when seeking job opportunities. He finally congratulated Dr. Sharaf Abou Sharaf, member of LGU Board of Trustees, on winning the elections of the Lebanese Order of Physicians.
In turn, Dr. Georg Birgelen congratulated the graduates on their achievements, and spoke highly of students who have chosen a major in the German language. He also encouraged the young graduates to consider job opportunities and further studies in Germany, which has become an attractive destination for students from all over the world. His Excellency also underlined that the Embassy diplomatic efforts have boosted both international cooperation and exchange programs with many German universities and research centers. He then expressed his confidence in the methods and values taught at LGU, particularly the serious reflectiveness and the open-mindedness he has personally witnessed. Finally, he recalled the commencement speech made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Harvard University six weeks ago in which she appealed to graduates to look forward not only to their personal future but also to that of their country as it is in their hands if they adopt the right approach to ‘make everything possible’. He ended by conveying his best wishes to all graduates for a fulfilled professional and personal life.
Successively, Dr. May Chidiac congratulated all graduates encouraging them to be patient when faced with the pressures of daily life, adopt constructive habits, exert relentless efforts during their professional life, and seize every opportunity that comes their way and challenge themselves. She pointed out to the pleasure that members of her ministry derive with every accomplishment that serves the country, hoping that every step taken forward will reflect a strong government that will make all Lebanese proud. She added that Lebanon needs daring young people in all fields, arts, science, business, technology, medicine, and human sciences and called on young graduates to remain in their homeland where they could make their dreams come true no matter how long it takes. At the end of her talk, she metaphorically invited them to plant trees on good ground so that they grow and become a forest.
At the end of the speeches, Dr. Alexander Najjar, President of the Board of Trustees, and Mrs. Marianne Adaimi, Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, handed Dr. Chidiac and Dr. Birgelen blazons in appreciation of their efforts. The graduates were then handed their diplomas by their respective deans before taking the commemorative photo. The event ended with a festive gala dinner.
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