The Northwestern Polytechnical University 2014 Commencement for Undergraduates Grandly Held

Graduating from a university always means a mixture of sadness of departing from dear friends and teachers, farewell to an important stage of one’s life, and excitement of starting a new life journey. It is also a time filled with attachment between teachers and students, sweet memories of the schooldays, and best wishes for future. Before the ceremony started, through poetry and videos, teachers and parents of the graduates shared their four years of university life.

Then with the solemn national anthem, NPU 2014 Undergraduates’ Commencement officially started. Secretary of NPU Party Committee Ms. Chen Xiaozhu addressed the ceremony. She firstly expected that the 215 distinguished graduates who were commended by the school would cherish their honor and continue to exert themselves in their new posts of duty to carry forward the good tradition of their Alma Mater, and that they could repay the society with what they actually do, and contribute their youth and wisdom to realizing the great “China Dream”, thus bringing honor to NPU. She finally called on those still at school to follow the example of the excellent graduates to adhere firmly to their ideals and faith, working hard to grow into talents of high quality. 

Xie Shaowei from School of Electronic Information, a representative of the graduates, gave a speech at the ceremony, in which he recalled the past four years of living in NPU, and appreciated the teachers’ industrious work and life-long beneficial teachings, thanked his fellow students for their selfless help and support, and the great friendship between them. During his speech, Xie Shaowei suggested that all the graduates rise from their chairs and make a solemn commitment to their Alma Mater that in their future life, with the self confidence and fortitude characteristics of people of NPU, they would strive hard for great achievements to continue the brilliance of NPU. 

This year, NPU invited over 20 representatives of parents of graduates to attend the commencement to witness this important moment of their children’s life. In warm applause, 16 students presented flowers to their parents and then hugged them to show their gratitude for the love and care given to them since their childhood. The mother of an overseas student named Eugene came specially from Africa to attend the ceremony. And she was extremely proud that her child obtained a degree from NPU. This had been the first time for her to come to China, to Xi’an, and the first time for her to take part in her child’s commencement. She said, “All these memories of “the first time” make me proud of my child.”

With warm applause, President Wang Jinsong gave the commencement address and declared degree awarding to the graduates. And on behalf of the university, he congratulated the students on their successful accomplishment of the undergraduate program, and expressed the best wishes for their future success and happiness. He said that alumni’s down-to-earth hard work would win wide acclaim for their Alma Mater, which was exactly an embodiment of the school spirit and school motto of NPU. He said, “Refusing to be vain and fickle, and indifferent to fame and fortune, NPU always dares to undertake great responsibilities, putting national interests before everything else. And that is what NPU, our Alma Mater, has been like all the time. ” 

It is said that of all the 3494 graduates in this year, 45% will pursue a graduate degree, 5% will go abroad for further study. Of those who have already found a job, about 60% will work for the world’s top 500 enterprises, or for the enterprises or public institutions of national defense.