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Haigazian U: 156 Students Bid Farewell to Haigazian University

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  • Haigazian U: 156 Students Bid Farewell to Haigazian University

    PRESS RELEASE
    Haigazian University
    Mira Yardemian, Public Relation Director
    Kantari - Beirut
    Tel: 961 1 349230/1
    Email: [email protected]

    156 Students Bid Farewell to Haigazian University
    Keynote speaker Sarkis D. Yoghourtdjian: Human relations - be they
    personal or professional - should not be zero sum games

    On Friday, June 28, 2013, 156 students proudly earned their bachelor's
    and master's degrees, at Haigazian University's 53rd commencement
    exercises, amidst a mixed atmosphere of cheer and emotion, thus
    marking the end of yet another successful academic year.

    Government Minister General Panos Manjian represented the President of
    the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, and the President of the
    Council of Ministers. Mr. Mohammad Al Mashnouk was there to represent
    the newly appointed Prime Minister, Mr. Tammam Salam. Among the
    attendees were also Minister Vrej Sabounjian, MPs Sebouh Kalpakian and
    Shant Chinchinian, the representative of the Commander of the Army,
    the first secretary of the Armenian Embassy, Vartan Atamian, the
    President of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria
    and Lebanon, Rev. Selim Sahyouni, former ministers and MPs, clergy,
    members of the Board of Trustees, parents, relatives and friends.

    A celebratory processional march by faculty and students, led by Chief
    Marshall Dr. David Tawil, followed by the Lebanese National Anthem and
    the prayer of invocation offered by Campus Minister, Rev. Bruce
    Schoup, opened the auspicious ceremony.

    "Higher education is meant to help us look outside our window, while
    also looking into a mirror," said University President Paul Haidostian
    to the class of 2013.
    Emphasizing more on its sociopolitical and global framework,
    Haidostian considered that higher education faces new manifestations:
    "A world of over-integration in which one is to integrate everything
    into one reality, one method, be it religious, political, economic, or
    cultural, and a world of disintegration with the feeling that
    everything is falling apart, with no sense of authority, respect, or
    civility, a world where localized terror seems to be the globalized
    threat."

    Regarding over-integration, Haidostian reiterated on the fact that
    it's the education's mission to "show that life comes in shades of
    various colors, realities of various shapes, and that humility
    regarding our own method and our knowledge is a key to learning and
    goodness," and as to disintegration, the education's missions lies in
    "keeping hope alive, and the promise of life being where we get free
    and connected with each other."
    He then introduced keynote speaker, Sarkis D. Yoghourtdjian, Assistant
    Director of the Banking Supervision and Regulation, of the Federal
    Reserve System at Washington DC.
    An international banker, and a sought-after consultant for global
    banking issues, Yoghourtjian is the recipient of the prestigious
    Anania Shirakatsi Medal, bestowed on him in 2012 by the President of
    the Republic of the Armenia, for his notable services in the
    establishment and modernization of the Central Bank of the Republic of
    Armenia. Also, in November 2012, Mr. Yoghourtdjian was honored as the
    Man of the Year by the Union or Arab Banks during its annual gathering
    in Beirut. He is the first Lebanese-Armenian to be conferred such an
    honor.

    "I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through
    honest dealings and strict adherence to the view that for you to gain,
    those you deal with should gain as well. Human relations - be they
    personal or professional - should not be zero sum games." With these
    words Yoghourtdjian summed up his advice to the fresh graduates, as
    they get ready to embark into a new phase of their lives.
    Talking from his personal experience and sharing his humble beginnings
    as a Lebanese-Armenian, Yoghourtdjian credited his success to
    "immeasurable perseverance, will-power, and hard work."
    He also focused on the notion of horizons and perspectives, and in
    this respect Yoghourtdjian said, "I believe that my efforts throughout
    my life to expand my horizons and to keep a broad perspective have
    helped better meet the challenges that have come my way. At the same
    time, because I appreciate the role of chance and contingency in human
    events, I try to be appropriately realistic about my own
    capabilities."
    He finally concluded to be always driven by love, affirming that, "a
    career decision based only on money and not on love of the work or
    desire to make a difference, is a recipe for unhappiness."

    Two students delivered speeches before their fellow classmates.

    Valedictorian Rayan Batlouni, a candidate for a Bachelor degree in
    Social Work, hailed Haigazian University for its diversity and safe
    environment. "This mixture of cultures - especially the Armenian and
    the Lebanese - gives this university its uniqueness and richness",
    Batlouni noted.
    She further underlined three values that have marked her journey at
    Haigazian University: Freedom of expression, passion for knowledge,
    responsibility and commitment.
    Quoting Russian novelist Maxime Gorky, "every human being is born
    twice: the first is the physiological delivery, and the second is the
    intellectual, ethical and scientific birth of the human being",
    Batlouni gratefully thanked all parents and Haigazian University.

    For her part, Nanor Parseghian, a candidate for Bachelor degree in
    Business Administration, appreciated the unwavering efforts of the
    University administration and faculty body for arming them with
    virtues, knowledge and confidence, thus making them ready for life's
    challenges.
    As she goes separate ways with her friends, Parseghian urged her
    fellow classmates to act and work towards the fulfillment of their
    dreams, always bearing in mind to be at the service and bring pride to
    their country, Lebanon.

    Upon the benediction offered by the President of the Union of the
    Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Megrdich
    Karageozian, graduates threw their caps high into the air, as colorful
    balloons flew overhead.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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