Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　NCYU campus was again lighted up by yellowish flowers of Golden shower trees, paving a yellow carpet to bid farewell and blessings to the graduates. National Chiayi University’s graduation ceremony for the academic year 2018-2019 was held on June 15th on the campuses of Lantan, Minghsiung and Sinmin concurrently with live streaming. At 8:40 a.m., President Chyung Ay received Vice President Huang Guang-liang, other top supervisors and the graduates, who had just finished a campus tour, into Zuei-Suei Guan on the Lantan campus. The ceremonies on the Minghsiung and Sinmin campuses unfolded with campus tours joined by teachers and students led by Vice President Liu Rong-Yi and Vice President Chu Chi-Shih respectively.

　　During the campus tour, the members of the Agricultural Plant Protection Machine Team of the Department of Biomechatronic Engineering gave their blessings to the recent graduates by flying drones carrying banners reading “All the success and bright future” and “Happy commencement.” The drone show soon became the spotlight of the graduation ceremony, complete with a instrumental music performance by the marching band and music clubs, such as Wind Band, and Guitar Club. In the festive atmosphere, the graduates walked to the ceremony venue. In his address during the ceremony, President Ay congratulated all the graduates who have finished their studies, and encouraged them to move out of their comfort zone and take challenges without fear, for a life of comfort and ease will eventually result in the loss of dynamism to grow. He stressed the significance of self-learning, and urged them to treat people with sincerity, and work with proactivity and commitment. President Ay added that he hoped all the students to truly understand the meaning of “True happiness is found in helping others” and the value of their existence. He wished that all the graduates of NCYU could internalize these as a part of their own living faith, so that they could demonstrate more competitiveness in their future careers.

　　Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui specially returned to her alma mater to offer her blessings to the young students. Mayor Huang said that, being a NCYU alumna herself who has the KANO spirit of “never give up,” she decided to serve this city again despite severe challenges. She expected the young students to show their competencies and make achievements in all walks of life at home at abroad, bringing honors to the city of Chiayi. Mayor Huang added that Chiayi City was rated 4.5 stars this year, which was an honor to all. If they have the chance to stay in or return to Chiayi someday in the future, she hoped that all the young graduates would remember to tell people, “I graduated from NCYU, and I am proud of it.”

　　There were 2,831 NCYU graduates this year, including 21 with doctoral degrees, 588 with master’s degrees, and 2,222 with bachelor’s degrees. At the ceremony, an honorary doctorate was awarded to Mr. Lin Guo-Cun. An alumni of the Department of Agronomy, Taiwan Provincial Chiayi Junior College of Agriculture, now NCYU, Lin serves as Chairman of Eayuan Metal Industrial Co., Ltd. The company is one of the leading valve manufacturers in Taiwan, with its products being sold to 31 countries. As leader of one of the largest valve manufacturers in Taiwan, Chairman Lin is a figure of success who is generous with donations to his alma mater, helping solidify the foundation of NCYU with all his might. In the speech, Honorary Dr. Lin encouraged all the young graduates that learning is a lifelong journey, and to remember to contribute to their alma mater and the society, and appreciate all the guidance and instructions of the NCYU teachers have provided throughout the years.

　　Among the NCYU graduates this year, a total of 105 were foreign and overseas Chinese students. On the Minghsiung campus, Hsu Kai-Chun and Ma Xin-Yu, an overseas Chinese student, gave thank-you speeches on behalf of all the graduates on the campus. Ma mentioned that she was filled with memories and wistful feelings for NCYU, a strange place to her four years ago. She was thankful to all the teachers and classmates for their heartfelt help and support in the past four years. In the days to come, she would brave the world with courage given by NCYU. The ceremony came to an end with every graduate singing “The Memory We Were Together,” a song by Sodagreen. Singing about their feelings towards graduation, they turned on their cell phone lights, swayed to the music, and bade farewell to each other, creating a wistful atmosphere that drifted throughout the venue.