Staff Reporter
A prestigious ceremony of virtual commencement of Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) was held on Saturday, in which 876 students graduated.
23 Baccalaureate and 16 Postgraduate students were awarded different medals. Two honorary Ph.D. degrees were awarded to Dr. James Shera and Ambassador Mohammad Nafees Zakaria. Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, Governor of the Punjab graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The ceremony commenced with opening remarks of Dr. Nayer Fardows, Registrar followed by recitation of the Holy Quran and reading from the Holy Bible.
Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton, Rector in his welcome address said, “We look forward to seeing you on campus in the coming months including at that post-pandemic graduation celebration that we have promised you when you return to Forman once again and we can together celebrate in person and with your families on campus everything that is good and lasting about your unique Forman experience.” Medals were awarded to 23 Baccalaureate and 16 Postgraduate students during the ceremony.
The hallmark of the commencement was Governor address at the occasion. While speaking virtually to the audience, graduating students and their parents, the Governor congratulated them with their amazing academic accomplishments. Governor addressed to the graduating students that you are a trailblazer, a Champion, and a Scholar ready to apply your acquired knowledge to enhance and advance this world we live in.
Governor said that many of you are understandably frustrated due to canceled ceremonies, celebrations, and annual traditions because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Others are suffering immensely from the loss of loved ones, financial instability, and the uncertainty of the future of all industries, however, switching to remote learning in the past year created a new reality that you all continue to adjust to. Governor further said that during this global change, it is very important to pause as we acknowledge your resilience, intellect, and grit.
You have met all the academic requirements of your program and were forced to immediately learn the larger life lessons of “nothing is promised” and the “uncertainty of tomorrow”.
Your adjustment and preparation for the future is going to require practical skills that exit beyond face-to-face and virtual classroom instruction.
Governor further added that Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) is known for its inclusive and diverse student body and the prestigious institute has been able to accomplish a lot more than just bridging a divide.
The legacy of FCCU spans 155 years of quality education. This institute has produced leaders in all walks of life since 1864 and now you too are a part of this amazing legacy. The Chief Guest hoped that students must take the lessons learned in the university and embrace the challenges in their paths.
He advised that do not be aimless, even the wind, though it seems to blow aimlessly has a definitive purpose. A brighter future will not appear by natural law, it will need to be built, created by connected thoughts actions of myriads of individuals who are beset by the passion to make the world a better place not just for themselves, but for the generations to come.
In the end, Governor again congratulated the graduating students especially Dr. James Shera and Mr. Nafees Zakria for being honored with Honorary Ph.D. degrees in Arts and Letters
Dr. Peter H. Armacost, former Rector of the university also addressed the graduating students through a video message from the US. He congratulated the graduating class and hoped that this is just the beginning of a lifetime of learning and stressed the students to continue to grow and develop through the years ahead.”
He noted that today FCCU stands tall among institutions of higher education in Pakistan and the region and has made progress by leaps and bounds since denationalization.
