On the morning of June 26, the 2021 graduation and degree awarding ceremony was held at the Central Gymnasium of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). University leaders, deans from all the schools, and students witnessed the ceremony together. PAN Jianwei, Executive Vice President of USTC, presided over the ceremony.

Graduation and degree awarding ceremony scene.

Inside the gymnasium, graduates in degree uniforms lined up in a neat formation, waiting for the exciting moment. In front of the podium, the motto of USTC, which reads “be patriotic and professional while integrating theory with practice”, shows the unswerving spiritual pursuit of USTCers.

Before the ceremony, the student choired songs “Republican Love” and “Sailing”.  At 9 a.m., along with the melody of the school song “The Eternal East Wind”, the graduation ceremony officially started. In the exciting flag-passing part, the blue school flag slowly swept past the graduates’ squad, while the graduates stretched out their hands to touch it. Thunderous applause was ringing now and then. Afterwards, the whole audience stood up and sang the national anthem of People’s Republic of China.

The blue school flag is slowly sweeping past the graduates’ squad.

On behalf of the university, PAN Jianwei read out the decision of degree conferment and expressed warm congratulations to the students who had successfully completed their studies. The university leaders, mentor representatives and alumni representatives presented the awards to the honorary graduates and university-level excellent thesis winners.

PAN Jianwei, Executive Vice President of USTC, presides over the ceremony.

In the warm applause, BAO Xinhe, President of USTC, delivered a keynote speech, sending his heartfelt message to the graduates.

“I hope that you will inherit the patriotic spirit of USTC and serve our country. This year is the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mr. YAN Jizi, who is a loyal patriot pursuing truth and progress throughout his life. Between personal development and our country’s future, I hope you can find a balance point, realizing the noble value of your life while making a difference to our homeland.”

“I hope you can be self-reliant and always pursue excellence. USTC was founded for the cause of “Two Bombs and One Star”. USTCers should take their ancestors as role models, ‘dare to go up to the moon, dare to dive deep into the sea’. I hope that you can carry your responsibilities. YUAN Longping proved the feasibility of cultivating hybrid rice when he was young, and WU Mengchao aspired to “known to the world” when he was a teenager. As the protagonists of the new era, you must strive to make our country become the world’s major scientific center and innovative heights.”  

“The sea of science is vast and profound, and the future of our country is beautiful and promising. You have been born in a great age. I hope you will have the ‘greatness of the country’ in mind”, BAO finally said.

BAO Xinhe, President of USTC, is giving a speech.

Graduate delegation YING Zeli, an undergraduate in School of Management, and Ph. D ZHANG Jinghe, from Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, conveyed their gratitude to teachers and classmates respectively. YING said that his study in USTC taught him to try his best and believe that step by step he could eventually achieve something. ZHANG said that she would remember the motto of USTC and spend her life practicing the spirit of USTC. “We will let our country and the world see what we USTCers could contribute to this world.”

Graduate delegation ZHANG Jinghe, from Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, is giving a speech.

At the ceremony, party secretary SHU Gequn led all graduates to make a pledge. After the oath, all the graduates stood up and sang the school song “The Eternal East Wind”, many filled with tears.

Party secretary SHU Gequn is making a pledge.

In the familiar melody, the graduates boarded the rostrum in succession, and university leaders and teachers helped them to turn the tassel one by one.

BAO Xinhe is helping graduate to turn the tassel.

Each generation has its own mission, and each generation has its own responsibility. As graduates of the new era, students are not only excellent learners born at the right time, but also persistent and innovative truth-seekers and future builders with heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. USTC wishes graduates all the best in their endeavors to rejuvenate the great nation.

(Written by DUAN Qingrong, edited by LI Xiaoxi, USTC News Center)