CNU’s Graduation Ceremony for the spring semester of the 2018 academic year was held in the Minjumaru Hall on the Gwangju Campus and University-Industry Liaison Building at the Yeosu Campus at 10 am, August 26 (Friday).
On that day, 4,163 graduates (3,282 Bachelors, 733 Masters, and 148 Doctorates) received their degrees. An honorary Bachelor’s degree was conferred to the late Yu Young-seon (1953, expelled from the CNU College of Engineering due to not being able to come back to the school after a long leave of absence), who sacrificed himself during the May 18 Democratization Movement.
More than 1,500 guests including President Jeong, faculty members, students, graduates’ family members, and CNU alumni members celebrated the graduation. The Campus areas near the CNU Auditorium and Library were full of graduates and their families taking pictures of these lasting memories.
President Jeong gave a farewell valedictory speech in which he stated, echoing Korean proverb, "We expect our graduates to sail peacefully through their routes departing from this campus heading to the broader world as we can meet the ocean after leaving the river. Please do have wider perspectives and comprehensive viewpoints, persevere with the wind, and surge to explore the vast ocean to confront life with courage and confidence, and continue your love for CNU with pride and hope.”
He added, “When you become exhausted and life tricks and misleads you, remember the beautiful campus. If you lose your way for a while, remind yourself of the aim of life with the “neutinamu” (zelkova tree) on campus, which represents readiness and perseverance.” He also added to CNU Alumni members, local residents, and leaders of local communities, “Please embrace our graduates with understanding and a caring heart. Lead them to grow up and carry on to contribute to the development of the Gwangju and the Jeonnam region, and the country.”
CNU also conferred certificates of PHS (President Honor Students) to seven students including Kim Young-in (School of Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies). A total of 239 graduates received 1st and 2nd prizes in excellent student record awards, honorary awards, exemplary student awards, and excellent social service awards.
