After dedicating countless hours to studying, research, lab work, group meetings, exam prep, writing papers and, most importantly, learning, Concordia’s class of 2019 graduates certainly earned their moment of glory.
That recognition came during the convocation ceremonies at Montreal’s Place des Arts on June 10, 11 and 12.
Concordia President Alan Shepard, class valedictorians and honorary degree recipients delivered heartfelt well wishes and words of encouragement to the graduating students.
This year’s ceremonies were especially memorable for Shepard, since they were his final ones as the university’s president. “Like most of you, I’m now a Concordia graduate who’s moving on to new pursuits,” he said, after being introduced by Chancellor Jonathan Wener (BComm 71).
“As we celebrate your personal achievements, it’s important to remember that today is about the bigger picture. Your own education from kindergarten to an undergraduate or graduate degree is also an investment in the greater social fabric in making our community stronger, and the world needs you.”
For the support he received during his seven-year tenure, Shepard thanked members of the university’s Board of Governors, faculty and staff — and students.
“Every day I was inspired by our raison d’être: you, our students and our graduates. Your creativity, your energy, your dedication to making the world a better place — I hope you’ll carry that spirit with you as you carry Concordia’s mission of making a difference in the world,” he said.
“Education continues to be a powerful antidote to the world’s problems. Education builds understanding and binds us together. Education makes hope possible.”
Valedictory inspirations
The convocation ceremonies also featured addresses from class valedictorians, outstanding members of the graduating cohort.
Bernard Cloutier, who earned a BCSc in Computer Science and Software Engineering, reminded his classmates that while “farewells can be a time of sadness, they can also be hopeful. It’s imperative to look at what we have achieved and be proud.”
Cloutier recalled his first day at Concordia. As a francophone who didn’t fully grasp a new language and its acronyms, he asked a fellow student, “Where can I find room TBD?”
“The student smiled and kindly told me that ‘TBD’ meant ‘to be determined,’ and showed me where to find my classroom. I was struck that a complete stranger would take the time to help me, and at that moment I knew that I had stumbled into a unique place.”
Cloutier passed along the message that “community is what we’re celebrating today. You, the Concordia community. I would have never imagined that such a vibrant, smart and open group of people could exist,” he said.
“I saw student societies redefine what words like ‘hard work’ and ‘dedication’ mean; I saw HackConcordia organize the second largest hackathon in the history of Canada; and I saw Women in Engineering doing amazing work around inclusivity and gender equality, and remind us that women were and always will be paramount in the field of engineering.”
Borrowing a line from the TV series The Office, Cloutier ended by adding, “As much as no one here is wearing a hat, may your hats fly as high as your dreams.”