Lanyang Campus held its own graduation ceremony at Clement Chang International Conference Hall, blessing the 126 graduates to enter the job market with global visions, strong ambitions and entirely new ideas to amaze the world with great feats. The ceremony went on in English and modeled on the Oscar Academy Award Ceremony, while bestowing Outstanding Awards to some graduates. Yilan County Magistrate Guo-hwa Lu, TKU Founder Clement C. P. Chang and President Flora C. I. Chang attended the ceremony. Founder Chang recalled important events after the establishment of the Campus and encouraged graduates to face whatever challenges in future endeavors, hoping they would be successful with their unique experiences of junior abroad studies. Except wishing them a bright future, President Chang also reminded them of showing gratitude to their supportive family members.

In the activity of “Loud Graduates,” one among a series of activities, students all grasped the opportunity and loudly revealed their true minds. In the activity of “Planting Trees of Hope,” each graduate personally planted a tree in the Wisdom Garden to make a return gift to the Alma Mater. Supervised by the Artist in Residence,Chen Chou, graduates had painted their pottery ceramic tiles which made a mural of “Sunrise of Kueishan Isle” on the “Graduation Wall” which was unveiled at the ceremony. Lanyang Campus Director Jyh-horng Lin led the graduates to parade the Campus, viewing every scene and everything that had accompanied them for 4 years while students warmly welcomed them with gifts of flowers. The scene was touching!

The most important event of the ceremony was the bestowing of the Outstanding Awards. The winner of Advancement Award was Li-jun Chang from the Department of Information and Communication Technology Management. Attendance Award went to Software Engineering graduate Bi-hao Feng. Literate Award went to Global Politics and Economics graduate Ren-cheng Wang. Junior abroad Award belonged to Linguistics graduate Hua-yi Hsu. Versatility Award was grasped by Linguistics graduate Yi-ling Chen. Creativeness Award was snatched by Software Engineering graduate Yi-ting Hsie, while Credit Award was grasped by Global Politics and Economics graduate Han-jie Li. In addition, the two Congeniality Awards were won by Global Politics and Economics graduate Ren-cheng Wang and Software Engineering graduate Hsing-chang Liu. The big winner was Ren-cheng Wang who was excellent both in academic performance and conduct merits as well as borrowing most books from the library; thus, he won 2 Awards.

Moreover, the 126 graduates came on the stage one by one and their department chairs shifted their hood tassels from one side to the other, and President Chang personally handed them their degree certificates. Information and Communication Technology Management graduate Shao-fan Yen described her feelings at that special moment, “Finally I will start a new life journey and face another kind of challenges, hoping beautiful things will happen in my future.” 4 valedictorians delivered their speeches, Linguistics graduate Hua-yi Hsu and Global Politics and Economics graduate Ren-cheng Wang on behalf of graduates from the College of Global Research and Development; Information and Communication Technology Management graduate Hsin-ying Chang and Software Engineering graduate Xiang-yi Cheng on behalf of graduates from the College of Entrepreneurial Development. Some of them repeatedly praised Software Engineering Department Chair In-ho Lin and all graduates also loudly cheered. Dr. Lin was moved to tears. Finally all sang the Song of Lanyang: “Proud of You” and watched MV of memorial Campus life moments, drawing the perfect conclusion of this entirely new graduation ceremony. ( ~Dean X. Wang )