The 2003 academic year graduation ceremony was held on June 5 in the Student Activity Center, Tamsui campus. A total of 7561 graduates (6624 undergraduates, 900 masters and 37 PhDs) said their goodbyes to campus and “leap” for their bright future with wishes and blesses.
President Dr. Chang Horng-jinh hosted the ceremony, accompanied by many special guests that included Tamkang University Founder Dr. Clement C.P. Chang, Chairperson of Board of Trustees, Mrs. Carrie W.T. Chiang Chang, Former Minister of MOE, Dr. Huang Jong-tsun, Minister Wu Maw-kuen of National Science Council, who is a Tamkang alumina, Russian astronaut Dr. Alexander A. Serebrov, all of whom gave speeches during the ceremony. President of Tamkang Alumni Association Lee Hsian-jong also gave a speech, on behalf of all Tamkang alumni. Other special guests included Dr. Chen Yea-hong, a member of Board of Trustees, former Tamkang President Dr. Lin Yun-shan and Dr. Louis R. Chow, plus Professor Alexander Stepanovch Bugaev, Professor Stanislav Klimenko at Moscow College of Physics and Science, Professor Jean-Pierre Martin at Paris University, Sorbonne. Wang Yu-chi, on behalf of all graduating students, delivered her appreciation speech. Also, Minister of MOE, Dr. Tu Cheng-sheng, expressed his congratulations through electronic message.
President Dr. Chang awarded graduates certificates and many other awards that included Chairperson Prize of Board of Trustees, academic preference, service, sports awards, etc. Hsieh Ming-chau, a master in the Information Management Department, received a special “Diligence Award,” which caught our eyes. Mr. Hsieh suffers from a congenital disease that causes muscular atrophy, and he was awarded for his undefeated courage and arduous efforts to complete his degree. President Chang hopes he will set a model of courage and diligence for others.
A campus-final-look event was held at 9:00 a.m. right before the ceremony. This event followed Tamkang’s tradition and has become a routine of the graduation day. The route shortened a bit this year; it started in front of Chin-shen Stature, passed Chinese Palace-Style Avenue, “Receiving Stage” in front of the Dolphin Statue, and finally arrived in the Student Activity Center. The routine was led by two beautiful horses controlled by two students from the Horseback Riding Club; the horses symbolize leadership and immediate success, according to Chinese custom.
A photo-taking event was scheduled right after the ceremony. At 11:10 a.m. Chairperson of Board of Trustees, along with President, Vice-Presidents, Deans, took photos with awarded students. Department chairs, professors were also taking photos with students. Cartoon-like figure boards of Chairperson, President, and two Vice-Presidents were placed in front of the University Commons, Chinese Palace-Style Avenue, and other places around campus; graduating students enjoyed taking photos with these funny figure boards.
The ceremony provided only 300 seats for students’ parents. Those who could not enter the ceremony were encouraged to take rest in resting areas located in Cheuh-sheng International Conference Room, Ching-sheng International Conference Room, Chung-ling Chemistry Hall, Gymnasium, and Sung-tao Hall, where they could watch the ceremony through TV broadcast. The ceremony can be also watched via the Internet at http://www.learning.tku.edu.tw/vod/index.htm. In order to provide rides for students’ parents and guests, school buses ran from Tamsui MRT station to campus between 7:50 and 9:40 a.m. and from campus to Tamsui station from 11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
