VCUarts Qatar’s Graduates Step Into the Future at 2019 Commencement

VCUarts Qatar held it’s 18th annual Commencement ceremony at HBKU Student Center in Education City to great acclaim on May 6.

It was made memorable by inspiring and touching speeches that were given by faculty, graduates, and the keynote speaker at the event that brought together families, friends, faculty and staff to celebrate the accomplishments of VCUarts Qatar’s graduates. Dr. Michael Rao, the President of Virginia Commonwealth University told the students: “You are creative scholars who embody the very best of our university and illuminate the very meaning of our humanity. I know you will use your vast talents to benefit humankind.”

The Commencement’s Keynote Speaker, Qatari contemporary composer, songwriter and symphonic artist Dana Al Fardan, told the students, “Today you are stepping onto a new platform; a global marketplace where your talents and skill represent your international currency, and art the international language.”

The Class of 2019 Co-Valedictorians Hind Ghanim Al Saad and Yeon Geong Hwang, both graphic design graduates, gave a well-received speech in which they thanked their families, fellow graduates, friends, and faculty, and looked forward to what comes next. 

“All of you make up our community, and because we were surrounded by you, we grew as people, developed ways of seeing, thinking and reflecting, which completely shifted our perspectives of the world, we started to notice all the small details and see all the connections. It was a creative community of like-minded people, and that was our creative fuel, which made us grow and develop further as creatives, by allowing new perspectives to come in,” Hind said.

“We deeply appreciate that we had such an amazing batch as classmates and friends for the last four years. This batch had inspiring energy – that never sought to give up – and it brought us here today. It would’ve been a very different experience without every single one of you. We also want to thank the often hidden and often less noticed staff of our university. And last but certainly not least, we thank our amazing faculty. Sometimes I think our faculty suffers a bit more than us, and for that, we are very thankful,” Yeon said.

The university conferred 68 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, painting and printmaking, and art history, and eight Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in design. Nearly 60 percent of the graduating students are Qatari.