The Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) recently held its Summa Cum Laude Graduate award ceremony for 2023.

Hong JIANG, University Council Chairperson, and Qikun XUE, President of SUSTech, held warm exchanges with the 20 recipients of the Top Ten Undergraduates and Top Ten Postgraduates of 2023.

Ling ZHANG, University Council Vice-Chairperson, representatives of the Graduate School, the Office of Teaching Affairs, and the Office of Students Affairs, and deans of the various residential colleges also attended the ceremony.

The award-winning students expressed their gratitude to SUSTech for providing an development environment and a vibrant campus community throughout their time at the University, which enabled them to take risks with innovation, pursue excellence, and experience overall growth.

In his remarks at the ceremony, President Qikun XUE said that the country attaches great importance to basic research and is working hard to solve some major problems affecting society. He noted that it is an excellent opportunity for students to make major contributions to these areas.

He hopes that the students have inherited the spirit of scientists demonstrated by the older generation of scientific researchers and contribute to the country’s development, and that they dare to challenge the scientific issues affecting the world, have a global vision, and surpass themselves and their predecessors.

The winning students briefly introduced themselves at the ceremony, reviewing their experience at SUSTech, sharing their thoughts and feelings, and what they gained from studying at the University.

“Going back to four years ago, I would still choose SUSTech without hesitation” and “After graduation, I will stay at SUSTech as a counselor to guide younger students”, are just some of the comments from the graduates at the event.

Afterward, Chairperson Hong JIANG presented the Top Ten Undergraduates and Postgraduates with a commemorative plate.

President Qikun XUE presented the students with the book Shu Guang, or Dawn Light,,written by Nobel Prize laureate Chen Ning Yang , with the hope that the students will follow the example of the older generation of scientists and make their own contributions to scientific and technological progress and national development.

In her speech, Chairperson Hong JIANG congratulated the students on their outstanding achievements. Noting her own work experience in different universities, she emphasized the importance of universities in shaping the personality of students in the process of their growth.

She expressed her wish that the students would continue to progress with the  SUSTech qualities by setting goals and having clear plans and directions for the various stages of their lives, remaining confident in their abilities and facing any difficulties and challenges encountered in life without fear, daring to put forward their own opinions and becoming a better version of themselves.

Representatives of the Top Ten Undergraduates and Top Ten Postgraduates also presented gifts to the University and wished it further success in the future.