On June 27, College of Engineering (COE) grandly hosted the commencement for Class of 2013 in Yingjie Sunny Hall.

This year, 180 students in total including 97 undergraduates and 83 master/Ph.D. graduates have completed their degrees. Early in the morning, many COE leaders and professors congratulated them and took photos with them in front of the university library, all wearing caps and gowns.

Attending the commencement were many COE leaders, including Professor Shiyi Chen, dean of COE, Professor Dongxiao Zhang, executive vice dean of COE, Professor Shaoqiang Tang, associate dean of COE, Dr. Junkai Li, vice secretary of CPC at COE, Ms. Yongmei Li, assistant dean of COE, along with teachers, parents and well-wishers who were cordially invited to witness this memorable moment. The ceremony was mastered by Professor Wenchang Tan, secretary of CPC at COE.

Distinguished guests include Dr. Jinghui Liu, Secretary General of Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC), Mr. Zhixue Dong of the same organization, Dr. Larry V. McIntire, Professor and Chair of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Professor Cheng Zhu, Professor and Vice-Chair of the same department.

Executive Vice Dean Dongxiao Zhang first gave a congratulating speech. He shared with the graduates the dream of COE at Peking University, which is to become the birthplace of innovative technology, the base for international engineering science, the center for global engineering education, and the national pond of intelligence. “Going after your dream is the best demonstration of youth. I hope all of you will exert arduous efforts to realize your dreams,” he said.

Alumni Cheng Zhu is currently Vice-Chair of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology. He told his life story to the graduates, and urged them to work hard in future work and endeavor to become outstanding alumni to the university. He also pointed out the importance of not stopping learning, being thankful and modest.

Subsequently, teacher representative Professor Huiling Duan encouraged the graduates not to fear frustrations in the future, to persist in pursuing their goals and lead a wonderful life. And “Outstanding Graduate” recipient Hengseng Zhong reviewed his four years’ studies and expressed thanks to the college.

In particular, it’s the first year that the Peking University(PKU)/ Georgia Institute of Technology(GT)/ Emory University(Emory) Biomedical Engineering (BME) joint Ph.D. program that jumpstarted in the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2009 embraced its graduates. On the commencement ceremony, Dr. Shiyi Chen, Dr. Cheng Zhu, Dr. Jinghui Liu and Dr. Larry V. McIntire conveyed the degree certificates to the two graduates: Xiaokun Wang and Hanshuo Zhang.

Dr. Jinghui Liu said, “The responsibility of CSC is to select excellent Chinese talents and fund their overseas studies. I’m very glad to see that students from the prestigious Peking University have realized their dreams with our funding. I hope they will make their own contributions to the world, either in academic, enterprise or international relations.”

Dr. Xiaokun Wang said that she appreciated this unique program that enabled her to experience both Chinese and US. mode of education in one degree program. “Though the process is complicated and winding, finally I overcame all the difficulties and achieved good results. Everything was worthwhile.”

What’s more, as Professor Shiyi Chen, the founding dean of COE is about to leave off his post, students paid a special tribute to him with a moving video that retrospected on his study and work experiences. They also presented Chen a gift of white jade seal to thank him for his tremendous contributions to the college in the past eight years.

         
     Commencement Ceremony for Class of 2013                  Gift to COE: a picture scroll made up of the graduates’

                                                             images, depicting PKU west gate