Friends, family, and faculty honored 57 members of New York Institute of Technology’s (NYIT’s) Class of 2017 at NYIT-Vancouver's sixteenth graduation ceremony and luncheon, held last Friday at the Vancity Theatre. The graduation ceremony and luncheon followed an alumni reception held the night prior at the Gallery Café in the Vancouver Art Gallery, where more than 65 alumni and new graduates had reconnected and networked with new contacts. In addition to the celebrations in Vancouver, 18 graduates had previously attended NYIT’s global commencement ceremony in New York, where they marched with approximately 3,000 fellow members of the NYIT Class of 2017.

Vancouver graduates and their guests heard words of encouragement and congratulations from guest speaker Franci Stratton, Board Vice Chair, of the North Vancouver Board of Education. Stratton told the graduates to “Think about what you want your life to be. Not just your work life, but your whole life: your relationships, your contribution, your legacy. . . Then make it happen.” Vancouver Campus Dean Irene Young and faculty members Sinan Caykoylu, Ph.D., and Ahmed Awad, Ph. D., also addressed the assembly.

In his congratulatory remarks, NYIT Interim President Rahmat Shoureshi, Ph.D., reminded graduates that, in addition to their successes, failures form an important part of their education. “These moments [of disappointment] are the vital steps everyone must take to grow wise,” he said.

Two outstanding graduates, Ling Dai (M.B.A.) and Victor Badejo (M.S.) were recognized with student leadership awards. They were selected by a campus committee for their exception leadership and academic performance. Dai also gave the valedictory address. She said, "Don't sit around and wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect."

NYIT-Vancouver offers six master’s programs in business, technology, and education, including B.C.’s only graduate degree in cybersecurity. All programs are delivered with consent from the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education.

About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including osteopathic medicine and health professions, as well as architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; and management.

A non-profit, independent institution of higher education, NYIT has 10,000 students worldwide, including more than 200 master’s students at its Vancouver campus. To date, 100,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT.

MEDIA CONTACT

Karolina Kondrat
Marketing & Public Affairs Coordinator
NYIT-Vancouver Campus
kkondrat@nyit.edu
604.639.0942, ext. 5915