At 9:00 a.m. on May 25, Sias 2025 Commencement Ceremony was held at Sias Stadium. Distinguished guests including Kansas State Senators Rick Billinger and Michael Fagg; Dr. Tisa Mason, President of Fort Hays State University (FHSU); Wu Gaolin, Chairman of Hong Kong Intellectual Property Exchange; Mr. Alan Brown, Former Chairman of Sias Foundation; Xie Shengli, Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Engineering and Director of the Intelligent Information Processing Institute, Guangdong University of Technology; Mr. Michael Fett, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of the American Southwest Behavioral Health Center; Mr. Dashdori Yagaan，Founder of Orkhon Kasu School (Mongolia); Liu Feng, Co-Founder of Hong Kong IO Gold Group; Liu Fupeng, 2004 alumnus and Public Welfare Expert of POP MART; Wu Yifei, 2010 alumnus and Partner of Beijing Funa Investment Co., Ltd.; Zeng Songting, President of the Special Crops Professional Committee of the Chinese Crop Society and Initiator of the "Grandfather's Rice Field" Public Welfare Project; Dr. Shawn Chen, Founder and Chairman of Sias University; Sias leadership, faculty representatives, 2025 Sias graduates, and guests and parent representatives from home and abroad gathered to witness this significant milestone. Prof. Lucy Lu, Provost and Vice President of Sias University, presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony commenced with the solemn national anthem of the People's Republic of China. In his address, Dr. Chen extended congratulations to the graduates on successfully completing their studies and expressed gratitude to the dedicated faculty and supportive parents. He reviewed the graduates' growth journey, urging them to uphold the university motto of "East meets West, integrating knowledge with practice" in their future endeavors. He encouraged them to remain curious, embrace change, take action, stay true to their aspirations, and become compassionate, responsible, and innovative young individuals.
Dr. Tisa Mason, in her address, highly commended the 25-year successful partnership between the two universities and imparted wisdom to the graduates: maintaining a positive mindset, cultivating humility, practicing patience and kindness, pursuing lifelong learning, and leading fulfilling lives.
In his speech, Mr. Alan Brown emphasized the importance of defining dreams with clarity and mapping out paths to achieve them. He shared strategies for overcoming challenges, including courageously confronting difficulties, committing to continuous learning, translating words into action, and responding to complexities with innovation. He encouraged graduates to pursue their dreams and turn them into reality.
Xie Shengli, in his keynote address, shared personal experiences to inspire graduates to embrace technological advancements and shoulder era responsibilities. He proposed three developmental paths: consolidating foundations, integrating cross-disciplinary knowledge, and adopting a global perspective. He also presented three "keys to life": staying true to the original aspiration, cherishing gratitude, and maintaining resilience.
During the honorary conferral segment, Dr. Chen awarded the title of "Honorary Doctorate" to Mr. Michael Fett, CFO and CAO of the American Southwest Behavioral Health Center, in recognition of his contributions to education.
Subsequently, faculty representative Ma Bin delivered a heartfelt speech, recalling shared moments with the graduates. He encouraged them to view the world with "East meets West" and forge futures with "integrating knowledge with practice." Graduate representative Zhang Jia shared her academic journey and growth experiences, expressing gratitude for Sias's educational resources and developmental platforms. She pledged to carry the Sias spirit, confront future challenges courageously, and compose her own splendid chapter.
The ceremony also featured a grand award presentation. Wu Yifei, Wu Gaolin, and Sias President awarded the top three academic performers; Ma Jiansheng and Xie Shengli presented awards to outstanding graduates at Sias and provincial levels; Liu Fupeng honored graduate students admitted to postgraduate programs; Dr. Mason recognized outstanding FHSU degree recipients; Dr. Chen awarded scholarships for overseas studies at Sias University and FHSU. Additionally, the first cohort of graduates who completed their studies ahead of schedule through Sias's comprehensive credit system participated in the solemn degree conferral ceremony.
Finally, Prof. Lu announced the official graduation of the 2025 undergraduate, junior college, and vocational-to-university program students. In a warm and touching atmosphere, all attendees sang the university anthem, bringing the ceremony to a poignant conclusion.
Graduation is not an endpoint, but a coordinate for the next expedition. May the Class of 2025 carry Sias's blessings and aspirations, marching confidently into the new chapter of their lives.
