On July 17, 2014, Universidad ORT Uruguay its first annual commencement ceremony at the Solís Theater. On this occasion, in front of an audience of more than 800 people, diplomas were awarded to graduates from the Schools of Business and Social Sciences, Engineering, and Communication and Design.
The deans also presented the Academic Achievement Award to graduates who stood out for their adherence to institutional principles, academic performance, and high grades.
“To make every project we want a reality”
The first speaker was Inés Varela, an accountant and representative of the graduates from the School of Business and Social Sciences.
Varela reflected on what they had learned to “build” during their years in the program. “I found that our programs are the perfect vehicle for bringing any project we want to life! And just as there are projects that result in a tangible object, there are others whose outcome is intangible. Intangible, yet just as vital and necessary as a tangible object,” he said.
“As professionals, we have the opportunity to create value—and I’m not just talking about value from an economic perspective, but about having good ideas and the tools to put them into practice.”
“We have a sufficiently broad and comprehensive education to apply it to whatever we enjoy most and thus create something of our own based on our motivations. But more than just something of our own, something that benefits society as a whole,” added the accountant.
“Thanks to our training, we are also able to ‘take the initiative’ within existing organizations, promoting changes that enable them to increase productivity, improve services, and enhance the skills of their workforce—in short: improving the quality of life for employees and the community as a whole.”
Finally, Varela encouraged his teammates to “give it our all.”
https://youtu.be/wP30YUF922U
“We must follow our instincts, our hearts”
The next speaker, Daniel Guitelman, spoke on behalf of the graduates of the School of Communication and Design.
Guitelman began his speech by recounting how he came to study at Universidad ORT Uruguay. After spending his childhood immersed in science and computer science, he discovered drawing and felt a bit lost.
His future no longer lay in engineering. What was it, then? “After doing a little research, I discovered that there was an entire field: design. My first thought was that it had nothing to do with engineering or computer science—how wrong I was! I kept looking and found one degree program in particular that really caught my attention: Multimedia Design,” he said.
“I believe we should follow our instincts, our hearts, even when logic suggests otherwise. I followed my instincts, against all logic, and I’m glad I did, because otherwise I wouldn’t be who I truly am,” said Guitelman.
Juan Manuel Rodríguez, speaking on behalf of the graduates of the School of Engineering, said: “The day I went to find out about the degree programs at the university, I discovered the Bachelor’s Degree in Systems. Right then and there, I knew that was the right fit for me.”
“I loved everything about computer science, but I didn’t want to focus exclusively on that, and that’s exactly what they were offering me: a degree program that trains professionals to bridge the gap between computer science and business management,” he said.
“A whole new world awaits you”
Finally, the Rector , Dr. Jorge Grünberg, gave a speech to the graduates and their families.
“Universities embody values that will set you apart as professionals and as citizens. You are familiar with the values of Universidad ORT Uruguay: hard work, keeping one’s word, intellectual honesty, relentless innovation, and diversity,” the Rector began.
Grünberg emphasized that recent graduates are part of the minority of Uruguayans with a college education. “And therefore, they will be the ones with the most opportunities in the knowledge society.”
And he offered some advice to young people. “Keep in mind that a new world awaits you. It is a technologically advanced, globalized, and fast-paced world, full of threats but also of opportunities.”
“At ORT, we see Uruguayans who view Uruguay as a springboard rather than a barrier. Who see the world as an opportunity rather than a threat,” he said, adding: “We see Uruguayans who come together to pursue their creative dreams without asking who the other person votes for or what neighborhood they live in.”
“These new Uruguayans aren’t obsessed with power, but neither do they want power to have unlimited sway over them. You are these new Uruguayans.”
https://youtu.be/a8Tua9vHkk8