To celebrate the start of a new chapter in their professional lives, 200 graduates from Universidad ORT Uruguay at the Sodre Adela Reta National Auditorium for the final graduation ceremony of the year.
Amid applause, speeches, photos, and heartfelt moments, the celebration took place, with the graduates joined by their families, friends, and officials from the four schools: Architecture, Business and Social Sciences, Communication and Design, and Engineering.
The rector , Dr. Jorge Grünberg, described the transformation of education as “an ongoing, vital process.” “Living in this new era will require continuous learning and relearning. As long as there is life, there must be learning, and only as long as there is learning will there be an active and productive life,” Dr. Grünberg said.
He also encouraged the young graduates to have confidence in themselves: “Don’t be afraid of your ambitions, and don’t let others’ expectations define you. Succeed in Uruguay and help your country succeed.”
During the ceremony, four graduates spoke on behalf of each school, reflecting on their time at the university, the responsibility that comes with completing this phase, and their future commitments.
The first to take the stage was Martín Schimmel, who holds a degree in economics, and who spoke about the importance of developing and nurturing human capital. “Countries do not progress by discovering oil or natural resources, but through the education, training, and development of their people. There is no investment more profitable than investing in the development of human talent,” he reflected.
He also highlighted the work of World ORT—the organization to which Universidad ORT Uruguay belongs—and of the Uruguayan institution itself as “sources of inspiration” and “role models for any society.”
Federico Astigarraga was chosen to represent the School of Architecture. “As architects, we are fortunate to be able to give free rein to the creative energy that flows within us, incorporating art and science into our profession, and achieving in our work that distinctive quality that sets them apart from the ordinary—unique spaces that contribute to the well-being of society,” he explained.
For her part, Marcela Balladares, who holds a degree in Industrial Design, shared her experience of discovering her calling. “It lies in the determination to achieve one’s desired goal (...) it’s about persevering until you find it, not settling or giving up.”
The last speaker was María Paz Fernández, a biotechnology engineer. “Thousands of hours in the lab taught me the importance of not giving up when things don’t go well, the value of teamwork (...) I learned that loving what you do is essential to giving your best.”
During the ceremony, the traditional institutional plaques were presented to the graduates, and special recognition was given to the graduates with honors, who completed their university studies with the highest grade point averages.
A must-read speech: a lesson in history and citizenship - article published in Semanario Hebreo on November 29, 2018
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