On June 29th this year, the university-wide graduation ceremony was held for the sixth time in the university’s history. The event took place in the University of Szczecin auditorium on Krakowska Street and remains one of the most significant highlights on the academic calendar.
The graduation ceremony is a unique and joyful celebration dedicated primarily to the graduates. It marks a symbolic farewell between the students and their university, its authorities, and the teaching staff. This year, we celebrated the success of no fewer than 171 graduates who proudly received their graduation certificates. The university and faculty leadership gave special recognition to those who demonstrated outstanding academic, organizational, athletic, and artistic achievements throughout their studies.
Once the student anthem Gaudeamus Igitur concluded, the Rector of the University of Szczecin, Professor Waldemar Tarczyński, PhD, addressed the students and their families with words of gratitude and congratulations:
“Dear Graduates, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for choosing the University of Szczecin a few years ago and deciding to link your paths with the people who work here […]. Today, you have the whole world at your feet. The knowledge you have acquired is an asset that no one can ever take away from you. You have become part of a community of over 100,000 University of Szczecin alumni. We are proud of you. We would also like to thank your parents for inspiring you, supporting you, and on many occasions, helping you make difficult decisions. You have reached a moment that some might describe as an end, but this is not the end. It is just the beginning of your adult life, the beginning of crucial decisions, and the start of a journey that will make us proud in the future. What Poland, Europe, and the world will look like depends also on you. We are counting on you,” said Professor Waldemar Tarczyński, PhD, Rector of the University of Szczecin.
Next, a video about the graduates, prepared by the alumni themselves, was screened. Later in the ceremony, Wiktoria Brewka, Vice-Chairwoman of the Student Government Council and Chairwoman of the Committee for Didactics and Support, spoke on behalf of the graduates:
“Over the past few years, we have been taught to answer questions—during exams, tests, and finals. Today, however, we are faced with a question for which there is no single correct answer key: what will we do with what we have learned? We will spend our entire lives answering it—through the decisions we make, our work, the way we treat others, and the values to which we remain faithful. In a moment, our names will be called out. Each of them tells a unique story: of the first days at the university, hours of studying, successes, moments of doubt, and experiences that taught us humility. And yet, here we are. Each of us has reached this place on their own path. Perhaps that is precisely where the true value of a university lies—not in providing ready-made answers, but in teaching us to ask the right questions. The university provides the knowledge, tools, and freedom of thought that enable us to decide for ourselves who we want to be.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the conferring of the graduation status with the rector’s mace and the presentation of congratulatory letters by the university authorities. In celebration of this milestone, the students joyfully flipped the tassels on their mortarboards as a sign that they had officially transformed from students into graduates.
After the awards were officially presented, the student representative Karina Nadziejko expressed gratitude to the academic staff. Subsequently, Associate Professor Katarzyna Kotarska, PhD, the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, bid farewell to the graduates with the following words:
“Have the courage to follow your own path. Do not be afraid to dream and do not be afraid to try. You can achieve more than you are able to imagine today. And if things do not work out sometimes, do not view it as a failure, for that very experience was meant to protect you from something, teach you a lesson, or direct you toward a different path. Life does not always lead along the shortest path, but it frequently leads to the right one. I believe that nothing happens completely by chance: we meet specific people, we find ourselves in particular places, and we experience both successes and difficulties for a reason. Every experience builds our story and leads us where we truly ought to be. Therefore, go through life courageously and do not allow fear to be stronger than your dreams.”
A delightful accent concluding the ceremony was the performance of the songs Stand Up and We Are the Champions by the Choir of the University of Szczecin, conducted by Associate Professor Anna Tarnowska. The event concluded with a collective singing of the anthem Gaude Mater Polonia. The wonderful atmosphere and artistic setting provided all attendees with an unforgettable experience.
We cordially invite you to watch the video coverage prepared by UNIWIZJA – the Television of the University of Szczecin:
