Κολέγιο CITY College
Main Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
26 November 2024
Graduation Ceremony 2024
Ms Alkistis Protopsalti and Ms Melina Kanakaredes, become Honorary Graduates of the University of York
Watch the Graduation Ceremony Speeches
Amidst an atmosphere filled with joy, excitement and emotion more than 400 bright CITY College graduates from across the region celebrated their academic achievements as the proudly marched on stage at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall to receive their degrees at the Graduation Ceremony of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus on Saturday the 23rd of November. A touching highlight of the day was the conferment of Honorary Degrees of Doctor honoris causa upon Ms Alkistis Protopsalti, renowned Greek singer and Ms Melina Kanakaredes, Emmy-nominated actor, writer and director, by Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York.
Our graduates were presented to Professor Charlie Jeffery Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York, to Mr. Yannis Ververidis, President and Principal of CITY College and to Professor Mary Vincent, Vice-President for Education of the University of Sheffield.
In a heartfelt speech Ms Alkistis Protopsalti thanked the University of York for this great honour and said in her short speech: “My journey was difficult, but faith, passion and hard work and passions have helped me reach this point. What matters most is not the top of the mountain, but the journey and the people who join you along the way. There will always be more goals to reach and more dreams to follow. Ignore the distractions like Odysseus avoided the sirens and stay focused on your path.”
Prof. Charlie Jeffery Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York and Ms Alkistis Protopsalti
In her turn, after her awarding Ms Melina Kanakaredes also warmly thanked the University for this great honour and addressing the graduates of CITY College she said “Like me, Thessaloniki may not have been the city you were born to but you were immersed in its history, its beauty and what we Greeks like to say its ‘kefi’ (fun). You grew both socially and intellectually in this beautiful city,” and went on to share her little secret to success: “Take Greece with you, wherever you go. Embrace your Hellenism. Hellenism is characterized by openness to new ideas pursuit of beauty and truth and a combination of ancient values and modern innovations.”
Prof. Charlie Jeffery Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York and Ms Melina Kanakaredes
The event commenced with an opening speech (through video message) by Mr. Matthew Lodge, British Ambassador to Greece, while the first to stand at the podium to congratulate our graduates was Mr. George Strategakis, President of the Board of Directors of CITY College.
In his speech Mr. Yannis Ververidis, President of CITY College, said: “To our graduates, this is just the beginning of the next chapter of your life and you may well be thinking what path you will take next. As you do so, keep in mind the words of Aristotle. Born just 50 klms away from Thessaloniki, Aristotle said that “Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” And so my challenge to you dear graduates, as you take your next steps, is to think about the needs of the world and how you can use the knowledge you have gained and the talents you have developed to have an impact on it. You are now graduates of top-class international universities and you have every reason to be proud of this. You possess the qualities to be highly successful yourselves, but at the same time, remember you have the capacity to contribute to building a better future for society at large.”
(from left to right)
Mr Yannis Ververidis, President and Principal of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus, Alkistis Protopsalti, Melina Kanakaredes, Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of York (UK)
Speeches were also delivered by Professor Mary Vincent, Vice-President for Education of the University of Sheffield and Professor Claude Guittard, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Strasbourg.
The ceremony followed the same academic procession followed by the British Universities in the ceremonies in the UK and concluded with the closing speech of Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York, in which he emphasised the shared values of the University of York and CITY College Europe Campus in promoting learning for public benefit. He also talked about the qualities university graduates should have in an era of rapid technological change stating: “While technical skills to work with new technologies are important, in the end they are temporary because technology will move on and therefore secondary. What is more important is the ability to adapt, to apply critical thinking to new challenges, to collaborate, to be comfortable in different settings - public or private sector – in different places working with different nationalities and cultures.” and went on to say to our graduates: “You do not graduate only with proficiency in your subject, you graduate also with the building blocks of the wisdom that our values nurture.” He also advised them to use their wisdom for the betterment of the world.
The graduation ceremony was attended by over 1,500 guests, including the families and friends of the graduates, as well as distinguished guests of CITY College.
Watch the Graduation Ceremony:
Watch our Graduation Ceremony clip with the highlights of the day:
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