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On June 13, 2025, the NDU open area filled with graduates who stepped up to celebrate their achievements, creativity, perseverance, and all the values they learned as students at Notre Dame University-Louaize, during the University’s 35th commencement ceremony held at the Main Campus in Zouk Mosbeh.

The esteemed guests included H.E. Joe Issa El Khoury, Minister of Industry representing the President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, the Head of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam; His Eminence Bishop Hanna Alwan representing His Beatitude Patriarch Bechara Boutros El Rahi; His Eminence the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Deryan, represented by His Eminence Sheikh Mohamed El Khatib; His Eminence Sheikh Ali El Khatib represented by Dr. Ghazi Kanso; His Eminence Sheikh Akl of the Druze Sami Abil Mouna, represented by Mazen Fayad; His Eminence Metropolitan Elias Audi, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut and Its Dependencies, honorably represented by the Very Reverend Archpriest Boulos Wehbe; Reverend Abbot Edmond Rizk, Superior General of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Msgr. Abdo Abou Kasam, Director of the Catholic Media Center; in addition to their excellencies the bishops, their eminences, representatives of their Beatitudes, and various diplomatic, military, educational, political, religious, judicial, banking, and media figures, heads of municipal and elective councils, and the NDU community, along with its administrative and educational bodies.

In the presence of this year’s guest of honor, businessman and philanthropist MP Fouad Makhzoumi, the ceremony began with a rendition of the Lebanese National Anthem performed by the NDU Choir. Afterwards, Dr. Michel El Hayek, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, declared the ceremony open and invited Reverend Abbot Edmond Rizk to recite the opening prayer, in which he implored the Blessed Virgin Mary to continue being the guiding star of the graduates even as they become alumni.

Father Bechara Khoury, President of NDU, delivered a motivational message that planted hope in the graduates’ hearts: “You constitute the first batch that graduates in an environment of peace and freedom, and it is a chance for you to eliminate excuses like emigration.” The President then urged them not to waste any precious moment in their lives, especially on those who merely pretend to lead the country. He continued by thanking the most important people: “Behind every successful student are invisible hands that worked in silence—professors who dedicated their lives to education and learning, and sometimes played even greater roles. To them, we are deeply grateful. And to your parents, who invested their energy and resources for you to stand here proudly today, we say: this is your victory too.” He concluded by reminding the graduates: “The world is now yours,” driving them to be the real change through action, not words, and by using their natural intelligence.

MP Fouad Makhzoumi was then invited to the stage, where he thanked the President and conveyed his genuine belief in this generation. “We are not gathered today in a university,” he added, “but on holy ground—a land where dreams were born.” The evening’s guest also encouraged each graduate to make a difference in their respective fields: “To the engineers: don’t just build bridges—rebuild the systems that failed and the dreams that were shattered. To the nursing and medical graduates: don’t just treat bodies—restore the humanity of medicine. To the artists: use beauty to uphold what is right. To the business graduates: design models that foster justice. To the poets and dreamers: never give up on your imagination.”

As a gesture of appreciation and unity, Father President then presented the guest of honor with an iconography depicting the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as told in the Bible and the Quran, in finely engraved font.

The Class of 2025 Valedictorian, Serge Artin Roussialian—who earned a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0 in Computer Science—was then announced and gave a heartfelt speech that spoke to each graduate: “This is a time to explore. To let go of who we thought we had to be and slowly become who we want to be. It’s time to follow our curiosity, take chances, and find the things that make us light up and want to get out of bed every morning.” Serge concluded by thanking the NDU professors, administrators, and staff, especially the Department of Computer Science and the Career Center, for equipping students with “an amazing education to take on the challenges ahead.” Serge then received the General Khalil Kanaan Award, followed by student Firas Bassam Dimashki, who received the Sarmad Rihani Award.

The conferral of degrees then started with a small group of students who deserved a standing ovation from all their fellow graduates: the IDEAL Program students. The seven NDU faculties followed, with frequent applause and cheers for best friends and best achievers. As this joyful annual celebration concluded, NDU alumni proudly tossed their caps, leaving their echoes in the sky and across the whole world.

Watch the Full 35th Commencement Ceremony