Mangaluru: The St. Aloysius College (SAC), Mangaluru organised the eighth graduation ceremony on Friday, May 25, where students received their hard earned degrees. The ceremony was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. Stanislaus D’Souza, Provincial of Karnataka Jesuit province, after which there was an oath taking ceremony led by Rev. Fr. Dionysius Vaz SJ, Rector of St. Aloysius Institutions.

The Chief Guest for the occasion was Rev. Dr. Sebasti L Raj SJ, Pro Vice-Chancellor of St. Xaviers University, Kolkata.

In his address to the gathering, the Rev. Dr. Sebasti spoke about the importance of constitutional values, safeguarding and promoting the pluralistic ethos of India, imbibing Jesuit values such as excellence, aspiration, social work and spirituality. “Every educational institution in our country should teach these cherished values to students and ensure that they imbibe these in their personal lives”, he said.

The Provincial and the Rector addressed the graduates on the importance of reconciliation, need for all round development and critical and innovative thinking.

Dr. Praveen Martis SJ, Principal of SAC welcomed the gathering. Dr. A.M. Narahari, Registrar of SAC submitted the list of graduates and rank holders, while the Chief Guest awarded the rank certificates and special prizes to the students. This was followed by the distribution of degree certificates for the students of the under graduate and post graduate courses.

Dr. Aruna Kalkura, convenor of the graduation day programme proposed the vote of thanks. The Provincial presented the Chief Guest with a memento and declared the ceremony closed. The programme was concluded with the playing of the national anthem.