The 105^th academic year has come to a close at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy (BKNUC).

Today, Acting Rector Yevhenii Kyryliuk presented bachelor’s diplomas to this year’s graduates. A total of 83 graduates from the Educational-Scientific Institute of Foreign Languages received their degrees, along with 73 graduates from the Educational-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences, 230 from the Educational-Scientific Institute of Economics and Law, 56 from the Educational-Scientific Institute of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications, and 51 graduates from the Faculty of Computing, Intellectual and Management Systems.

This year’s graduation is especially significant because it honours students who enrolled at the university and completed their studies during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Among those receiving their diplomas these days are 34 defenders of Ukraine currently serving in the Armed Forces, while the parents of more than one hundred graduates continue to defend the country on the front line. The university community has also suffered tragic losses. In honour of those who gave their lives defending Ukraine, the graduation ceremony began with a minute of silence.

Some of the graduates serving in the military were able to return to their alma mater in person to receive their higher education diplomas alongside their classmates.

Addressing the graduates, Yevhenii Kyryliuk emphasized:

“Our students have spent four years acquiring the knowledge and developing the skills needed for their future professions, growing personally and, ultimately, becoming stronger and more mature. I chose those words deliberately – they truly have matured. Throughout all four years of their studies, these young people lived and studied in the midst of war. They pursued their education while missiles and Shahed drones threatened our skies and sought shelter whenever air raid alerts sounded. I sincerely thank our students and their parents for choosing to remain in Ukraine, to live here and pay taxes here. In doing so, they have supported both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our country. Our university community has also made supporting Ukraine’s Defence Forces its highest priority. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy has raised more than UAH 6 million to support our lecturers, alumni, and students serving on the front line. We are deeply grateful to our defenders for making it possible for us to continue teaching and to gather here today to present these diplomas. And to our graduates, I would like to say: continue to grow, create, love, and never forget that you were students of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy. We look forward to welcoming you back for your master’s studies. Glory to you! Glory to your parents! Glory to Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy! Glory to Ukraine!”

In turn, the university staff expressed their gratitude to Yevhenii Kyryliuk, himself a veteran who has served as a defender of Ukraine.

Graduates also received congratulations from institute directors, deans, and lecturers who had guided and supported them throughout their four years of study. Employers, stakeholders, and representatives of the University’s Alumni Association joined the celebrations as well, thanking the University for preparing highly qualified professionals and inviting graduates to begin their professional careers.

The graduates’ speeches were both heartfelt and deeply moving. Many reflected that studying at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy had been far more than earning a degree – it had become a true school of resilience and humanity. Together, they recalled memorable moments, laughed, shed tears, and celebrated the achievements of classmates who had already begun successful professional careers.

The festive atmosphere was enhanced not only by the speeches but also by creative performances from the University’s artistic groups, including the Style Competitive Ballroom Dance Ensemble (led by Oleksandr Tsviachka and Vadym Tkachenko) and the Voices Music Arts Factory (led by Anna Prokopchuk, Maryna Khomik, and Anastasiia Butovska).

The graduation ceremonies at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy will continue over the coming days, as the University is awarding bachelor’s degrees to more than 1,000 graduates across 53 educational programmes this year. Despite the challenges of wartime, the University continues to educate highly qualified professionals who choose to remain in Ukraine and contribute to building its future.

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Press Office of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy