Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar(opens in new window), a Qatar Foundation partner university, celebrated the graduating Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 at formal ceremonies over three nights. Each class received their undergraduate degrees in front of an audience of family, friends, faculty members and alumni. The ceremonies were also livestreamed to friends and family around the world.

For the Classes of 2020 and 2021, formal graduation ceremonies were postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Michael Trick(opens in new window), dean of CMU-Q, was pleased to officially recognize the graduates in person.

"The tradition of graduation is very important at CMU-Q, and I am delighted we could share this occasion with three classes of graduates," Trick said. "While graduation marks the end of many individual journeys, it is also a community celebration at CMU-Q of our shared vision of knowledge and progress."

The Class of 2020 comprises 85 graduates, the Class of 2021 comprises 92 and the Class of 2022 comprises 89. Qatari citizens make up 47%, 49% and 44% of the graduating classes, respectively.

CMU President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window) spoke directly to the graduates.

"You hold the future in your hands — not just the legacy of CMU, but the long-term trajectory of the world," Jahanian said. "Whether you studied biological sciences, business, computer science or information systems, you have each received exactly the tools you need to make extraordinary contributions to shaping our day-to-day lives and improving the human condition."

The graduation ceremonies each featured a student speaker from that graduating class. Dona Ferdinando spoke for the Class of 2020.

"This is the story of the Class of 2020 — unique, powerful and very present," Ferdinando said. "May our presence keep contributing to science and business and technology; may our presence keep leading to positive change; and may it continue to embody what it means to have our heart in the work."

The representative for the Class of 2021, Naram Hajjar, said: "To my classmates, congratulations! We made it. We are making things happen. We are building the future."

For the Class of 2022, Mubarak Al-Sulaiti represented the graduates: "No matter where life takes us next, I want the entire Class of 2022 to remember one thing: Never stop taking chances. Each and every one of you has the potential to change the world."

The Class of 2022 brings the total number of CMU-Q alumni to more than 1,100, and they join more than 120,000 Carnegie Mellon graduates worldwide.