In the festive atmosphere of the hotel “Park” in Split, a graduation ceremony was held for 137 Aspira students. Atmosphere to remember for all those present, including several people from Croatian public life: the newly elected prefect of Šibenik-Knin County – Marko Jelić, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board – Joško Stella, director of the Split Tourist Board – Alijana Vukšić and director of Hotel Park – Daria Schrimann.
As of today, Croatia is richer for 137 academic citizens! – Alen Jerkunica, dean of Aspira College, pointed out in his speech. He emphasized that persistence is the most important achieving your academic goals, and that many students were under special pressure during the course of their education due to life circumstances – business, sports, family and other obligation. Still, it paid off; the look on their happy and proud faces (even under masks!) was enough…
Follow your dreams!
– Be persistent and follow your dreams. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition – Jerkunica said.
– Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your lives. Carpe diem! Keep the cheerful spirit that you had during your studies – Dean Jerkunica wished, with the “demand” that graduates, bachelors and specialists be “erudite and philanthropists, ready to cooperate with others”, and that they “enjoy their successes and be happy for someone else’s success”. He also instructed them to nurture friendships and business ties acquired during their studies, which present vice-deansconfirmed: Žarko Bilić (Vice-dean for International Cooperation), Mario Buble (Vice-dean for Organization and Development), and Bruno Grbac (Vice-dean for Education and Student Affairs).
Fellow graduates and other guests were also addressed by students awarded at the ceremony as the best students of their generations. Antoni Gabelica immediately thanked everyone who was part of his path to advancement within the academic community: parents, girlfriend, office, dean and professors. He told his colleagues: – We were a great generation, I want our dreams to come true! See you at the very top! Deni Borozan and Tina Glavan Jerkov pointed out in their speeches that they broke prejudice with enrolling into faculty, but that they also wish to congratulate themselves on another important step of personal growth and development and a wonderful study experience which is invaluable, despite all difficulties. Regardless of age, gender, marital status… Everyone is young in the school benches, and after graduation a better future and more business opportunities await!
The graduation ceremony was enriched by the voice of opera singer (also a student at Aspira College) Ivona Bosančić Lasić, who sang several songs accompanied by pianist Zoran Velić.