On the morning of March 31, the 2026 Graduate Commencement and Degree Conferment Ceremony of Northwestern Polytechnical University（NPU）was held at the Ao'xiang Stadium on the Chang'an Campus. A total of 4,700 master's degree graduates and 968 doctoral degree graduates successfully completed their studies. Witnessed by their faculty, families, and friends, they embarked on a new journey of their lives.
Li Yanrong, Chairman of Board of Trustees and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Song Baowei, President of NPU, Chairman of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; outstanding alumnus representative Liu Xiaoyong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Huang Wei, Director of the University Academic Committee and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Li Hejun, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Zhang Weihong, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; all university leaders; members of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee; leaders from various graduate education units and relevant administrative departments; faculty representatives; parents representatives of graduates; and graduate representatives attended the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Vice President of NPU Wang Ling.
At 10:00 a.m., the commencement ceremony began with the solemn national anthem. All graduates, dressed in academic gowns, stood in respectful silence and sang the national anthem together.
Lyu Weidong, Vice Chairman of Board of Trustees, read out the "Decision on Commending the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Students." This year, a total of 965 graduate students were awarded the honorary title of “Outstanding Graduates”, including Zhao Shule and were formally commended.
Guests seated in the front row of the rostrum presented honorary certificates to the representatives of outstanding graduates and posed for a group photo.
The guests presented honorary certificates to the student representatives who received the Outstanding Employment Special Scholarship and posed for a group photo.
Zhao Shule, a master's graduate from the School of Aeronautics, delivered a speech as the representative of the graduates. He reflected on his growth nurtured by the "Chief Engineer Education Culture" at NPU and shared his research experience at the intersection of artificial intelligence and aircraft design. He called on all graduates to keep in mind the "nation’s fundamental priorities," integrate personal aspirations into the construction of a strong country, take root downward and grow upward, and become the "swordsmiths" that the motherland needs most. He concluded by expressing his deep affection for his alma mater, wishing it would stand firm and evergreen, as enduring as the Zhongnan Mountains, and expressed his hope that he and his fellow graduates would become the writers of the "NPU Phenomenon" in the new era, making the name "NPU" shine even brighter.
PIATNITSKAIA ALEKSANDRA (Xin Wei), a Russian international student from the School of Management, delivered a speech as a graduate representative, sharing her story at NPU. She recalled her confusion when she first arrived at NPU eight years ago, and shared her journey from being too afraid to speak Chinese to confidently standing on the commencement stage. She said that in the future, she would carry forward the knowledge and friendships she gained at NPU to dedicate herself to cultural exchanges between China and Russia. Finally, she adapted the lyrics of the farewell song "Farewell" and expressed her heartfelt emotions: "The Sanhang Road, the library, green grass reaches the sky. Evening breeze brushes the willows, with qin’s gentle strains in the air, NPU remains in my heart. I love you, NPU. I love you, China!"
Time flies, but gratitude remains. On the journey of growth, every step of progress is inseparable from the silent support and attentive guidance of faculty and mentors. At the ceremony, special representatives from various roles were invited to join: Zhou Zhou, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor from the School of Aeronautics; Feng Yongtao, Counsellor from the School of Mechanical Engineering; Yang Xianyan, Librarian; Wang Li, Physician from the NPU Hospital; Wang Feng, Restaurant Staff Member; Wang Xijun, NPU Bus Driver; Han Jin, Student Dormitory Administrator; and Hu Tao, Security Team Member. Graduate representatives presented flowers to these faculty members, expressing their gratitude for their constant support and companionship throughout the years.
Dai Honghua, a representative of graduate supervisors from the School of Astronautics, delivered a heartfelt message to the graduates. Using the three elements of “force” in mechanics as a metaphor, he encouraged the students to choose the right direction in life, identify their focal point, and apply sustained effort. He shared the experience of his team in tackling core challenges such as on-orbit manipulation, inspiring the graduates to break down ambitious goals into smaller, achievable steps, linking them together like beads on a string, and to persevere with consistency. He concluded by wishing the graduates steady progress and a future full of achievements, adding that no matter where they go, their teachers will always hold them in their hearts, and their alma mater will forever be their spiritual home.
The guests presented alumni badges and letters of appointment to the representatives of alumni liaisons.
Alumnus Liu Xiaoyong fondly recalled the nurturing he received from his alma mater and shared his dedication and sense of responsibility on his scientific research journey, drawing from nearly 30 years of experience in the aerospace field. He stated that the university motto of "Loyalty, Integrity, Courage, Perseverance" serves as the guiding principle for generations of NPUers in establishing themselves, pursuing careers, and engaging in academic pursuits. It is also the spiritual foundation for students to devote themselves to the cause of building a strong nation through science and technology, as well as advancing the "Aero-Space-Maritime" cluster (Aeronautics, Astronautics, and Marine Engineering) endeavor. He encouraged the students to: first, embrace the spirit of selflessness and cultivate a sense of patriotism, integrating personal aspirations into the great cause of national rejuvenation; second, uphold the virtue of integrity and follow the path of truth, laying a solid foundation with genuine talent and practical achievements; third, foster courage and pioneering spirit, daring to make breakthroughs in uncharted territories of technology; and fourth, persevere with resilience and dedication, striving relentlessly on the journey toward building a strong nation through science and technology. Finally, he expressed his best wishes to the students, hoping that on their journey to build a strong nation through science and technology and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, they would embrace vast aspirations, keep their eyes on the stars, shoulder their responsibilities, and move forward with strength, wishing them a bright and promising future.
Amidst warm applause from the audience, Song Baowei, on behalf of all faculty, staff, and students, as well as Chairman of Board of Trustees Li Yanrong, extended sincere congratulations to the students on their successful completion of graduate studies, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated teachers and families for their hard work. He then delivered a commencement speech to the graduates titled "Through a Thousand Waves, Still Keeping a Youthful Heart."
Message from President Song Baowei, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, to the 2026 Graduate Students: Through a Thousand Waves, Still Keeping a Youthful Heart
After reviewing the years of striving during which the students grew alongside the university's critical period of "high-level development," he noted that 2026 marks the start of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, and the baton of the times has now been passed to the graduates. He shared three expectations to encourage them.
First, be able to maintain the pioneering spirit of "standing at the forefront of the tide" while also upholding the strategic resolve of "steady progress for long-term success." He expressed his hope that the students would engrave the "Chief Engineer" gene into their very being, possessing both the courage to lead and the tenacity to persevere. He cited the example of alumnus Liu Xiaoyong, who has devoted nearly 30 years to the aerospace field, encouraging the graduates to carry forward the spiritual legacy of "working in anonymity to forge swords for the nation," to shoulder the responsibilities of the era with outstanding capabilities, and to become leaders in building a strong nation through science and technology.
Second, be able to cultivate the professional spirit of "deep cultivation and meticulous work" while also mastering the integrated thinking of "drawing on diverse strengths." He noted that in the face of blurring disciplinary boundaries and the development trend of artificial intelligence, future breakthroughs will belong to those who can both delve deep into their specialized fields and see far in interdisciplinary areas. He expressed his hope that the students would promote the "Chief Engineer Education Culture," engage in practical research and tackle challenges in the "uncharted territories" and "deep-water zones" of various fields, and become pioneers on the new journey of advancing Chinese-style modernization.
Third, be able to forge the willpower of "perseverance in the face of adversity" while also cultivating the life philosophy of "taking gains and losses with composure." Citing the example of Ouyang Shaoxiu, an alumnus and chief designer of the KJ-200 early warning aircraft, who overcame difficulties and faced risks with courage, he encouraged the students to accumulate strength and make steady progress in times of success, and to turn toward the sun and thrive in times of adversity. He called on everyone to uphold the university motto of "Loyalty, Integrity, Courage, Perseverance," promote the university spirit of "Strong Preparation, Diligent Effort, Practical Attitude, and Creative Innovation," focus on major national strategies, key fields, and critical social needs, and become strivers in advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Finally, Song Baowei wished the graduates on their new journey to always maintain curiosity about the world and sincerity toward their ideals. He expressed his hope that they would, "through a thousand waves, still keeping a youthful heart," and wished them a bright future, adding that they are always welcome back home.
With the tassel-turning ceremony completed, graduates set sail on a new journey.University leaders, academicians, distinguished alumni, and faculty representatives turned the tassels for the graduate representatives one by one, presented them with their graduation certificates, and posed for group photos.
At the end of the ceremony, all attendees stood up and sang the "Anthem of NPU" together. Amidst the passionate and stirring melody, a giant university flag slowly passed over the heads of the graduates. The song lingered long in the air, stirring the hearts of all present.
Before the ceremony, a graduation commemorative video titled Moments of Time was played on-site, evoking cherished memories of youth through familiar scenes. Following this, graduate representatives, together with the Faculty Choir and the University Student Art Troupe, performed a series of songs, including Goodbye, Cheers, and Blossom All the Way, and joined all attendees in singing The Motherland Will Not Forget. In their voices intertwined nostalgia and hope, along with the vows that NPU students made for the future—all converging into the most touching resonance of this spring.
In addition, a parallel session was set up at the Ao’xiang Student Center on the Chang'an Campus for this graduation ceremony, where parents of the graduates were invited to watch the live broadcast. Together, they experienced the warm and touching atmosphere of the graduation ceremony and shared in the joy of their children's growth.
(Presented by: Media Office of the NPU Committee of the CPC; Source: Undergraduate Student Affairs Department of the NPU Committee of the CPC;Text and Editor: Qiao Shiqi; Photos: Lu Di, Zhou Junping, Mu Zheng, et al.;Executive Editor: Zhao Yong; Reviewers: Guan Jun, Fu Yi; Translators：Li Yiwen, Mei Leyun)
