NYU Shanghai students celebrate their graduation at the commencement ceremony on May 19. [Photo/shanghai.nyu.edu]

New York University Shanghai (NYU Shanghai) commemorated the graduation of the Class of 2024 at a vibrant ceremony held in Shanghai's BOCOM New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center on May 19. 

The event, NYU Shanghai's eighth commencement ceremony, saw over 400 graduates from 29 countries, including six study-away students from NYU in New York and 243 Chinese students from 28 provinces across China, receiving their NYU bachelor's degrees and NYU Shanghai diplomas.

The commencement ceremony was graced by the presence of Yao Ming, a world-famous basketball legend, who delivered a powerful speech. He urged the graduates to bravely forge ahead and follow their dreams, inspiring them to overcome their fears of failure.

"Our time at NYU Shanghai has offered more than just a reprieve from the challenges of the outside world. It has equipped us with diverse skills and perspectives that will serve us well in the years to come," said international student representative Christine Yosephin Wijaya from Indonesia.

Chinese student representative Li Yutong said NYU Shanghai's classrooms serve as a platform for the cultivation of global perspectives, the exploration of boundaries, the adoption of leadership and service roles, and the facilitation of the realization of dreams.

NYU Shanghai chancellor Tong Shijun spoke from the heart about learning together with the graduates and the role the Class of 2024 has played in shaping his tenure as chancellor over the past four years. He underscored the graduates' status as exemplars for future graduating classes.

According to the university, many of the Class of 2024 are set to continue their studies at educational institutions such as Harvard University, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon University. Others are expected to begin their professional journeys, starting their careers within the workforce like L'Oreal, Unilever, and UBS.