To the strains of the Gaudeamus igitur ("Let us rejoice then while we are still young..."), the celebration song of university students during the Middle Ages, the choir announced the academic procession of the 2nd degree conferment ceremony of the University on Friday 25th August, 2006. But this was a special graduation ceremony for it was the first time the Chancellor, Bishop Javier Echevarria, the Prelate of Opus Dei, had visited Strathmore since it became a university. Bishop Echevarria rescheduled his planned pastoral visit to East Africa, to meet the faithful of the Prelature, Cooperators and friends, to coincide with the graduation.

After the National Anthem, the University chaplain, Fr Paul Mimbi, conducted the prayer, which gave a spiritual explanation to the University coat-of-arms. 207 students were awarded Bachelor degrees; 329 passed CPA Section 6 in the year 2005, 49 of them through the Distance Learning Centre; 53 attained the ACCA qualification. 282 others successfully completed various certificate and diploma courses in Business Information Technology, Micro-Finance, and Leadership and Management. However, the highlight of the ceremony was the investiture of the Chancellor, and the conferment of the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.

In his keynote address, which was given in English, Bishop Echevarria traced the early history of the beginnings of Opus Dei in Kenya - which was the first country in Africa where the faithful of the Prelature had come to start, exactly 48 years earlier to the day - and the history and development of the then Strathmore College. He noted how much St Josemaria had prayed for the College, and followed every step of its growth, and how he, who had been his secretary for 25 years, was a direct witness of this. He emphasized certain areas of the spirit of Opus Dei, which the University strives to foster: academic excellence, work finished well and the love with which it is done, whether it is that of the lecturers or the cleaners. Both are equally important, and are judged by the care and preparation put into them. He emphasized the importance of cheerfulness and a congenial working atmosphere as well as the ethical and moral formation given.

After the conferment of degrees and awarding of diplomas, there was a special feature of the University: the achievement awards. This included the list of lecturers who attained the Certificate of Lectureship, levels 1 and 2; the Community Outreach Awards, given to the female and male students who showed the greatest interest, concern and initiative in assisting the disadvantaged in the community, in a practical way, by seeing through some project in favour of the underprivileged. Juliana Kamau and Samuel Kuria, both BCom students, were adjudged the winners. Beryl's initiative was PeersConnect, a group of students and friends who visit homes of orphans and take along food and clothing, and counsel the children. Samuel's was two soccer teams of youth in Soweto Highrise (Kibera), which he and a friend train regularly, and which has already won several tournaments. They also carry out counseling and clean-ups.

The two Sports Awards were given to the female and male students who showed the most outstanding discipline, leadership and exemplary sportsmanship. The winners were Beryl Amayo and Edward Gondi, both BCom. students. The Deans' Awards were given to Ruth Omwansa and Francis Muriithi, BCom. and BBIT respectively. The most highly prized of all the awards, the Chancellor's Award, for the best overall undergraduate who has demonstrated leadership, discipline and exemplary conduct in academic and student life, to Magdalene Mwigio, BBIT.

Finally, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Odhiambo, announced the end of the ceremony and dissolved the congregation. This was followed by the National Anthem, and, once again, the strains of Gaudeamus igitur....at exactly 1.00 p.m., a brief two-hour ceremony that had kept perfect time.

Speeches

Chancellor

Vice-Chancellor