The most anticipated moment for the Business Administration and Production Engineering students of ESEG – Faculdade do Grupo Etapa took place on Saturday, August 26th. The graduation ceremony for the first semester of 2023 brought together family and friends to celebrate this important achievement in Auditorium J3, on the Ana Rosa Campus.
The event was hosted by master of ceremonies Angelo Vieira and was attended by professors and staff from the institution. Present at the head table were the academic director, Prof. Dimas Ferreira; the coordinator of Production Engineering, Prof. Marcelo Dias; the coordinator of Administration, Prof. José Guilherme Ferraz; the patron of Production Engineering, Prof. Fernando Jardim; and the patron of Administration, Prof. Melissa Schleich.
Academic director Dimas Alberto Ferreira began the solemn graduation ceremony, and immediately afterwards, the class speakers Leonardo Justino and Lorena Colombo gave speeches about the significance of the moment and the emotion of completing another stage in their lives.
Leonardo spoke about the importance of friendship and the challenges that graduation brought. “Today, we look back and are proud of how much we have grown as individuals and as a group. The friendships we made, the challenges we overcame together, and the experiences we shared shaped who we are today. But this is just the beginning. Now is the time to apply all the knowledge and skills we have acquired to make a difference in the business world,” he emphasized.
Lorena spoke about the lasting memories and the challenges that await them. “The time has come to move forward, each of us forging our own path. Let us look back with gratitude and to the future with hope. The lessons we learned, the challenges we overcame, and the friendships we built are treasures we will always carry with us. Today we say goodbye to a time that marked our lives. ESEG and this incredible class will be missed in our hearts. Congratulations on achieving this great feat! May our paths cross again and may our journeys continue to inspire and shape a better world,” she stated.
Next, it was the turn of the proud professors Melissa Schleich and Fernando Jardim to speak about the years they spent with the students, the lessons, the difficulties, and the achievements of each of the classes. And it was up to the graduating student, Vinicius Minero, to pay tribute to the teachers and to all those who inspired them on this academic journey.
There were also tributes to those who shared the years in the classroom: Professor Melissa Schleich was honored from the Administration course, Professor Edgard Rodrigues was recognized in the Production Engineering course, and Mr. Jaime Bertrando Croppo, from the Secretarial area, was the employee honored by the class.
In one of the most emotional moments, complete with roses and tears, the now-engineer Patrícia Braga paid a beautiful tribute to her parents. “I want to begin by expressing our deepest gratitude to you, parents. You were our first teachers, those who taught us the fundamental values of life, such as love, perseverance, and honesty. You sacrificed so much to provide us with the best opportunities, and for that we are eternally grateful. Today is a celebration of your dedication as much as ours. You encouraged us to dream and gave us wings to fly. If we are here today, it is because you believed in us, supported us, and gave us the necessary support to reach this moment,” she declared.
Before the diplomas were awarded, graduate Eliseu do Espírito Santo read the Administration oath and graduate Daiany Françoso Barbosa read the Production Engineering oath.
Finally, with diplomas in hand, the traditional ESEG awards were presented to the graduates. In the Business Administration course, the award for best Graduation Project went to Henrique Costa da Fonseca, and the honoree for best Academic Performance was Leonardo Siqueira Duarte Justino. In Production Engineering, the award for best Graduation Project went to Natalie Shizue Nagata, and the Academic Highlight award went to Lorena Colombo de Almeida Santos.
Closing the ceremony, the academic director of ESEG, Professor Dimas Ferreira, once again congratulated the graduates, encouraging them to face life with dedication and confidence to positively impact the world. “We believe in you and are extremely proud of each achievement. Congratulations to the Business Administration and Production Engineering graduates of ESEG. May your paths be illuminated and your journeys fruitful,” he emphasized.
