Set sail for the dream 

with the scattered stars

GTers broke the waves 

and excelled themselves

The Award Ceremony for the Academic Year 2020/21 of Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) was held at GTIIT Auditorium to honour excellent students and teachers.

Prof. David Gershoni, Vice Chancellor of GTIIT; Prof. Lin Danming, Pro-Vice Chancellor; Dr. Queena Yi, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor; Prof. Harold Corke, Dean of Research; Prof. Varenyam Achal, Deputy Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Prof. Klaus-Dieter Liss, Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies; Prof. Ka Yin Leung, Deputy Head of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program; Prof. Daniel Tan, Deputy Head of Materials Science and Engineering Program; Associate Prof. Xu Peng, Chemical Engineering Program; Prof. Paulo Tirao, Mathematics with Computer Science Program; Assistant Prof. Li Bin, Mechanical Engineering Program; Senior Teaching Fellow Chen Fen; Dr. Lawrence Liao, Director of Studnet Affairs Department; Ms. Lydia Liang, Director of Admissions Office; and Yan Yuan from Physical Education Supervisor of PE Unit attended the Ceremony.

Prof. Wayne D. Kaplan, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Mr. Eran Gal-Or, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director General; Prof. Moshe Eizenberg, Dean of Graduate Studies and Head of Materials Science and Engineering Program; Prof. Dganit Danino, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Head of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program; and other professors and teachers shared the joy remotely with the award winners.

The Ceremony also invited teachers and students of 39 high schools from 9 provinces to witness the event online.

Prof. David Gershoni, Vice Chancellor of GTIIT, gave an opening remark for the Ceremony. He noted that 2021 was a remarkable year for the development of GTIIT. It opened its fifth program, had been authorized as a bachelor’s degree-granting institute, had its first cohort of graduates, and had a key project listed as the provincial major program. “I am excited to see that our students awarded various scholarships and rewards for their outstanding performance in study, sports or other extracurricular activities,” he said, “I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all success in 2022, together let’s build up a better GTIIT.”

For the Academic Year 2020/21, 97 students were on the Vice Chancellor’s List and the Dean’s List; 2 students obtained the Excellent Performance in Sports while 4 received the excellent improvement in Sport Performance; 5 students were awarded the Excellent Performance in English Contest; 34 students had the Students’ Contribution to the Peer tutor Program; 2 students were awarded the Students’ Support to Students’ Recruitment Activities; 25 students won the Award to Student Representatives; 71 students obtained the Chancellor’s Scholarship while 73 received the Academic Excellence Scholarship; 23 students and 2 student organizations won the Extra-curricular Scholarship; 10 students were awarded as Outstanding Student Journalist; 12 teachers won the Excellence in Teaching and 2 were awarded the Excellence in Applied Research. Besides, Assistant Professor Wang Nan from Materials Science and Engineering received the Award of “South Guangdong Outstanding Teacher”.

Zhao Chenhao from Chemical Engineering, Cohort 2020, spoke as the student representative in the Ceremony. “We have academic pressure in GTIIT, but we live happily in campus and feel confident about my future.” He mentioned that GTIIT help him to achieve a step further to his engineer dream. He could feel GTers’ vitality through classes, activities, projects, competitions, etc.

The certificate is not only a high recognition of students' excellent performance in the past year, but also an inspiration to them, encouraging students to pursue the future study. For students, honor is also inseparable from the teachers' guidance.

Dr. Constance Horne delivered a speech as the teachers’ representative. She stated that GTers had the combination of Israeli Chutzpah and Chinese diligence. She encouraged students to share what and how they had studied and that students and teachers could build common achievements, “We see you, daring to volunteer, daring to ask questions no one has answered before and daring to go be part of the GT start-up challenge. And you also carefully finished your tasks with effort. I am very proud of you!” 

Prof. Lin Danming, Pro-Vice Chancellor of GTIIT, affirmed GTIIT’s development in the past year in his Closing Remark for the event. “It’s a night where your previous year’s hard work, persistence and grit are recognized.” He also encouraged all recipients to extend their personal thanks to their parents, to the faculty and staff members and peer students who have helped them in one way or another, to themselves for their “I can” when in difficulties.

A fine example has boundless power.

Congratulations to all award winners!

Looking forward to seeing you next year!

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs