REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

Congratulations Class of 2018!

Congratulations Class of 2018!

BAU International University held its 2018 Graduation Ceremony on May 11, 2018 at the National Press Club Building. It was at the same time a solemn and happy occasion. BAU President, Dr. Sinem Vatanartiran, set the tone by explaining to the large audience of students, family members, friends and honored guests the mission of BAU. Peace through Education is the motto of this university, she said.  And this says a great deal about the values and ideals that BAU is animated by. BAU wants to contribute to global understanding by educating young leaders from many countries.

Dr. Vatanartiran also elaborated on how BAU fits within the larger family of higher education institutions grouped under the BAU Global umbrella with universities in Turkey, Georgia, Germany, Italy and the USA, among other countries.

As the ceremony progressed, there were moving speeches by Laura Anzalone and Shahanna Schrom valedictorians for graduate and undergraduate students. Alumna Durkhanai Ranzooryar gave an inspiring address that focused on resilience, optimism and hard work as qualities that will sustain the students in their academic journey.

Professor James Moses received the award for best Faculty Member award. He thanked the students and the school in his acceptance.

Finally, BAU Board member Paul Brunson addressed the audience stressing the importance of determination, vision and no-procrastination as key qualities that should guide the students now and later on, upon completion of their degrees.

After the students received their Diplomas, this was way completing the formal graduation ceremony, the event turned into a lively celebration. Happy new graduates cheered and hugged one another. Countless group pictures were taken, precious memories of a unique day.

Laura Anzalone – BAU MBA Valedictorian Graduation Speech 2018

Thank you everyone. Thank you for having me here today. I feel truly honored to speak today and send these incredible people off into the world with what I hope are fitting words. Knowing me, I could talk about you all for forever, but they only gave me five minutes, so let’s hope all those time limit requirements on our class presentations pay off.

Life is full of choices – choices we often try to see in black or white, right or wrong. Some choices are life-altering, risky to take and carry a lot of weight, while others are small and cost us little no matter what we decide. When I chose to go back to school for my MBA, I had no idea if this decision was the right choice or the wrong choice, a big choice or a small one. I asked myself many times if I was on the right path.

Then I got to BAU. I met all of you, and I remembered what I love the most about learning. The most rewarding thing I learned here was learning all of you, and learning together, as friends.

This university is a special place in that it is truly a family. I have seen students find family in each other when theirs were far away. I cannot walk in the building without seeing someone helping someone else, hugging someone else, caring for someone else. In a world where everyone can seem to look out for themselves sometimes, BAU students are always looking out for each other. This is a place that I am proud to have spent my time in, and it’s a place full of people I will miss seeing all together all the time.

My time at BAU has reminded me that choices are not necessarily right or wrong. Every choice we make takes us down a path and every path we take is a part of larger journey. If we work hard, try our best, and if we care enough, we’ll eventually end up wherever we are meant to be. I am thankful that the paths I’ve chosen to walk along in my life thus far have brought me to the group of people I have before me today – this unforgettable, unique, international family.

We all come from different places and walked different routes, but ended up on this road for the same reason: we wanted to forge a better life for ourselves. We wanted to do something with our working lives that mattered to us and could make a difference. We chose to take time out of our busy lives, away from current jobs, friends and family, and more to be here.

Some of my fellow students traveled incredibly far and left behind everyone and everything they knew. They left entire countries behind to come to school in Washington, DC. When I began my studies here, I was the token American from Pennsylvania. It’s safe to say I did not take a miraculous journey to get to DC, and for the rest of my life I will continued to be awed by those who risked and sacrificed so much to stand alongside me today. You will always be courageous and inspiring in my mind, and I hope you cherish those qualities and take them with you, because I have no doubt they will take you wherever you wish to go.

My hope for all of us is that we are able to fulfill the careers we seek with our degrees and our tenacity. This would not be possible were it not for the MBA so generously offered to us and made possible by the benefactors, founders, and staff at BAU. Thank you for building this university and cultivating its growth. This school has been a much-needed set of stepping stones in our life journeys. Thank you for placing them at our feet and guiding us to the other side – to today, our graduation day.

Thank you to our professors, who took time out of your busy lives and demanding careers to teach us everything you knew. Our professors respected that we were often juggling many responsibilities and were always willing to work with us to ensure we had the time and tools we needed to succeed. You made learning fun, and even during the stressful times, you helped us to enjoy ourselves while we learned. We are forever indebted to this faculty for the devotion you have shown for our education. Thank you for being champions for our futures. Thank you for being the rocks on which we could place the weight of our dreams. We are ready to carry this weight ourselves with the wisdom you have provided.

Thank you to our families and friends, far away and in the audience, who forgave us for the time we’ve missed with you to chase a dream. We are here today because of your sacrifices as much as our own. Your love and support has pushed us through and we are thankful to have you still when we leave this room.

Looking around today and reflecting on my time with all of you gives me hope for a better future. We are living proof that diversity and differences are special, necessary things to make the world a more intelligent, loving, and successful place. Our strength is in our differences, in our uniqueness, and together we are powerful enough to clear a path for ourselves, put our feet on solid earth, and make an impact on the world.

With that, I would like to say Congratulations Class of 2018. Your futures will be what you make of them, and you will most certainly make them bright.

Shahanna Schrom – BAU Bachelor’s Valedictorian Graduation Speech 2018

My fellow graduates, it is an utmost honor for me to deliver the valedictorian speech today. I’d like to start off by thanking Ms. Sinem and Mr. Yucel for running BAU and its sister schools and making this special day possible. I would also like to thank all of the wonderful staff at BAU International University. Without their guidance, support and flexibility I’m not sure I’d be standing here today. I also want to thank my wonderful family and boyfriend, whose love and support push me to do my absolute best.

When I started my first semester as a BAU student I was thrilled the diversity among BAU faculty and students. I’ve met people from Mongolia, China, Chad, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and of course, from Turkey.  BAU is a special place that brings together anyone and everyone, from all corners of the world and all walks of life, to unify, learn and make a difference. We cannot truly embody excellence in an institution of higher learning without diversity. It teaches us to accept differences in others and look beyond the base emotions of language, culture, socioeconomic status, race and color.

Looking back over my years at BAU, I can truly say that I have had more memorable experiences than I can name. Of course, I am graduating with an academic degree that will stand me in good stead for whatever path I choose to follow in the future. But even more important than the formal academic training I received at BAU, is the fact that I will be leaving with an informed understanding of the many global perspectives that make up today’s world order, and a deep appreciation for the need to reach across cultures and national boundaries to achieve progress in achieving global agendas of peace, security, and economic prosperity.

Further, BAU has given me the opportunity to befriend peers who fled from countries facing wars, turmoil, and instability and given me a new respect for the many opportunities that are all around me here in the United States. If I had to pick just one of my most treasured BAU moments, it would have to be the opportunity I have had to listen to guest speakers who were escaped prisoners of war. Somehow, the fact that these speakers were willing to share their searing experiences of war so that we as students could begin to understand at an individual level the real consequences of conflicts that have escalated to the point of extreme violence is an experience that I will never forget.

On this day, when we all stand together proudly as respected BAU graduates, I want to congratulate each and every one of my classmates. We should all feel proud for having walked this path together. But, I would urge us all to think of today not as having reached the summit, but as having climbed halfway up the mountain where we can look back on how far we have come and yet stare straight up that slope ahead of us with a clear understanding of how far we have yet to go, and how much better we can scale those heights if we rely on one another to achieve our goals. With that, I’ll say congratulations to all, and my very best wishes for good luck and happiness in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Be an Innovator,
Be a Leader,
At BAU!

Complete this form and a BAU Admission Advisor will contact you and provide further assistance.

Phuong Do

I love the experience here at Bay Atlantic University. The university is in the center of Washington D.C., the capital of the US. My friends and I have a wonderful time here at BAU and love the learning experience. It is really an honor to study in a high quality university that gives us top notch education, paving the way for success in our future careers.

Enkhjinzaya Ganbold

I love the fact that the university is so diverse.

Izel Ugur

The professors at Bay Atlantic University are diverse, not only in terms of their international backgrounds, but also their professional backgrounds. Being able to hear how the theories connect to their real-life experiences has been invaluable to my studies.

Qazi Khan

It is great to be a part of such an international environment in my everyday life because it has provided me with a different perspective of the world. And now I have good friends from many different countries.

Uyanga Batsukh

After completing the MBA Entrepreneurship program at BAU, I feel more confident in taking the next step towards starting my own business.

Daniel Giraldo

Great location, great staff, and great learning experience. Qualified teachers with an extended work experience.

Aghamirza Fazel

It has been a great experience here at BAU. Especially learning from the professors who are great and very helpful at any given circumstance. They are always friendly.

Mauricio Facciolla

I had great professors who taught me important skills and concepts that I applied daily in my job. These skills helped me to grow and stand out in the company I work for. The location and the building are awesome, providing great experiences. The student body is very diverse; great to learn about different cultures.

Phuong Vo, Vietnam

“I am a normal girl, but I have a big ambition. That’s living the truest and most beautiful life. I think the risk is always better than the regret. I am happy to be here at BAU and living a life I have always dreamed of. I prayed faithfully and worked hard for this opportunity. Moreover, thank you so much my beloved family for all their unlimited support and unconditional love. Thank you BAU for this opportunity!”