Tears of Pride and Dreams Fulfilled: An Emotional Graduation Ceremony at FCNM

On the afternoon of July 11, ESPOL’s Gustavo Galindo Campus hosted one of the most significant events of the academic year: the graduation ceremony for the 38th Graduating Class, which welcomed 1,111 new professionals into Ecuador’s workforce. Of these graduates, 89 earned their degrees from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FCNM), representing its four undergraduate programs: Mathematics, Statistics Engineering, Logistics and Transportation Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.

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This graduation ceremony was an even greater source of pride for the Faculty. The Gold Medal for the Outstanding Graduate of the 38th Graduating Class was awarded to Lisbeth Fajardo León, a graduate of the Logistics and Transportation Engineering program. Her achievements did not end there: she was also recognized as the Outstanding Graduate of her program and the Outstanding Graduate of the entire Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FCNM). Three prestigious distinctions awarded to one graduate—a testament to the academic excellence fostered within our classrooms.

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In her commencement address, Lisbeth Fajardo connected with the emotions of her fellow graduates and expressed her gratitude to parents and faculty members for their unwavering support throughout the most demanding semesters of their academic journey. She concluded with a message that captured the spirit of an FCNM education:

“Today, we are not just leaving with a degree. We are leaving with a way of thinking: to question, to learn, to solve problems, and to never settle for the first answer.”

During the ceremony, ESPOL President Cecilia Paredes reminded the graduates that “no one reaches graduation alone,” emphasizing the “remarkable network of trust” built by parents, professors, and university staff. Meanwhile, the guest speaker, Dr. h.c. Francisco de Narváez Steuer, compared a professional career to athletic training and encouraged the new graduates to remain focused and resilient as they face the challenges ahead.

With the collective oath administered by Vice President Paola Romero, the 89 graduates from the Mathematics, Statistics Engineering, Logistics and Transportation Engineering, and Chemical Engineering programs officially joined the ESPOL Alumni network, carrying with them not only a degree but also the comprehensive education that defines the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
 

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