Good evening everyone. A very warm welcome to everyone here. We are so honored and we are so glad to have you all here. I think this evening is so special because of the Agora Nagib Sawiris School of Business. A year ago the students decided to study business, which is not an easy decision at such an age. Because now in the age of, I don't know, we are all running in the age of everyone is just busy, they decided to stop and to pause and study business administration. So join me in welcoming our cohort 25.
After a year of dedication, innovation, hard work, what should, what should, online education, 40% education is now being celebrated here with each other. My name is Manuela Maher and I'm so honored to be with you today to present and to host such an evening. And it's such an honor to be at Agora and to remind each other with the name of Agora. Agora means a place of gathering, a community. And this is what we want to build. A community where entrepreneurs, businessmen can gather, can be with each other to study, to learn, to keep investing in themselves. And to begin our day, we can't begin it without hearing a voice of our students. And our valedictorian today is one who inspired a lot of people around him and is one who we are all so proud of him. Join me in welcoming Mr. George Mkhil Habash.
Good evening. I would like to warmly welcome Engineer Nagib Sawiris, chairman of the Agora School of Business, Professor Emmanuel, the president, and Reverend Father Dr. Michael, the chancellor. Welcome ladies and gentlemen, faculty, families, and fellow graduates. Before I begin, please join me in recognizing a colleague and a dear friend, Mark Bessim Labib. Mark and I were in the same group, ranked first together, and finished with the exact same GPA. Mark's idea to support youth development with strong ethics is one of the most creative and impactful ideas I've seen. Mark, thank you for your friendship and your example. Today is a day of pride. This ceremony closes an intense chapter and opens another. Whether you grew up here in Egypt or came from abroad, this cohort is unique. We studied, debated, and held one another accountable through rigorous courses, long nights, and demanding projects. We did it together and today we celebrate our achievements as a community. As an Egyptian, I speak from lived experience. Our generation endured two revolutions, the global disruption of COVID-19, and a deep economic crisis. Those events shaped how we think and how we respond to uncertainty. They taught us that stability is not guaranteed and adaptability is essential. But hardships also sharpened us. It forced creativity where complacency once lived, resilience where there was comfort, and humility where there was certainty. We learned to lead, to pivot, and to support one another when the systems we relied on faltered. At the same time, this is an exciting era. Geopolitical and economic shifts are reshaping industries and opening possibilities. Technology and AI are affecting every aspect in our lives, including this speech. New business models are emerging and global connections are creating markets and partnerships that did not exist a decade ago. For people trained to think critically, model risk, and craft strategy, this moment offers both challenge and extraordinary opportunity. We are a generation of challengers. We see problems and we move to solve them. We face fierce competition and constant change. Yet we press forward. I, like many of you, experienced losses both personal and professional that felt devastating at the time. But those losses became fuel. As Nelson Mandela once said, 'I never lose. I either win or learn.' Our setbacks taught discipline, humility, and persistence. Each experience has made us wiser and more capable of pursuing ambitious goals. Despite everything, we reached this milestone through relentless effort. We earned this moment. Celebrate it. Own it. Be proud of the perseverance that brought you here. Let this achievement become a legacy as we pass to the generations to follow a message of determination and possibility. We did not arrive here alone. We owe deep gratitude to our families, friends, mentors, and faculty. Those who gave time, encouragement, and sometimes the tough love we needed. Your support is woven into every success we celebrate today. But this is not the end. Today is a starting line. We leave with tools, networks, and values to guide us, and we will continue to test ideas, build teams, and scale impact in business, public service, and leadership. We will meet setbacks and we will rise again bolder and more purposeful. So let us be proud of what we achieved and grateful for those who helped. Keep the curiosity that brought us here, the courage that sustained us, and the compassion that binds us. We succeed today. Let us aim to succeed again tomorrow and every day after that. Thank you and congratulations to the Agora Nagib Sawiris School of Business 2025 cohort.
Thank you, George, for your words. Thank you for reflecting the spirit of this cohort. Now it's my honor to introduce someone who is so dear to my heart and also who is a visionary leader, the one who is behind the vision of Agora University and Nagib Sawiris School of Business. Let us all welcome Chancellor Michael Sorial.
Good evening. October 23rd is a very special day. Great. Thank you. Today is my mother's birthday. So, mom, if you're out there watching, happy birthday to you. But that's not the only reason this day is meaningful. October 23rd of 2012, 13 years ago today, an idea was born. Today was the day where the university officially was established. We became what many thought was only a dream, what many thought could never really happen. And I'll admit that even 10 years ago, many of those who are closest to us, including some who are present with us this evening, didn't believe that today would be a real reality. But belief was never enough. Much more needed to go in than just belief. There was hard work. There was determination. There was the courage to do better as well as to do well. It's about having a standard, a standard of excellence, integrity, and faithfulness. This evening, we are gathered to announce something truly historic. Agora University has received full accreditation in the United States. Congratulations for that. And with it the official recognition of the .edu domain, a symbol of academic credibility and global standing. This milestone affirms that Agora University has reached a level of excellence that has been recognized by international standards of higher education. In other words, we've made it. But just because we've made it, it's not enough. We continue to press forward. We continue to press towards excellence. And my invitation to you this evening is to do the same. To pursue excellence in all that you do. If you are a husband or a wife, pursue excellence in your marriage. If you are a parent or if you are blessed to still have your parents with you, pursue excellence in those relationships. If you are working in a corporation or starting or perhaps expanding a business, pursue excellence in all that you do. Excellence though is never something that we just see achieved in isolation or on an island. And so tonight we are also deeply grateful for many people who have come alongside us. Our faculty, administrators, and partners who have worked tirelessly to serve our increasingly diverse student population. To our students, past and present, thank you. You have committed yourselves to your continued growth and development. Not just for your own advancement, but also for the advancement of your families, your communities, your countries, and the companies that you will build or some of you are building. I'd also like to express a personal word of gratitude to the chairman of the university, Nagib. I first met at an event in Washington DC years ago and shortly thereafter you committed yourself to coming alongside for what has been a remarkable journey over the years. You have put yourself and poured yourself into education and the work that we're building here at Agora. Over the years, your commitment has not only continued, but it's deepened, and this really reflects your deep passion and care for education. I'm personally grateful for your friendship, your brotherhood, and your service to this organization, this university, as well as the broader communities. These are all qualities that have inspired our team and helped make this possible. On behalf of all of us at Agora University, thank you. As we celebrate this milestone tonight, remember, live with excellence, pursue it daily. Do well, treat others with dignity, and never stop learning. I would say go make us proud, but you already have. So, thank you. I look forward to seeing the work that you're going to do, the change you will bring, the families you will nurture, the companies you'll build, the books that you will author, the lives you will impact, and the heights that you will climb. May God bless you, your families, your work, and the communities you serve. Thank you.
