Exhilaration and jubilation buoyed the air at Shandong University or SDU – located in Jinan, the capital city of East China's Shandong province – as it held its 2021 graduation ceremony on June 24.

 Here're brilliant smiles all around at the graduation ceremony at Shandong University. [photo/view.sdu.edu.cn]

Fan Liming, president of the university, extended her hearty congratulations to all the graduates and paid her respects to the teachers devoted to the cause of shaping and cultivating the minds of the young alumni. Fan exhorted the graduates to stay true to themselves and become leaders in innovation.

A number of films were played at the event – including one made by the alumni association and one made for the celebration of the university's 120th anniversary, as well as a mini film to commemorate the graduation itself – touching the hearts of the young audience and winning enthusiastic applause.

A succession of performances featuring percussion music and songs were staged, reminding the graduates of their original aspirations and responsibilities and giving them an audio-visual feast.

In order to inspire patriotism for the nation and encourage their ambitions, the university also provided a series of activities – including lectures given by doctoral graduates, interviews of top graduates, an exhibition of popular WeChat articles, a collection of original graduation-themed articles, commemorative postcards, an online graduation concert, a ball and live-streaming sales of second-hand goods. All of these activities inspire graduates to pay tribute to youth and appreciate the efforts they have made to this day.