On Friday, September 11, 2009, the Fall 2009 Graduation Ceremony was held at the APU Millennium Hall at which 359 students from 39 countries and regions marked the start of their new journeys. Approximately 700 parents, friends and juniors gathered to celebrate the occasion.


President Monte CASSIM addressed the graduates and offered his words of congratulation, "As you stand on the threshold of a new journey, please keep in mind that you are not alone. Draw strength from your friends, mentors, families and those whom you have met as well as those you will meet in the future. Do so with humility and grace. Please etch the stunning landscape around this campus, with its plumes of 'onsen' steam, in the depth of your hearts. I hope that you will treasure the liberal and humanitarian educational values you have received here at APU in the spirit of the Ritsumeikan Academy." The President then presented the undergraduate and graduate representatives with their degree certificates.

This year's Ando Momofuku Honor Scholarship recipient, YAZAKI Masamichi (APS4, Japan) has played a major role in Beppu regional development by setting up the Beppu City regional portal-site "BEPPoo!!" .

YAZAKI gave a message as representative of the undergraduate school, "During my 4 years at APU, I have been really happy to be a part of such a rich multicultural environment and have built up such strong bonds with the people who have gathered here from all over the world. From today onwards, we will go on our way in places all over the world, pursuing all kinds of different goals. However, there is one thing that I would like all graduates not to forget. That is from now on, just as one seeks to achieve their own dream, another APU graduate will be doing the same somewhere else in a different part of the world. No matter how old you get and how much distance there lies between you, you will not be forgotten, so please don't forget them." He then raised up a board with the words "We love APU" as he left the stage.



WANNIARACHCHIGE Manjula Kumara (GSM, Sri Lanka) gave a few words as representative of the graduate school graduates, "The challenging academic environment and diverse faculty enriched with truly academic intuitions and passions in science and research, provided much encouragement in our studies. During our stay at APU, we have realized different perspectives of life and learnt amazing things about ourselves and the world, and this has enriched our growth as individuals and citizens of the global community."

The ceremony concluded with the graduates tossing their caps high into the air of the auditorium, and as they face the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, the graduates leave with fond memories and experiences of APU to pursue further study or career opportunities.