The Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad celebrates the Class of 2022

After two years of uncertainty and online and hybrid learning due to the pandemic, the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad held its first in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022 on Saturday, 21 May 2022. These 81 exceptional students were celebrated for not only completing their International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) studies at the Academy, but for their strength and resilience throughout their entire DP journey. 

The ceremony was attended by parents, extended family members, fellow DP1 students, faculty, staff and invited guests. Although held in-person, the ceremony was also live streamed for additional family members, alumni, the Aga Khan Academies network and the wider community to commemorate the Class of 2022, reaching over 7,000 people from around India, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo and more.

Before the ceremony began in the Commons, a special pinning ceremony was held at the Academy Building. The soon-to-be graduates were awarded “Class of 2022” pins by their advisors, which serves as a celebratory endcap to the students’ academic journeys.

Following the pinning ceremony, students, parents and guests, gathered in the Commons for the official ceremony which began with welcome remarks from Head of Academy Dr Jonathan Long, who spoke of the Class of 2022’s exceptional journey and commended their determination and grit. 

“Like all transitions, it is a day of mixed emotions… transitioning from an Aga Khan Academy is not just any transition,” he said. “Academy students take on a unique and exceptional challenge – to be part of an educational experience which could so profoundly change you that you would leave here determined to make the world a better place. You do not necessarily become an Academy student just by spending time here… it depends on the values that have shaped your character… values of integrity, compassion, pluralism, idealism and the power of personal example. [It is] then [that] you have truly graduated.”

This year’s graduating class have collectively been offered over $5 million in scholarships and financial aid from some of the world's top universities. They received over 300 admissions offers to renowned universities around the world including the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, Berkeley; Cornell University; Carnegie Mellon University; New York University; the London School of Economics and Political Science; Georgetown University in Qatar; the University of Toronto; Boston University; and many more among others.

The keynote speaker, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India Limited Suresh Narayanan, delivered the graduation address. Known as a grounded, pragmatic leader and a strong proponent of innovation, Mr Narayanan has over 30 years of exhaustive experience in the fast-moving consumer goods industry and is credited with seeing Nestlé India through some of its most turbulent periods and turning around its fortunes. When speaking to the graduates, Mr Narayanan focused on the importance of creating value-oriented, future leaders. 

“It is important to imbibe what the [Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad] has done for you,” he said. “This institution has given you the gift of purpose and values… in a society which is technologically savvy, we have forgotten that it is the human being that moves this world. You can stay without your mobile phones, but you cannot stay without human relationships – your parents, friends and loved ones. You’re at the cusp of a new beginning. This journey will not involve people holding your hand but nudging you, providing you with a path… and you will be drawn by the purpose and values that this great institution has given you.”

On behalf of the Academies network, we wish the Graduating Class of 2022 the best in all their future endeavours. The Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad’s Class of 2022 graduation is available to watch online here.