On the afternoon of September 16, IIIS Opening Ceremony 2017 was ceremoniously held at the Lecture Hall, FIT Building. Prof. Andrew Chi-chih Yao, IIIS Dean, Prof. Gang Peng, Director of Academic Affairs Office, Peng Su, Vice-Director of Academic Affairs Office, all freshmen and new graduates, IIIS faculty, students and parents attended the ceremony together. This ceremony was host by Assistant Prof. Chenye Wu. This year, 35 undergraduates and 37 graduates joined the big family of IIIS and started a new academic journey.

The ceremony started with the solemn and majestic national anthem.

Prof. Yao welcomed the new students and encouraged all the students to make greater progress in the coming semester. He also urged the newcomers to connect with IIIS community and not to miss out the best of this institute could offer. “The years you are going to spend at IIIS will not only build your resume,” he said to the newcomers, “but also be a journey of self-discovery you undertake here, which makes you be the best for your world.”

Prof. Gang Peng, as an invited guest, also extended greetings to all freshmen. He recognized IIIS’ commitment to education and the achievements IIIS students have made. He said that the new students should set high self-expectation and do the best of what they could contribute to the world.

On behalf of faculty members, Prof. Tang encouraged all students to aim for the highest and be the best students in computer science of the world. Ye Wang, 2012 PhD candidate, also extended welcome and wishes towards all the freshmen and new graduates.

YaoClass freshman Tianle Xie and 2017 PhD candidate Chenxing Li, as representatives of new IIIS members, shared their expectation towards their campus life and determination to pursue their academic interest.

During the ceremony, Yao Award 2017 was granted to recognize 11 outstanding YaoClass students.

The ceremony successfully concluded in the Old Anthem of Tsinghua.