Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 29: The 21st graduation ceremony of St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Mangaluru, was held on August 29 in the Kalam Auditorium of the college in two different sessions. The ceremony witnessed the awarding of graduation certificates by the institution to the class of 2026 comprising 570 undergraduates (BE) & 2 Ph D graduates in two different sessions.
The first session was witnessed for the graduation of students from mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, and electronics and communication engineering. Francis D’Souza, managing director, F4 Holdings India Pvt Ltd, graced the occasion as the chief guest and Richard Nazareth, engineering leader, VMware Broadcom R&D Division, was the guest of honour and presented the degree certificates to the graduands. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop, diocese of Mangalore and president of SJEC, presided over the ceremony.
The second session was witnessed for the graduation of students from computer science and engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science and business systems, and computer science and data science. Dr Archana Mantri, vice chancellor, Anurag University, Hyderabad, graced the occasion as the chief guest, with Ancy Jovita Crasta, senior product development manager, Siemens, as the guest of honour.
Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, director of SJEC, welcomed the graduands from the class of 2026, staffs, parents and dignitaries to the graduation ceremony. Dr Binu K G, professor & dean-academic affairs, introduced the chief guest and the guest of honour in the morning session and Dr K Jyothi, professor & dean-student welfare, introduced the chief guest and the guest of honour in the evening session.
Richard Nazareth, guest of honour, expressed his joy at sharing the stage with the distinguished dignitaries. Addressing the graduates, he emphasised the courage to face life’s challenges and the determination to overcome hardships with resilience and perseverance.
He encouraged them to dream big and build their own path to success by making the best use of emerging platforms and technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). He stressed that a strong foundation in core knowledge, combined with the effective use of modern AI tools, can empower them to create meaningful solutions and build something greater of their own.
Francis D’Souza congratulated the graduands and their parents for their patience, sacrifices, and perseverance over the past four years. Sharing insights from his entrepreneurial journey in India and abroad, he emphasised the importance of developing practical skills alongside an engineering degree. He encouraged graduates to choose a domain they are passionate about, dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to it, and remain focused, noting that consistency and commitment are the keys to a successful career.
Ancy Jovita Crasta, an alumna of the institution who graduated two decades ago, shared insights from her professional journey and reminded the graduates that life is a continuous process of learning, exploration and discovering what works best for us. She encouraged them to take the next step with confidence and, at every stage, reflect and decide on the way forward in building their careers.
Emphasising the importance of continuous learning, she advised graduates to master the fundamentals rather than relying solely on trending frameworks and technologies. She also highlighted the significance of values such as trust, integrity and gratitude, which, she noted, form an essential foundation for meaningful and sustainable career growth.
Dr Archana Mantri, congratulated the graduates and appreciated the college management for nurturing confident and competent graduates who are well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to society. In her address, she encouraged the graduates to remain reflective throughout their life journey, continuously learning from their experiences.
She advised them not to seek shortcuts to success, but to work with patience and perseverance, trusting that the right opportunities will come at the right time. Emphasising that every individual’s journey is unique, she urged the graduates not to imitate others but to identify inspiring role models, learn from them, and carve their own path towards a fulfilling and successful life.
Dr Rio D'Souza, principal, administered the graduation oath in both sessions. Deeksha Gowda, graduand from the department of civil engineering, Sai Vardhan, graduand from the department of electrical & electronics engineering, Elvisha Rosewin Lobo, graduand from the department of Artificial Intelligence & machine learning & Glen Elric Fernandes, graduand from the department of computer science & data science engineering were the Valedictorians from the class of 2026 and delivered the valedictorian addresses sharing the reflections on the transformative journey of education and gratitude was expressed towards all individuals who contributed to shaping the graduates into who they are today.
Scholastic achievers including rank holders and Sports achievers were recognized and awarded by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore and president of SJEC. Felicitations were done to the chief guest and guest of honour by the bishop as a token of respect and gratitude.
Lisha D S, NCC navy cadet, graduand from department of electronics & communication engineering, in presence of her proud parents was felicitated by the dignitaries for her accomplishments in NCC, receiving Raksha Mantri Award from the defence minister, Rajnath Singh.
In his presidential address, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha reflected on the graduates' remarkable four-year journey, encouraging them to step into the future with a resilient, never-give-up attitude. He advised the class not to be embarrassed by setbacks, but rather to reflect, meditate, and boldly move forward through life's challenges. Emphasizing the core non-negotiables that anchor a person's life, Dr Saldanha highlighted the invaluable roles that parents, teachers, and friends play in shaping character and guiding success.
Fr Kenneth R Crasta, assistant director, Dr John D’Silva, chief administrative officer, various deans, HOD’s, staffs were also present on this occasion. Dr Aswathy C M, convenor of the morning session and Supriya Salian, convenor of the evening session, delivered the vote of thanks.
Florence Nishmitha and Abhilash R V compered the morning session, while Jaishma Kumari and Dyanila Neeta Ferrao compered the evening session. The programme ended with national anthem. SJEC wished the graduates from the class of 2026 all success in their future endeavours.