The School of Philosophy and Letters celebrates the graduation of the students of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduating classes.

Last Saturday, May 22, the School of Philosophy and Letters held the graduation ceremony for students belonging to the 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduating classes. The ceremony was presided over by the Dean, Julia Pavón; the Associate Dean of Students, Javier Andreu; and the Associate Dean of faculty, Miguel García Valdecasas. Due to capacity restrictions, only the students and their sponsors could be present in the Magna classroom of the Central Building . Family, friends and professors of the new graduates accompanied them through the screens and in adjoining classrooms. However, despite the circumstances, it was a very emotional workshop for all of them.

After some brief words of welcome from the dean, the students who completed the degree program last year and who could not celebrate the academic ceremony because of the status health, stood up, one by one, while they were named, to dedicate a heartfelt applause to them and to those who could not be present that day in Pamplona. Then, Professor Julia Urabayen, godmother of the LVII promotion of Degree at Philosophy, took the floor, also representing Professors Rocío Davis, godmother of the XXIII promotion of Degree at Humanities; Luis Galván, godfather of the LIV promotion of Degree at Philology; and Jesús M. Usunariz, godfather of the LXII promotion of Degree in History. In his speech, he encouraged the students to "sail the ocean of life, in which the training that you have received will be your ship. Look to the future and cross the bridges you encounter, but do so without losing sight of the point of the compass that indicates how to reach the door of your home, here, at the University of Navarra. Bon voyage.

Marian Muñoz Ramos spoke on behalf of the students of the so-called "crown class". During her speech, she recalled that "we have a commitment to the truth. We are part of something much bigger than ourselves. Today marks the beginning of a new stage in our lives. On this path, we are accompanied by everything we have received from the people who make up the University of Navarra". He also encouraged his fellow graduates to "courageously face the great challenges that will mark our future. As the 13th century philosopher and saint Thomas Aquinas said, a scholar is one who brings to others what he has learned: the truth.

At the end, and before proceeding to the submission of diplomas to the students of the class of 2020-21, a video of the floral offering that the students of the School made to the Virgin of campus, the Mother of Beautiful Love, in gratitude for these years of degree program was projected.

The first graduating class of writers from the University of Navarra completes their studies at programs of study

After its launch in the 2017-18 academic year, the Degree in Literature and Creative Writing (LEC) already has a first graduating class. Their godmother, Rosa Fernández Urtasun, reminded them that "wherever you are and whatever you do, your sensitivity and your work will have an echo". She also urged them to "teach your readers, your students, to cultivate their sensitivity, to reflect on their convictions and feelings, to discover in the voices of the past the wisdom that crosses the centuries, to speak for those who cannot, to put words to the concerns of the intelligence and the heart".

For her part, the course delegate, Victoria Álvarez Musetti, dedicated words of gratitude to her classmates, "for having allowed me to be the voice of everyone today, for having been the companions of this journey, for the good times, the laughter, the anecdotes, the debates, the creativity and the enrichment we took with us as people, for the unconditional support in difficulties, for the affection, for the creativity and enrichment that we took with us as people, for the unconditional support in the difficulties, for the affection", with the wish "that we meet again in theaters, universities, conferences, recitals, museums, or simply in life".

Rocío García Bourrelier, godmother of the XXIV graduating class of Degree , then spoke at Humanities. In her speech speech, she told the students that, during this time, "we have seen you study, reflect, research, live together, also despair with teamwork, and share all the experiences and knowledge with other people. Now we want to see you work with courage, with bravery, to improve this world and in this endeavor you will always have us at your disposal".

The course delegate, Daniela Silva, made reference letter to the health status experienced this year, to ensure that "it is no coincidence that we have to start our professional life in a world convulsed by uncertainty, confusion and crisis, because it is precisely in the midst of the uncertainty of human existence that the Humanities make sense". He also affirmed that if the current crisis has shown anything, "it is that Humanities is more necessary than ever in uncertain times. We have been able to prove that neither science nor technology can replace human ties, the gaze of the other, the contact that humanizes, the bonds, the words, the training of culture. The current circumstances call us to create humanity in this context".

After submit the diplomas to the promotion of Degree at Humanities, Carmen Llamas, godmother of the LV Promotion of Degree at Philology took the podium to address her students. "You have approached all the language domains and I am sure that all of them have shown you the different facets of our human condition. May we as teachers have known in the classrooms of this University to guide you in this finding. The language does not exist outside of us, it exists in us, and if we change it changes. To understand a language is to understand ourselves," he said.

For his part, student representative, Javier Yániz, pointed out that "the future is not easy, to tell the truth, it is always uncertain. Nevertheless, let us believe in it, with strength, with illusion. Society, the one that diffusely understands -or does not understand- what we do and what we, the students of this School , can contribute, needs us. Many times it needs us without knowing it. It is our responsibility, therefore, to be demanding, self-taught, critical of ourselves in order to pour everything, to pour ourselves completely into a constant service to society".

After submission , Raquel Lázaro, godmother of the LVIII graduating class of Degree at Philosophy, took the floor and wished her students: "may they never stop doing report what they have learned here and may they cultivate the truth that comes their way, especially in the dialogue with people that opens them to otherness and in the authentic celebrations that open them to contemplative silence". 

Borja Vaillo, student representative, spoke next, asserting that " Philosophy has changed our lives": "Every man is, even if he does not realize it, a philosopher. What distinguishes him from animals is rationality, and it is this that demands of him the intellectual contemplation of being and the disinterested knowledge of the essence of things. The Philosophy is primarily and fundamentally contemplation, but because it is a radical and total knowledge, it includes man with all his Schools. I believe that we have all experienced this in our years of degree program".

For her part, Professor Clara Fernández Ladreda, godmother of the LXIII graduating class of Degree in History, addressed some heartfelt words to the students: "You are not only good students, but above all excellent people. This is something that I perceived from the very beginning and that I have proven to be true this year, despite the difficult circumstances. The University of Navarra can feel proud that you have been its students, each and every one of you, just as I hope you feel proud that it has been your University".

In his speech, Yago Navarro, student representative, advocated for the strengthening of Humanities in today's society. "We know that we have the best tools and we will put them on internship to thus, with our actions and our knowledge, contribute to the common good."

Leyre Santos, delegate of the School, then took the floor and assured that the students of this center "are privileged, because we have had access to an imponderable knowledge ": "Studying, initially, seems a duty, but here we have learned to enjoy the process of knowing the actions, literature and thought of those who preceded us in history, to enjoy the study, in addition to the pleasure of knowing".

Before intoning the Gaudeamus Igitur to bring the academic ceremony to a close, Julia Pavón, dean of the School, addressed the audience. In her speech, she affirmed that "the Philosophy, art, literature, history or language are knowledge far removed from the current patent of utility" and pointed out that, when asked what would happen if these fields of civilization knowledge disappeared, "the answer is yours, dear students, who have learned to cultivate them in an icy climate for humanistic reflection such as today's". Also, on behalf of those who make up the School of Philosophy and Letters, he thanked "the trust that you and your families have placed in a project as the one that represents this School in the university world. A formative space that, thanks to the daily contact with you, we renew full of illusion every year".