Bethlehem University held its graduation ceremonies over two days, Thursday and Friday, 18–19 December 2025, honoring the graduates of the Academic Years 2024 and 2025 in four separate ceremonies. The long-awaited celebrations brought together students, families, faculty, administrators, and invited guests to recognize the achievements of cohorts whose commencements were delayed due to war.

The first day, Thursday, 18 December 2025, celebrated graduates from the Tarek Ahmad Juffali Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, as well as the Shucri Ibrahim Dabdoub Faculty of Business Administration and the Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism. The second day, Friday, 19 December 2025, honored graduates from the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technology and Engineering, and the Faculty of Education.

In his address to the graduates, Brother Hernán Santos, FSC, PhD, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, emphasized that the delayed ceremonies did not lessen the graduates’ accomplishments, but rather magnified them. He acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances under which students continued their education, describing their perseverance as a powerful expression of courage, solidarity, and hope. He reaffirmed Bethlehem University’s enduring belief that, even in the most difficult moments, “we find a way,” a principle embodied by the graduating classes.

The Vice Chancellor also reflected on the deep suffering endured by the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, noting that the ceremonies took place amid profound loss and uncertainty. He described the graduates’ gathering as a quiet yet meaningful affirmation that dignity, learning, and hope endure, and called on graduates to remain people of hope and builders of a more just and compassionate society.

Student voices played a central role throughout the ceremonies. On the first day, Nourman Reshmawi, Valedictorian of the Academic Year 2023/2024, delivered the graduation address during the first session. In the second session, Nicole Khalilieh, who achieved the highest grade point average at the Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism for the Academic Year 2023/2024, addressed her fellow graduates.

On the second day, the first session featured an address by Maria Mansour, who attained the highest grade point average in the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technology and Engineering for the Academic Year 2024/2025. The final session included an address by Raneen Shaweesh, who earned the highest grade point average in the Faculty of Education for the Academic Year 2023/2024.

Across all four ceremonies, speakers expressed gratitude to families, faculty members, and the wider university community whose sacrifices and support made this moment possible. The graduates were reminded that they now join Bethlehem University’s global alumni family, entrusted with carrying forward the University’s values of faith, excellence, service, justice, and peace.

The two-day graduation ceremonies stood as a testament not only to academic success, but also to resilience, collective strength, and an unwavering commitment to education as an act of hope in the midst of adversity.