Many things to celebrate, to be thankful for and to take care of

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Third round of graduations. This time it was the turn of the students from ICAI School of Engineering. Surrounded by family and classmates, the new graduates listened to the speech of their graduation sponsor, Ángeles Santamaría Martín, independent adviser of Mapfre Global Risk and former CEO of Iberdrola Spain, as well as Alejandra Torres-Quevedo Oliver's speech, a student of the Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering for Industrial Technologies and Olympic hockey player who participated in Tokyo 2020.

In her speech, the Olympic student mentioned that she has enjoyed the victories brought by the long days of work and that she has made lifelong friends. "We have many reasons to celebrate. Overcoming ICAI has not been easy. But at the same time, we have a lot to be thankful for. There are many people who have accompanied us along the way," she said.

She added: “I wanted to use this moment to give a more personal thank you. Combining professional sport with such a demanding university has not been easy, but you have made it as easy as possible.”

In her speech, the sponsor of the graduating class and former student of Comillas ICAI, recalled the day of her graduation, back in 1985. "The world was very different, we didn't have mobiles. However, we came out as prepared as you. The technical solvency of ICAI engineers is a valuable asset for companies, but the most valued ones are the soft skills that this school teaches you to put into practice. For example, the working capacity and perseverance, or the unmistakable attitude of always wanting to go a little further”.

She concluded by wishing the new graduates the best of futures: "Uncertainty is the word that best defines today's world. We need companies, organisations and people with purpose, who go beyond profits and seek to positively impact their environment," she reminded them.

Enrique Sanz, SJ, Rector of Comillas, used his speech to talk about some passages from the Autobiography of St. Ignatius. "Your lecturers offered you readings, exercises and projects that facilitated your reasoning. They made it easier for you to discern in order to decide freely and generously. Always remember those important moments. Our broken and polarised societies need people who read, think, listen, have conversations and discern. Our societies need you, Comillas alumni, to continue the path undertaken at our university".

Finally, he talked about some new features of Comillas, such as Madrid Culinary Campus, Advantere and Mobios Lab among other things, and advised graduates to take care of themselves, physically, emotionally and mentally. "Comillas wants to become a healthy campus, as well as a campus where the integral ecology of which Pope Francis speaks is the backbone of our activity. Always take care of your health, dear graduates; always take care of your wellbeing. Do it like Ignatius of Loyola: give yourselves generously to others, serve people and society, and transform our wounded and broken world into a more humane one.”