SCAD Hong Kong celebrates 2019 graduating class at Ritz-Carlton gala
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Bernard Charnwut Chan delivers SCAD Hong Kong’s 2019 commencement speech.On Saturday 8 June, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) honoured this year’s graduating class at its Commencement Day 2019, which took place at Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.
Friends, family members and industry leaders were present as graduates were invited on stage to receive their awards and, in doing so, join a growing global network of more than 40,000 alumni from SCAD campuses in Savannah, Atlanta, Lacoste and Hong Kong.
Allen Au-Yeung, vice president of creative and product development of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products at The Walt Disney Company APAC & MENA, was awarded an honorary degree by SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace.
Bernard Charnwut Chan, the convenor of the non-official members of the Executive Council, made the commencement speech in which he acknowledged the accomplishments of the SCAD Class of 2019. He also looked to further inspire Asia’s next generation of emerging artists, designers and entrepreneurs as they set out on their professional careers and creative journeys. In his address, Chan advised graduates to be open to what lies ahead. “Let your loved ones and your SCAD family help you bear the load,” he said. “Do good, with your smart brains, your capable hands, and your whole heart.”
Alumni speakers Anastasia Simone (summa cum laude) and Jonathan Lee (magna cum laude) both graduated in 2015 with a BFA in advertising. Both have subsequently gone on to hold senior positions at Leo Burnett, one of the top advertising agencies in the world. Queenie Ng (BFA in sequential art; minor in animation), spoke on behalf of this year’s graduates as the 2019 valedictorian. Pamela Lai (BFA in animation) was announced as the 2019 salutatorian, and Vivien So (MA in luxury fashion management), was awarded the excelus laureate.
Edited by John Cremer
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