Summer demands a proper welcome, which happens with iron regularity every year at this time on the Suchdol campus. University graduates, current students, employees, and neighbors from the area gather for the Garden Festival, preceded by gold, silver, and diamond graduations. This year, everyone celebrated the beginning of the most beautiful time of the year together on Saturday, June 14.
A day full of fun, knowledge, and inspiration brought something stimulating to everyone, whether they are five, eighteen, or fifty and over. For adults, there were, for example, guided tours of the faculties and modern research workplaces, interactive stations with scientific projects and technologies, or demonstrations of projects supported by EU funds. The faculties prepared an attractive program for their visitors, and the botanical garden was also open. For children, there was a popular bouncy castle, face painting, a 360° video corner, and fun competitions. There will be endless good food and drinks, a pleasant atmosphere, and relaxing music.
Since the morning, those who left the auditorium twenty-five, fifty, or even sixty years ago have been experiencing festive moments in the packed hall. 200 gold, 260 silver, and 15 diamond graduates came to receive their commemorative diplomas. But before the reprise of the graduation ceremonies, everyone listened to the speech of Vice-Rector Michal Lošťák, traditionally full of witty witticisms. Together with him, they could travel back to their youth, when they were full of hope and expectations. And what has changed at the university since they were students? A lot has changed, as Professor Lošťák confirmed.
The alma mater of gold, diamond, and silver graduates has come a long way. According to the International Academic Ranking of World Universities, it is now among the top three percent of universities in the world. In the subject area corresponding to the profile of CZU, i.e., agriculture and forestry, it is even in 24th place. "Both the past and current presidents of the Czech Republic have stated several times that it would be good to have a university in the top hundred. Here they are. This success is also your work, whether you are already working here at the university or outside CZU after graduating and you received the Magnesia Litera award. Thank you sincerely. You can be proud of what our university has achieved thanks to you," Michal Lošťák pointed out to the silver graduates with a small but essential addition in conclusion:
“When your successes speak, words are useless. When your positive relationship with the university speaks, words are useless. When your memories of studying at the Czech University of Life Sciences speak, words are useless. And if I speak for a long time, I am also useless. So – symbolically – for the next years of resolving contradictions and symbiosis of continuity and change. Let's graduate quickly.”
After the graduation ceremony, most graduates took the opportunity to tour the campus and individual faculties and discover what had changed. Many then immersed themselves in the whirlwind of fun at the Garden Festival. The university-wide summer party began at 11 a.m. with a program on the stage, where at 2 p.m., everyone was welcomed together by the university rector Petr Sklenička, the dean of the Faculty of Engineering Jiří Mašek, and Radek Kobza from the Ministry for Regional Development.
The fair featured university wine from Mělník, student beer Suchdolský Jeník, and genuine raspberry lemonade. There were delicacies such as grilled sausages, camembert, beef burgers, potatoes with bacon, and popular hot dogs.
The garden festival was an opportunity to support programs to save the endangered Derby antelope or sea turtles by purchasing one of the selected products. Flowers from the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources horticulture, or wooden products from the workshop of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences were available. The Point One business incubator presented its successful start-ups, such as GreenGlazz, ReKáva, Leon diapers (washable diapers for rabbits), and others.
The meeting at the beginning of summer once again became a celebration of belonging and goodwill of all generations.
