Honouring achievements at the Bachelor's Graduation Ceremony

A warm welcome and reflections

VIS President Jonas Blank, himself a Bachelor’s graduate, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome. He emphasised the importance of this celebration, noting that the completion of a Bachelor's degree previously involved no more than the click of a “send” button.

Head of Department Kenny Paterson followed with a humorous and warm speech, in which he playfully debunked the myth of an easy Master’s after a hard Bachelor’s. He encouraged graduates to thank their families for their financial and emotional support and reminded them to be proud of the fundamental knowledge they had acquired during their studies, which would continue to be relevant for decades to come.

Inspiring words from faculty and students

Professor Angelika Steger expressed her delight at seeing familiar faces from her lectures three years ago. She emphasised the importance of nurturing potential, believing that some of the graduates in the room were much smarter than she was. She encouraged them to aspire to greatness, citing the recent achievements of five computer scientists who have won Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry. Her message was clear: there remains much to be explored in computing, in terms of both technical advances and addressing societal responsibilities.

Dr Ghislain Fourny, a senior scientist and lecturer, then took the stage. His presentation revolved around a fictional journey experienced by the characters Elias, Luca and Lea, which cleverly unfolded as a dream sequence. In addition to being entertaining, the story served as an allegory for the graduates’ own journeys through education and self-discovery.

Coelina Robinson, representing the graduates, shared her personal story about how her mother had initially discouraged her from studying computer science due to its male-dominated reputation, urging her instead to consider finance at HSG, which drew a few laughs from the audience. Robinson found inspiration through an introductory programme for women offered by CSNOW, the Network of Women in Computer Science at ETH Zurich, which helped her to embrace the field. She spoke openly about her struggles and triumphs throughout her studies, reminding her peers that it’s okay to face challenges along the way. Her message about overcoming self-doubt struck a chord with other graduates who also occasionally struggle with impostor syndrome.

Master’s student Nadine Arendt gave the graduates practical advice for their transition into postgraduate studies or careers. She emphasised the value of gaining real-world experience through internships, highlighting that these opportunities help to clarify personal interests and career paths.

Insights from the professional world

Yannick Kilcher, ETH alumnus and co-founder of the D-INFK spin-off DeepJudge, shared his diverse experiences from academia, the corporate world and entrepreneurship. He began by discussing his journey in academia, revealing insights he wishes he'd had earlier: “It's not just about research, it’s about publishing, reading widely, ignoring the hype and enjoying the process.” Kilcher then reflected on his time at Google, offering an insight into life at a large technology company. His advice for navigating such an environment is knowing the metrics, advocating for yourself, using the resources available and finding joy in the work.

Kilcher highlighted the stark contrast to his current role at DeepJudge. He said that every action in a startup has a direct impact, reflecting a double-edged sword that can be both rewarding and challenging. He emphasised that success not only depends on technology but also the people around you. Kilcher also touched on his hobby of having his own YouTube channel, where he creates and shares technical videos and enjoys complete creative autonomy. He recounted an incident where he faced a “shitstorm” on X (formerly Twitter) and shared the lessons he learned.

Kilcher ended his talk with an inspirational message: “Do something unique - life is too short for boring stuff”.

Gratitude, gifts, and gatherings

The ceremony concluded with Jonas Blank thanking the speakers and outlining the evening's festivities. Graduates were presented with commemorative hoodies, followed by an aperitif for all, with a party planned for later in the evening.