Ryan Williamson
Welcome Speech
9/3/08
Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. My name is
Ryan Williamson and I am a senior here at UNC-Wilmington. It is my honor to
stand in front of you today at such a monumental event. First of all, I would
like to give a warm welcome to those visiting from Kyoto on behave of
Chancellor DePaolo, faculty, and the entire student
body. We are truly privileged to have you with us today. Today we meet not only
to welcome those from Kyoto, but to discuss the establishment of an exchange
program between our respective schools that will allow students to truly gain a
once in a lifetime cross-cultural experience.
The
University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a perfect environment for
learning and living, one that is dynamic, demanding and delightful. Here at UNC-Wilmington we offer 73 bachelor’s
degree programs and 32 graduate programs which include a Ph.D
in marine biology and an Ed.D in educational
leadership. For the eleventh consecutive year, UNCW is once again among the top
10 public master’s universities in the South by U.S. News & World
Report. U.S. News also placed UNC Wilmington fifth on its list of
up-and-coming master's universities in the South. Our university specializes in
programs such as natural sciences, marine biology, fine arts, and nursing, just
to name a few. Along with our fine academics, UNCW is fortunate enough to be
located on the east coast of North Carolina and is just
minutes away from the beach making it ideal for students to relax in the
sand after a long week of work.
Students from UNCW studying at Kyoto University will have the chance to
experience the extraordinary city of Tokyo, home of true Japanese culture and
traditions as they are challenged both intellectually and socially. Kyoto
University offers ten different facilities, sixteen graduate schools, thirteen
research institutes, and twenty-one research and educational centers. Not
only will students benefit from Kyoto’s prestigious academics, but they will
also be able to explore notable landmarks surrounding the beautiful city of
Tokyo including mountains, gardens, and even historic palaces. Students
from UNCW will truly be fortunate to partake in such a diverse and unique
experience.
While
these two universities come from two culturally diverse backgrounds, both share
the same core values of quality education, while offering a perfect environment
for learning. Here at UNCW we are not only thrilled, but honored to be a part
of this exchange program, as the educational opportunities will be endless for
both UNCW and Kyoto students involved in this unique experience.
I
would like to thank all of you for coming out this event this afternoon as two
truly great schools come together as one. I would like to give a special thanks
to our guests from Kyoto University for being with us today. Once
again, thank you to all who came out and have a great day.