AS early as 7.30am last Thursday, a large crowd had gathered at Johor Baru Polytechnic (PJB) Masai to witness the polytechnic's 13th convocation, which was also the first to be held at the learning institute in many years. The graduates from the Tourism and Hospitality Department were the first from the polytechnic to receive their scrolls at the campus.
Previously, all PJB graduates converged at the Pasir Gudang Indoor stadium to be conferred their degrees.
The graduates shook hands with one another, hugged and laughed out loud in their joy.
Graduate Tan Chuan Kit, who was accompanied by his family, has already found employment at a hotel back in his hometown, Malacca.
Returning to his alma mater filled him with nostalgia and brought back many happy memories.
"I enjoyed my two years here as the students here were a friendly lot and the lecturers were always at hand to help me with any problems," said the 21-year-old hotel and catering student.
Among the graduates that day were Nadia Abdul Rahman and Muhammad Amin Ashari, both 23, and hearing-impaired.
Nadia and Amin were conferred the "Pingat Ketua Jabatan" for their outstanding results.
Nadia who is from Kajang, Selangor, is now assistant chef at Meridian Hotel Kuala Lumpur while Amin sells char kuey teow at a pasar malam in Shah Alam.
They credited their success, expressed in sign language through their lecturer Hamidatul Solikah Abd Hamid, to staying focused during lectures and constant revisions.
Meanwhile, the overall top student award went to Mohd Hilmy Kamarudin, a tourism management graduate. He received RM4,000, a souvenir and certificate. Kamarudin is now an officer at Maybank Permas Jaya, Johor Baru.
Guest-of-honour Malaysian Association of Hotels chairman Datuk Mohd Ilyas Zainol Abidin presented the scrolls to the graduates.
In his speech, Ilyas stressed that the tourism and hotel industry was a profitable and an honourable profession.
"Patience and perseverance are vital to further develop this industry."
Ilyas said PJB was one of three polytechnics nationwide that would soon be upgraded into universities, as recommended by the Higher Education Ministry.
PJB director Shabudin Man praised the 345 graduates present for the convocation.
He said a total of 464 students had successfully completed their courses, but only 345 of them were able to attend the convocation.
"Most of them are now employed at hotels, restaurants and other hospitality and service outlets. During their two years at PJB, the students excelled in both academic and co-curriculur activities," said Shabudin.
He also lauded the students for their involvement in social work as volunteers at hotels, fast food outlets and restaurants around the Masai and Pasir Gudang townships.
"Their contributions are highly appreciated by the community at large, and by the private and business sectors specifically. Their tireless work has boosted the image of the polytechnic," he said.
The event also included a bazaar, where the busiest stalls were those selling souvenirs.
Parents and friends of the graduates queued to buy flowers as congratulatory gifts.
Food stalls offered a variety of dishes, and many took the opportunity to get portraits of themselves at the photo booth.
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