Kwanrawee Joy Sirikanchana Speech
"In 2001, a 21-year-old woman from Thailand who had never left home traveled half a world away to the University of Illinois, 8,500 miles away from her family, not knowing what life would be like during her master’s and PhD study there. But she believed! She believed in herself, and her country believed that this world-class university would give her the best knowledge in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering, for her to bring back there and use that knowledge to benefit her home country.
"Today, March 2, 2016, that woman is standing here before you. And I would like to tell you that the University of Illinois prepared me with much more than just the advancement of knowledge in my field. Many things were instilled in me during my six years here at the university. I gained progressive knowledge from the best professors, as well as colleagues and peers. I got access to wonderful academic resources. I gained inspiration from success stories from alumni. I also learned to give, to share, to participate in volunteer projects and to shape my work to create an impact on people’s lives. The University of Illinois not only influenced my career, it also taught me to take pleasure in a well-balanced life, as an engineer, as a research scientist, as a graduate supervisor, as a mother of two, as a wife, as a daughter, and, finally…as an Illinois alumnus. And I am very proud of them all…
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my PhD supervisor Professor Benito Mariñas, and my co-supervisor, Professor Joanna Shisler, from the Department of Microbiology. Last but not least, I would like to thank the University of Illinois, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, faculty, officers, current students and alumni, for being part of this accomplishment. You are the ones who have created and will create an impact on the world. Thank you all for your inspiration."