1,904 graduates received their Technion diplomas this week
“This degree is not just a certificate. It is proof that you faced challenges, made the right choices, and did not give up.”
1,904 graduates received their Technion diplomas this week. Technion President, Prof. Uri Sivan, told them: “Today, you are joining the Technion alumni family – a family that led the way in the founding of the State of Israel and has since continued to shape this country and contribute to all of humanity.”
Speaking on behalf of the graduates was Adi Kikozashvili, a graduate of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, whose older brother, Shlomi, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival and returned to his family after 246 days in Hamas captivity.
The graduation ceremony of the 96th Class took place on Monday, 14 July, at the Technion with 1,904 students completing their studies, 41% of whom were women. Prof. Eitan Yaakobi of the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science and head of the Technion-Descartes Excellence Program hosted the event. Attendees included family members, Technion leadership, faculty deans, academic and administrative staff, and Dotan Bar Noy, Chair of the Technion Alumni Organization.
Technion Senior Vice President, Prof. Oded Rabinovitch, read the formal conferral of degrees: “By the authority of the Technion Senate, I hereby confer upon the students the degrees of Master of Science, Bachelor of Science, Master of Architecture, and Master of Landscape Architecture. I congratulate you on receiving your degree. Go forth and succeed.”
President Prof. Uri Sivan said to the graduates: “These complex times remind us that a society is measured not only by its technological achievements but, above all, by its social values and cohesion. As we mark the Technion’s centennial year, we are not only celebrating accomplishments but also the values and legacy that have guided us: the pursuit of truth, pluralism, and a commitment to equality, moderation, tolerance, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. These are the principles of our founding fathers and the Technion Constitution. You, as graduates of this esteemed institution, are tasked with a vital role in addressing the challenges before us, as a moderating force working to heal the divides in our society. We expect you to excel not only professionally but also ethically – to embody and pass on the values you have absorbed here. The knowledge you are taking with you will help you become outstanding professionals, but just as importantly – we hope – better human beings and citizens, attentive to the needs of others, ready to lend a hand, and to help strengthen the country, society, and community in which you live.”
Adi Kikozashvili, speaking for the graduates, shared: “On October 7th, our lives turned upside down. Most of us know someone who fell, survived, was murdered, or kidnapped. That day, my older brother was kidnapped. When people asked me, ‘Adi, what about your studies?’ I answered, ‘Shlomi will kill me if he comes back and finds out I didn’t continue – so I’m continuing!’ On the 100th day of the war, I stood before you and gave a speech. Today, I get to close the circle. Today, I stand before you again, and my brother is sitting here in front of me. Thank you, my brother, for surviving. Thank you for another dream come true. I thank Chief Superintendent Arnon Zamora, z”l, who fell heroically during the rescue operation that brought my brother home.”
Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Hossam Haick, praised the graduates for their determination and perseverance during such a difficult time, saying:
“Your success is a reminder of the power of knowledge, perseverance, and the human spirit – and of the importance of the ability to adapt to a changing reality.
Bold and innovative action is the key to change. As you go out into the world, remember how vital the skills you developed in this complex period are – not only the technical and scientific ones, but also the belief in knowledge’s ability to create a better, healthier, more equal, and more cultured world for us all.
I congratulate you on your achievements and wish you success in your new journey.”
Itay Israel, chair of the Technion Students Association (ASAT), shared the story of his friend Nadav Ben Yehuda, a young Israeli mountaineer who, just 300 meters from the summit of Everest, spotted an unconscious Turkish climber and gave up his dream to save a stranger’s life: “I believe that in many ways, his story reflects the path each of you has taken here at the Technion. All of you climbed your own mountain, with challenging courses, sleepless nights, moments of frustration, and countless breaking points. There were also moments of choice – being there for a friend, helping another student, and prioritizing humanity over personal achievement. This degree is not just a certificate. It is proof that you faced challenges, made the right choices, and did not give up.”
He also honored the four Technion students who fell during the current war: Amit Chayut, Dennis Wexler, Dov Kogan, and Alon Safrai. “The pain of their loss is unbearable, but alongside that pain is profound gratitude – for their courage, their sacrifice, and the fact that because of them, we can be here today, experiencing even a moment of normalcy and hope.”
Merav Bahat, a graduate of the Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences, and co-founder and CEO of the startup Dazz (which developed an automatic security vulnerability remediation platform and was sold to Wiz, co-founded by another Technion alumnus, Assaf Rappaport), spoke to the graduates: “I remember my first day at the Technion – 20 years old, just out of the army, full of pride and excitement, but also full of fear.
I came from a religious family in faraway Be’er Sheva; I only knew one friend, had gaps in math, zero background in physics and computer science, and I felt like an impostor – like everyone else was so much more confident and had a stronger foundation than I did. I was terrified that it would be too hard, maybe even impossible.
But thanks to the belief – from the dean, the lecturers, my friends – and with hard, uncompromising work, I completed my studies with great success.
More than the grades or the diploma, I received the most important lesson for my journey: I learned the power of effort, perseverance, and independent learning.
I learned that we are stronger than we think – and that we can always push ourselves a little, or even a lot, further. I made lifelong friends who still support and advise me today.”
Among the graduates were twin brothers Ofek and Shachaf Har-Even, who both completed their undergraduate degrees in the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, each having served 250 days in military reserve duty during their studies. The two grew up in Karmiel, played in the National Basketball League, and trained and competed in karate, both holding second-degree black belts. Toward the end of their military service, they took the psychometric exam, scored over 700, and didn’t hesitate about where to study – “Technion, because it’s the best place,” said Shachaf. “I told Ofek to choose a program, and I’d go with him – and that’s how we ended up in Computer Engineering in the Viterbi Faculty.” Alongside their studies, they founded a family network of training centers in Karmiel. Today, both work at Apple, and Shachaf is preparing for his upcoming wedding.
“We’re very pleased with the four years we spent at the Technion,” Shachaf said, “and with the balance we were able to strike between studies and other pursuits.
One thing is for sure – this was the most challenging time of my life – more than serving in a special forces unit, more than working in high-tech.
There’s an intensity at the Technion that you don’t find anywhere else.”
Photo credit: Rami Shlush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office
