The Technion Awards Degrees to 1,983 New Graduates

Technion alumnus Nadir Izrael, co-founder of the unicorn company Armis, spoke at the ceremony and shared that his time at the Technion was profoundly formative and prepared him for real life. The challenges he faced during his studies developed his resilience, and it was also where he met his future co-founder.

In a festive ceremony, the Technion awarded bachelor’s degrees to 1,983 graduates from its 95th class, 41% of whom are women. The ceremony, originally scheduled for September 2024 but postponed due to the war, was attended by graduates, their proud families, the Technion leadership, deans, and faculty members. It was hosted by Prof. Yael Yaniv from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering.

The graduation of the 95th class takes place in the Technion’s centennial year. The first Technion class opened in December 1924 at the historic Technion building in Haifa’s Hadar neighborhood, with one female and 16 male students. Most lecturers were European professors who barely spoke Hebrew, and the infrastructure was extremely limited—but from those humble beginnings, the Technion has grown into one of the world’s top 10 technological institutions.

The late Amit Chayut, a reserve captain in the IDF, fell in battle in southern Lebanon on October 26, 2024. He had recently completed his studies at the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science and was supposed to attend the ceremony. His diploma was presented to his family by Prof. Danny Raz, dean of the faculty.

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan addressed the graduates and their families, saying:
“This academic year began under fire. The war reached us too, with rocket barrages on Haifa and the Galilee. But we were determined not to let terrorism disrupt our lives. We never considered closing our campuses in Neve Sha’anan or Bat Galim. The Technion plays a historic role in strengthening Israel’s security, and we’re proud of that.

When interceptor fragments landed on the Technion campus during attacks from Iran and southern Lebanon, I thought – perhaps the Technion is the only university in the world protected by technologies developed by its own graduates, based on knowledge we provided. Where would Israel be without them?

These complex times remind us that a society is measured not only by its technological achievements but by its core values – truth, pluralism, equality, tolerance, inclusion, and freedom of expression. These were the principles our founders envisioned 115 years ago, and they remain embedded in the Technion’s charter. As graduates, you now carry the responsibility to promote unity and healing within Israeli society.”

Prof. Sivan also referenced a new report by the Samuel Neaman Institute, published in honor of the Technion’s centennial. It reveals that from 2015–2022, Technion graduates founded or led 1,021 startups, representing 25% of all Israeli startups during that period. The Technion ranks first among Israeli universities in the number of alumni employed in top-tier companies and trains a third of all engineers and half of all Ph.D.s in science and engineering in Israel.

Prof. Yoav Arava, deputy dean of undergraduate studies, told the new graduates:
“In recent years – and especially since October 7 – we’ve seen you volunteer to help Israeli civilians in incredible ways. Many were called to reserve duty, spending countless days protecting us. We are deeply grateful. You gave far beyond your official role as students, sometimes at the cost of your academic progress. My wish is that in the future, when you lead the State of Israel, you’ll lead not only in your field but also in society, helping move the entire nation forward. Congratulations and good luck!”

One of the standout Technion alumni in the global startup scene is Nadir Izrael, co-founder of Armis, a cybersecurity unicorn. At the ceremony, he said: “Ten years ago, I sat exactly where you are now, proud to receive my degree after working so hard. But I didn’t yet understand how significant my time at the Technion would be.

My friend Yevgeny Dibrov studied with me in the Lapidim excellence program. Nine years ago, Yevgeny and I founded Armis, which now employs nearly 900 people in Israel and around the world – including many Technion grads.” Dibrov added: “Let me share something about success and the connection to this amazing institution. Success is 10% talent and 90% ambition, persistence, and relentless willpower.

When you go to the gym, it’s not meant to be easy – if it’s easy, you’re not doing it right. The Technion is one of the best academic gyms in the world, and you are clearly a world-class elite group of ambitious intellectual athletes. What you’ve achieved required extraordinary strength and resilience. Keep growing by facing new challenges. Congratulations and good luck!”

Itay Israel, chair of the Technion Student Association (ASAT), congratulated the graduates: “Each of you climbed your own mountain – with challenging courses, sleepless nights, and moments of breakdown. And yet, even in the hardest moments, you chose to persist, to help others, and to put humanity before personal success. This degree isn’t just a piece of paper – it’s proof that you met the challenges, made the right choices, and didn’t give up.”

He emphasized the importance of moral choices and the human spirit, especially during times of national hardship. He paid tribute to three Technion students who fell during the war: the late Amit Chayut, Dennis Wexsler, and Alon Safrai, noting the empty seat left for Amit at the ceremony as a symbol of both grief and gratitude for the lives made possible by their sacrifice.

Snir Carmeli, representing the graduating class, is a master’s student in the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He completed his bachelor’s in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, where he is currently a teaching assistant in control and robotics. He shared: “Today we close a meaningful chapter in our lives and move forward to the next set of global challenges. As Technion graduates, we are privileged – and obligated – to develop solutions for global warming, improve healthcare, advance Israel’s defense industry, and push the boundaries of research. This is our responsibility.”

Photo credit: Rami Shlush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office