Cheer, flowers and joy accompany every graduation celebration, and not even the rain from a cloudy sky can change it. Today, 19 June, the graduation ceremony took place at the church of St. Johns’. Traditionally, congratulatory speeches were given, Master’s Degree diplomas were awarded and prizes were given for excellently prepared final theses.
At the beginning of the celebration, the Rector of the Vilnius University, Prof. Dr Rimvydas Petrauskas, greeted the participants. Prof. Gintaras Goda, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, Česlav Okinčic, Signatory and Member of the VU Council, Mindaugas Kukaitis, Chairman of the Council of Advocates of the Lithuanian Bar Association, and Gintautas Bartkus, Associate Professor at the VU Law Faculty Partnership and Chairman of the VU Law Faculty Alumni Association, joined guests’ of the event congratulations. The celebration was marked by two meaningful wishes – to maintain unity of thought and action, to remember to defend human rights and to move forward successfully.
In order to encourage the graduates to continue to pursue their interest in law, prizes were awarded for the best final thesis of the year. The awards of the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania for the best public law essays were given to Gabija Vapsvaitė (1st place), Naglis Česnavičius (2nd place) and Laurynas Milevičius (3rd place). The awards were presented by the President of the Supreme Administrative Court Prof. Dr. Skirgailė Žalimienė.
The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania awarded the prize for the best final master’s thesis on criminal justice to Rugilė Hokušaitė. The award was presented by the Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė.
Dovilė Burgienė, Managing Partner of the law firm “WALLESS”, and Gediminas Dominas, presented the award for the best commercial law thesis. WALLESS awards were given to Daumantas Vilniškis (1st place), Laura Macevič (2nd place), Martynas Šeškas (3rd place).
Another award was given by the law firm “Constat” for the best Master’s thesis on litigation. This award was presented to Justina Zuokaitė, by managing partner Donatas Petrauskas together with attorney-at-law, partner Dr. Karol Kurapka.
The last award was guven by Agnė Begetė, Director of the Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Association, to Mykolas Pavlovič.
The awards were followed by a speech given by the Dean of the VU Law Faculty Assoc. Prof. Dr Haroldas Šinkūnas. He expressed his gratitude to the relatives of the graduates for supporting their choice to study law. The Dean also thanked the lecturers and administrative staff for their sincere work.
After listening to several musical pieces performed on the violin and pedal harmonium, the awarding of diplomas began. This year 175 diplomas were awarded, of which 2 Magna Cum Laude and 3 Cum Laude. The Magna Cum Laude diplomas went to Andrius Piepolis and Justina Zokaitė. Cum Laude diplomas were awarded to Naglis Česnavičius, Laurynas Milevičius and Rokas Norbutas.
Congratulations to the graduates of the VU Law Faculty and we wish you to remember your Alma Mater and join the Vilnius University Faculty of Law Alumni fellowship!
