Time Reflects Our Original Aspirations; Honoring a Life of Dedication — The School of Oceanography and Environmental Sciences Holds a Grand Retirement Ceremony for Faculty Members

Time flies like a song, and the fruits of our labor are in full bloom. On December 2, as the warm winter sun bathed the campus, a warm and festive atmosphere filled Conference Room 305 in Building 1 of the Central Campus at the Binhai Campus. The College of Marine and Environmental Sciences held a grand retirement ceremony there to honor Professors Zhang Bo and Sun Zuohui. School leaders and representatives of faculty and students gathered together to witness this moment of honor and pay their highest respects to the retiring professors for their quiet dedication.

The ceremony was both warm and solemn. A series of heartfelt video clips traced the teaching careers of the two retiring faculty members. From the prime of their youth to their graying hair, they remained steadfast at the lectern, enlightening minds with their profound knowledge and nurturing souls with their noble professional ethics. They dedicated the best years of their lives to the cause of education, laying a solid foundation for the development of the school and the college, as well as for the cultivation of talent.

In his remarks, Xu Tao, Secretary of the College Party Committee, highly commended the outstanding contributions of the retiring faculty members. He thanked them for their decades of tireless dedication and selfless service as participants, builders, and witnesses to the development of the college’s educational endeavors. He also expressed his hope that the retiring faculty members would continue to follow the college’s progress and play an active role in building a multidisciplinary, distinctive, and high-level research university. Subsequently, Secretary Xu Tao presented commemorative gifts to Professors Zhang Bo and Sun Zuohui. Representatives from faculty and students of various departments presented flowers to the two professors.

At the meeting, representatives from both faculty and students took turns speaking, sharing heartwarming memories of their time with the two retiring teachers. Their words were filled with gratitude, reluctance to part, admiration, and best wishes. Teachers Zhang Bo and Sun Zuohui also delivered heartfelt remarks, reflecting on their years of dedication at the school. Their words revealed a deep attachment to the classroom and a passion for the education profession. They expressed their hopes for the school’s continued prosperity and encouraged young teachers to uphold the original aspirations of education and courageously shoulder the mission of our times.

The ceremony concluded in a warm and heartfelt atmosphere. This respectful retirement ceremony not only paid a noble tribute to the veteran teachers’ educational careers, but also brought together the deep bonds between the college’s faculty and students, carrying forward the fine tradition of respecting teachers and valuing education. Though the sun may be setting, its glow still fills the sky. We believe that their dedication to education will inspire more young teachers to forge ahead and write a new chapter in the educational journey of Tianjin University of Science and Technology.