Milestones and New Beginnings: Commencement and Graduation Day

Caps and gowns, emotional smiles, proud parents with teary eyes, and that one-of-a-kind feeling that only great achievements can bring. Today, H-FARM College celebrated a truly special day marked by two unforgettable events.

In the morning, the “Big Hall” conference room filled with energy for the Commencement Ceremony of 73 new graduates in Digital Management, a Bachelor’s Degree offered by Ca’ Foscari University in partnership with H-FARM College. These students closed one chapter and opened the next.
In the afternoon, it was time to celebrate 90 students who completed their Bachelor’s Degrees in International Business Studies, Digital Economics & Finance, and Management and Data Science, in collaboration with the University of Chichester.

The Commencement 

The Big Hall was filled with emotion from the early morning hours. Families and friends were given a behind-the-scenes glimpse as students got ready in their caps and gowns — an intimate moment that made the anticipation even more special.

The ceremony opened with a welcome from Antonella Sannella, Executive Director of H-FARM College, followed by a speech from Antonello Barbaro, CEO of H-FARM Education. Barbaro reflected on the 1,110 days shared with the students, recalling the challenges they overcame — from dozens of hours of Python programming to enhancing courses — and celebrating the richness brought by 13 different nationalities represented in the class.

 “Growth happens outside of your comfort zone,” he said, encouraging graduates to measure success not by titles or salaries, but by the value they create for others and their courage to stay true to themselves.
Maurizio Massaro, coordinator of the degree program, then spoke about how the world has changed dramatically in recent years, and what graduates are truly taking away from this journey — not just technical skills, but a method and a set of meta-skills that are essential for navigating change.

This year’s Inspirational Talk was given by Francesca Benati, Senior Vice President for Europe and Managing Director Italy at Amadeus. She shared her career journey — filled with lessons learned and tough moments — emphasizing the importance of proactivity, adaptability, networking, and lifelong learning. “Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; create them,” she urged. 

A special moment was dedicated to Jacopo Lazzari, awarded as best student of the program, followed by a brilliant speech by Anna Kazazaeva, a Russian student who described the past three years as a “three-level game” full of challenges and personal growth, thanking her classmates and the Italian families who welcomed her.

The ceremony concluded with the awarding of diplomas, official photos, and a celebratory toast accompanied by the student band H-Armony.

Graduation 

In the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to the graduates of the degree programs delivered in partnership with the University of Chichester. Following opening remarks by Antonella Sannella and Antonello Barbaro, Matthew Cooper, Dean of Faculty, took the stage. With a mix of humor and insight, he delivered a powerful message: in a world where knowledge has an increasingly short shelf life, the key is to maintain a growth mindset. “Stay uncomfortable!” he encouraged, inviting graduates to embrace every challenge that comes their way.

The Inspirational Talk was delivered by Gaya Spolverato, surgical oncologist at the University Hospital of Padua and co-founder of Women in Surgery Italia. With an international background spanning from Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Professor Spolverato shared life and career lessons: embracing failure as a catalyst for growth, seeking experiences beyond your comfort zone, and listening to your emotions as a compass for decision-making.

The best student awards went to Nicola Giannoni (International Business Studies), Elisa Povolo (Digital Economics & Finance), and Matteo Zuin (Management and Data Science).
Before the traditional diploma ceremony, student Tommaso Avesani took the stage to celebrate the “Class of 2025” with a heartfelt message full of pride and hope: “We made it,” he began, describing H-FARM College as “a gym of ideas, a laboratory of humanity” where he learned that “human capital is the most valuable asset.” His final message? To remain dreamers — capable of finding hope even where it seems impossible.

At the end of this emotional day, we celebrate not only the completion of an academic journey, but the beginning of new professional adventures for young talents ready to take on the challenges of the digital world.

And as we always say at H-FARM: “Once a Farmer, always a Farmer.” 
Graduation doesn’t mark the end of our connection — it evolves into a network of support that will accompany these young professionals on their path to success.

Congratulations to all our graduates on this extraordinary milestone!