Golden memories: graduates repeat their graduation ceremony fifty years later

A total of 125 graduates of the former Faculty of Mechanical Engineering received commemorative diplomas on Saturday, May 24, during the Golden Graduation Ceremony. They were invited to the ceremonial event marking fifty years since their graduation, along with their loved ones. The event was held on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT in Brno.

Jiří Krčma brought his old student record book to the Golden Graduation Ceremony. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

One of the graduates who returned to his alma mater was Jiří Krčma. At the Golden Graduation, he met with his former classmates and even brought his university index, which he still keeps. “I have it stored along with my military booklet, which was said at the time not to be thrown away, so I kept it just in case,” he says with a smile.

Materials, elasticity, and strength... the knowledge required of engineers remains unchanged to this day. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

They managed to meet with classmates already last year. “Someone from our specialization organized a reunion. At that time, I also found this list from the old days. Everyone admired it,” he shows a sheet of paper with a list of classmates and their contacts – all from 1979, five years after they completed their university studies in Instrumentation, Control, and Automation Technology. He later worked at the First Brno Engineering Plant and the Research Institute of Medical Technology, and spent the rest of his career freelancing. He also taught – for a decade he worked as an external lecturer at the faculty. “When Professor Malenovský mentioned the ‘likusáky’ at Kraví hora in his speech, I immediately remembered. I used to teach there and quite liked it,” recalls Krčma.

Golden graduation ceremony 2025. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

You can find the full photo gallery on our Facebook.

It is true that many participants of the Golden Graduation were at the faculty for the very first time. During their studies in the 1960s and 1970s, the Pod Palackého vrch campus did not yet exist; the faculty moved there much later, at the end of the 1980s. They spent their studies in the Úvoz area or at Kraví hora. That’s why many guests took the opportunity to visit the current laboratories during the tours that followed the ceremonial event.

Graduates from the years 1971–1975 were invited to the Golden Graduation; a total of 2,263 people graduated during those years. 150 registered for the ceremony, and 125 graduates attended in person, often accompanied by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The most distant graduate contacted us from Bedford, USA, requesting that the commemorative diploma be sent by mail.

It was a great experience for the graduates to meet their classmates. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

In addition to the ceremonial event, which was also attended by faculty representatives led by FME Dean Jiří Hlinka and BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček, the reunion with classmates – some of whom they hadn’t seen in fifty years – was a major highlight for the graduates. In his speech, the FME Dean praised their lifelong work and happily noted that even after half a century, they proudly identify with their alma mater.

Even Jiří Krčma says he wouldn’t change a thing. “You won’t believe this, but do you know what I wanted to be as a child when I played with building blocks? I said I wanted to be a screw and a nut. Then I went to technical school and then to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. I wouldn’t change a thing, it was good…,” he concludes with a smile. And then he heads back to his classmates.

Alumni Feedback

Many kind words were heard from guests at the event; here are a few that arrived by email.

"You can tell your superiors that everything I have achieved in life I owe, among other things, primarily to my ALMA MATER, and as far as I know, even today’s students are trying to push the wheel of technology forward as fast as possible. May your work continue to succeed."

Ing. Pavel Farmačka

"Thank you to the faculty leadership for this lovely event and for honoring its alumni in this way. I have always been proud to be a graduate of BUT in Brno. I wish you much success in your very important work."

Ing. Ondrej Rövid

"My husband and I celebrated our golden wedding anniversary; we met at the inauguration at BUT Brno in 1968, and from that moment our life together began. After graduation and our wedding, we had two sons, both of whom graduated from BUT Brno and worked with us in our family business in Slavkov u Brna during their studies. All of this was caused by our chance meeting in October 1968 in the 7th row of the auditorium at 'Leninka' before Professor Bezdíček’s speech: the beginning of a happy family and a prosperous company."

Ing. Josef Gonda and Ing. Marie Gondová

Source: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering BUT