Heartiest Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2006!
The American School of Bangkok's High School Commencement Exercise was held on Wednesday, May 24th 2006. Thirty students graduated from the school.
The American School of Bangkok expresses warmest gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Ralph L. Boyce, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Thailand for addressing the Graduating Class of 2006. The message that His Excellency gave to the graduating seniors was very inspirational and will remain in their fond memories forever.
Click here for the Commencement Address given by His Excellency Mr. Ralph L. Boyce, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Thailand
Click here for pictures of the event
The American School of Bangkok also expresses heartfelt thanks to all parents, teachers, students, and friends who attended the Commencement Exercise and for creating a truly enjoyable and memorable experience for all the members of the school’s community.
Heartiest congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2006 and the best of luck in all of their future endeavors!
Remarks
by
Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce
Graduation Ceremony
American School of Bangkok
May 24, 2006
Khun Lakhana Tavedikul
Administrators and Faculty of the American School of Bangkok,
Distinguished Guests,
Graduating Students,
Proud Parents,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a real pleasure for me to be here with all of you on this special occasion as you receive your high school diplomas for successfully completing your studies here at the American School of Bangkok.
I, and all my staff at the Embassy, want you to know that we value greatly your hard work; even more so because you have chosen to do it at a school in Thailand that uses an American curriculum, works to promote international understanding, and even has the American eagle as its mascot.
I'd like to begin my remarks today by speaking a bit about friendship, because as the American ambassador in Thailand, one of my primary responsibilities is to enhance the friendship that already exists between the United States and Thailand. Fortunately, it's an easy story to tell.
Our two countries have a long history together that goes back to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1833. In fact, the Treaty of 1833 was America’s first treaty with any Asian country. There were even exchanges between King Rama IV and two American Presidents offering Thai elephants to the United States to assist with America's economic development. And during the era of British and French colonial advancement in Southeast Asia, King Rama V invited American advisers to help balance the influence of others from Europe. Most Americans who came to these shores before 1940 came as missionaries, merchants or adventurers. Their numbers were not large but their influence was significant. Nearly all of them contributed to a better understanding between our two countries and societies, so remote from each other in so many ways.
World War II changed the nature of the relationship in a very significant way. The Japanese military occupied Thailand and used the territory to attack U.S. and allied forces. In turn, the U.S. supported a small number of brave freedom fighters who were dedicated to defeating the occupiers and their supporters. Some of these Free Thai warriors, including Privy Counselor and former Foreign Minister Sitthi Sawetsila, strengthened greatly our relationship and are living reminders of our wartime alliance with the people of Thailand. Because of this special relationship, in the early post-War world, the U.S. supported the resumption of Thailand's full sovereignty over its pre-War territories and its admission to the United Nations -- even though some of our other allies opposed both.
The years since then have seen the maturing of this relationship into a full partnership in all dimensions. We start with a fundamental strategic relationship, which has three essential pillars: military, intelligence and law enforcement. We have been treaty allies since 1954, and our troops have seen battle together in Korea and Vietnam. We have also worked together to bring peace to Cambodia, to keep the peace in East Timor, and to try to bring peace and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Iraq. Our troops work effectively together because they train together frequently.
We conduct over 40 military training exercises each year, including Cobra Gold, the largest combined force exercise in the Asia-Pacific region. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Cobra Gold; exercises are taking place as I speak and will continue until this Friday. These exercises are designed to promote regional peace and security, and this year the training consists of a computer-simulated staff exercise, field training exercises, and humanitarian and civic assistance projects.
In addition to our joint exercises, the United States has been instrumental over the years in enhancing the training of Thai military officers. Over 21,000 officers have received training in the United States over the past 50 years -- the largest number from any country in the world.
On the law enforcement side, we have worked together for many years to reduce and eliminate the scourge of narcotic drug production and trafficking -- with major success. But the nature of the problem has changed from opium and heroin to methamphetamines, and the danger to society -- especially to young people like those sitting in this audience today --remains. We jointly run the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, providing training and connections between professional law enforcement people throughout this region to combat transnational crime and to strengthen the rule of law.
Beyond these strategic pillars, we enjoy economic ties that are long-standing and strong. The U.S. is Thailand's leading trade partner and its largest export market by far. In 2005 Thailand exported goods worth over $19.9 billion to the U.S., while importing about $7.2 billion worth of goods. U.S. private investment in Thailand now totals over $21 billion and is growing. And U.S. firms are outstanding corporate citizens, serving the interests of their employees, the communities where they are located, and the environment we enjoy.
Less obvious but equally important are our partnerships in the field of public health and refugee assistance. Working together we have made major progress in research and treatment of malaria, dengue fever and HIV/AIDS. And we are currently working very actively with our Thai counterparts to prevent an avian influenza pandemic.
The common element in all of these endeavors -- the strategic, the economic and the social or humanitarian -- is relationships between people. The successors to those missionaries, merchants and adventurers I mentioned earlier are today's professors and doctors, bankers and investors, officials and tourists. A generation of Thai and other countries' leaders has enjoyed the benefits of higher education in the United States that has prepared them for the difficult tasks of managing increasingly complex issues and institutions.
You graduates have completed a first-rate American high school education. So what are you going to do with it? It’s my hope that all of you have considered continuing your studies in the United States. Some of you may already be getting ready to leave for the United States this fall. For those of you who will continue your university studies in Thailand or elsewhere, please don't forget about the United States for graduate school.
Throughout America’s history, openness has enriched our democracy, our culture, and our nation as a whole. America’s educational institutions attract talented future leaders -- like all you -- from around the world. International students and scholars benefit from engagement with our society and academic institutions, and Americans also benefit enormously from this interaction because international students bring cultural and intellectual diversity to our campuses and communities which in turn helps our citizens develop understanding and knowledge that enriches their lives, promotes greater understanding between U.S. citizens and people in other societies, increases international cooperation, enhances national security, and improves economic competitiveness.
International education is important to Thailand and other countries because meeting the 21st century challenges that confront us requires an unprecedented degree of understanding and cooperation among nations and among leaders in every field. The lifelong friendships that result from international education help build a foundation of understanding and lasting partnerships. These partnerships are important for a secure, prosperous future for both our countries and the world as a whole.
The number of international students in the United States has grown significantly over the years and there are now over 550,000 foreign students studying there. Of that total, over 8,500 students are from Thailand, putting it in 10th place of all countries globally that send students to the United States. The United States is home to many of the world's finest educational institutions, and our colleges and universities remain eager to accept qualified students from abroad.
When students return home from the United States after completing their studies, they will have gained valuable experiences that will help them throughout their careers and their personal lives. They will also return home as qualified interpreters of the United States to their friends, families and business colleagues.
For instance, if students go into government service when they return home, they will be in a better position to understand how the policies of their home countries will impact on their country's relationship with the United States; they will also be in a better position to understand why the U.S. does what it does, and how it will impact on them.
If the students go into business, they will have a better understanding of American business practices, legal systems, and ethics, making them savvier in their dealings with American business partners, or better buyers and sellers of their products and services.
If they go into the professions or work for NGOs or foundations, they will make American friends, or friends from other countries around the world, who will be resources for them through the years.
And why does this matter? Well, let’s face it, what happens in the U.S., or what the U.S. does, will impact on students -- and their families and their friends and their home countries. Because in an increasingly interdependent world, we simply can’t avoid each other.
We want students from other countries to take advantage of the exceptional educational opportunities in the United States. Among these are universities and colleges of all descriptions and types, from rural institutions to urban campuses, from small two- and four-year colleges, and women's colleges, to large research universities. Although U.S. colleges and universities are diverse, they do share many common attributes -- flexibility, individual attention, close collaboration between students and professors, hands-on learning and access to the best facilities in the world. International students who enroll in a U.S. educational institution will also have the opportunity to live in and learn about our open and culturally diverse society. If you choose a U.S. educational institution, you will find that the United States is not only a welcoming and safe place to visit, but also a great place to study.
I've been talking about studying in the U.S. and I know you're all thinking, 'Well, I'd like to go to the United States, but it's impossible to get a visa.' So I'd like to separate fact from fiction. Despite what you may have heard, it is not difficult for a qualified applicant to get a visa to go to the United States to study, to do business, to visit or for any other legitimate purpose. And the tens of thousands of people who get their visas at the Embassy in Bangkok every year can testify to that fact. In fact, the approval rate for student visas in Thailand is one of the highest in the world and we're very happy about that.
It's also easier than ever to apply for a visa. There's no more standing in long lines in the hot sun to get an appointment -- now you schedule your appointment online. There's no more standing in long lines in the hot sun to pick up your passports -- now they are returned to your home by express mail. Unfortunately, sometimes the process takes a little longer than in the past due to new rules about interviews, the purpose of which is to keep our people safe from those who would do us harm, but our slogan is, "safe borders, open doors," and we mean both parts.
It's a testament to our friendship that so many Thais remain eager to visit and study in the United States, and so many Americans continue to come to Thailand to experience it's wonderful culture, enjoy its spectacular natural beauty, and interact with its generous people. I believe that this friendship will only get closer in the future, and it's thanks to all of you sitting here today that we continue to be the best of friends.
Thank you very much, congratulations, and the best of luck to all of you in the future.
Glimpses of Graduation 2006
His Excellency Mr.Raph L. Boyce, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Thailand, presents the diploma to ASB graduates.
ASB Concert Choir performs at the Commencent Exercise
Graduating Seniors give farewell messages to their classmates
Congratulations!
