On March 23, 2018, the AY 2017 Diploma Awarding Ceremony was held at the Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Grounds Gymnasium (Zip Arena Okayama) to celebrate the graduation of a total of 3,198 undergraduate and graduate students.

In the ceremony, President Hirofumi Makino presented diplomas and certificates of completion to 21 representatives of the undergraduate and graduate programs, following the singing of the national anthem and the university song. Commendations were also awarded to 16 students who won the Okayama University Kokusho Award, which is given to students who have excelled in both their schoolwork and in terms of character, with an award certificate being given to a representative student.

In his address, President Makino said, “Although you will face rapidly changing times, I hope that you will continue to follow the traditions and spirit of the university for years to come.” Ayano Wada of the Matching Program Course and Yoshihiro Otani of the Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences delivered valedictory addresses as representatives of the graduates.