After a two-year forced break from Corona, the graduation ceremony of the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences (HWG LU) could finally take place again in presence on Friday, July 15, 2022. Around 500 guests gathered in the early evening in the festive ambience of the Ludwigshafen Pfalzbau to celebrate together the successful graduation of the current graduates.
After the champagne reception, University President Professor Dr. Gunther Piller welcomed the auditorium and congratulated the graduates on their very special achievements under truly exceptional circumstances: "Over the past few semesters, you have resisted the lure of online classes - Net flix, TicToc and Instagram were always just a click away from the lecture. That demonstrates willpower and perseverance. Moreover, the fact that you are sitting here today, i.e., that you have successfully completed your studies, means that you bring performance to the table. You and your loved ones can be proud of what you have achieved!" The joint efforts and the experiences from the studies as a whole give the graduation certificate patina and make it more than just a piece of paper. They are important factors for future action; the certificate, moreover, is the ticket to a new stage of life, he said.
In closing, Tatjana Kamrad, chairwoman of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the University, charmingly promoted staying in touch with the university beyond the successful graduation: "For only €2.08 a month, you not only get an asterisk in the karma balance by supporting the university and subsequent students, but also benefit from a sustainable network yourself."
Roderic Fonteyne, the best graduate in the Health Economics in Practice program, then took a look back at studying under pandemic conditions: "Our generation is often accused of being effeminate and unable to endure anything, but that's not true: who can claim to have successfully mastered their studies under such circumstances?" asked Roderic Fonteyne to the group, adding, "We will also be the generation that will have to overcome some crises in the future." Contrary to an article he recently read, he nevertheless does not lose his appetite for the future. On the contrary: "I'm looking forward to the future and to shaping it! And: I know many who think like that!", said the graduate speaker.
This thought was also taken up by Ingrid-Helen Arnold, alumna of the university and member of the executive board of Südzucker AG, in her very personal speech. "We are separated by 26 years in terms of the calendar - I graduated in Ludwigshafen in 1996 - and this desire for the future that you just spoke of is incredibly important." The future is better than its reputation and it is elementary not to lose optimism in the face of constant bad news, Arnold advised the current graduating class. "Life is not a shining piece of one piece, but has corners and edges. Painful moments and setbacks are part of it." But often, looking back, these are the moments that define one's personality, Arnold continued. Future visions are good and important, but even more important is the question of how to take people along with you.
Following the central ceremony - charmingly moderated by Dr. Katharina Klüver-Beck from the International Office and beautifully accompanied musically by singer-songwriter Marvin Merkhofer - the graduates received their certificates, divided by department. After the ceremonial awarding of certificates, a buffet and cool drinks awaited the guests before DJ Oliver Koob from DJ Community Mannheim opened the party part of the evening.
In the last academic year, around 1000 graduates - Bachelors, Masters and MBAs - successfully graduated from HWG LU.
As another sponsor supported betten.de supported this year's graduation party.
