Double Joy – Doctoral Anniversary Celebration at RWTH
A total of 167 golden and silver doctoral jubilarians recently celebrated their anniversary at RWTH
RWTH Rector Professor Ulrich Rüdiger had many reasons to celebrate: With 27 golden and 140 silver doctoral jubilarians in total, never before had so many former doctoral candidates accepted a rector's invitation to the celebration – some making the journey from as far away as the Philippines, Brazil, Thailand, and the USA. Professor Rüdiger had another reason to celebrate this year: he was honored as a silver jubilarian himself this time. His doctoral supervisor, Professor Gernot Güntherodt, did not miss out on the opportunity to congratulate him and personally present him with a renewed certificate.
Since 2004, scholars who received their doctoral degree 25 and 50 years prior have been invited to RWTH on their anniversary and have been honored with renewed certificates. For the first time, the upper gallery of the Aula of the RWTH Main Building was also needed to be able to seat all the jubilarians and their guests. The historic venue was particularly fitting for the anniversary event.
Emotions and Special Moments
“Tonight is certainly a fine occasion for us to look back over many years. Standing here in the Aula, I can vividly recall sitting right there on the side in my first semester,” Rüdiger said. The RWTH Rector took the opportunity to showcase the campus to the guests as it is today and to point out its potential: “Some things have stayed the same, but a lot has changed. RWTH is steeped in tradition but also embraces the modern. Both these aspects are important in shaping the future.”
Memories of studying, researching, and writing up doctoral theses, seeing fellow students and doctoral supervisors again, as well as getting to know new faces and seeing the developments at the University – the event left a strong and lasting impression on the guests:
“Evoking emotions and creating special moments, that's what we want to achieve with this event,” emphasized Professor Bernd Markert,
RWTH’s Rector's Delegate for Alumni, who emceed the evening along with the Rector and engaged in inspiring conversations with the jubilarians.
Next year, scholars who received their degree certificates in 1998 and 1973 will celebrate their silver and golden anniversaries. If you would like to be invited, please contact the Alumni Team at promotionsjubilaeum@rwth-aachen.de and register to join the Alumni Network. You can find further information about the event at www.rwth-aachen.de/promotionsjubilaeum.
– Author: Dietrich Hunold