The Graduation Ceremony of the MLB Class of 2009 took place on the campus of Bucerius Law School on September 1, 2009. The Ceremony was attended by over 400 people: the graduates, their families and friends from around the world, faculty and staff, internship employers, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the many foundations and institutions that support the MLB Program.
The President of Bucerius Law School, Professor Dr. Dres. Karsten Schmidt, the Dean of WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, Professor Dr. Michael Frenkel, as well as the CEO of Bucerius Law School, Dr. Hariolf Wenzler and both of the MLB Program Co-Directors, Professor Clifford Larsen and Professor Dr. Markus Rudolf, welcomed the audience and congratulated the students on their academic achievements and extracurricular activities throughout the year.
In his commencement address, Michael Behrendt, Chairman of the Executive Board, Hapag Lloyd AG, and himself a lawyer, emphasized the importance of linking law and business studies for those who seek leadership positions both in the legal and business world.
Despite the hard work necessary to complete the MLB Program, the addresses by MLB Student Representative Jan Gackenholz (Germany) and from DAAD Prize (for excellent academic achievement and social service) Winners Lauren Licuanan (Australia) and Mark Robertson (New Zealand) emphasized the pleasure the students had in meeting and socializing with their classmates from around the world. The two musical interludes performed by Mario Penzo (Brazil), Lauren Licuanan and Cedric Duvinage (Germany) received enthusiastic applause from the spectators.
A high point of the evening was the address by Mrs. Petra Herz, Chairwoman (Check) of the Joachim Herz Stiftung (Foundation). The day before the Graduation Ceremony, the Joachim Herz Stiftung announced that it would be providing a major grant to the Master of Law and Business Program. In honor of this generous support, the Program is now known as the Bucerius/WHU Master of Law and Business - Joachim Herz Program. In her remarks, Mrs. Petra Herz expressed her enthusiasm for the Program, especially its emphasis on taking responsibility for oneself and others - an emphasis embodied by her late husband, after whom the Joachim Herz Foundation is named.
The evening concluded with the enrolment of the Class of 2010: 45 new MLB students from 24 countries, followed by a reception in the foyer of the Auditorium maximum.
If you would like to see a brief video of the Graduation Ceremony, please click here. If you would like to see pictures, please send a short e-mail to Maite Bäurle.