RSM�s MBA 09 AND EMBA 08 GRADUATION AND DONATION

On Friday, 13 March 2009, the International Full-Time MBA (2009) and Executive MBA (2008) classes of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, celebrated their official graduation in a gala ceremony held at the World Trade Center in the heart of Rotterdam.

After the presentation of diplomas, and the acknowledgement of those on the Dean�s Honours List, the World Trade Center Leadership Awards were presented by Jolande Huijers, Director of the WTC, to recipients Mark Biermans (EMBA '08) and Stefan Booy (MBA '09).

In the spirit of giving, the MBA/EMBA Class Gift was presented to the Peduli Anak Foundation. Introduced by a short video, the Peduli Anak Foundation was co-founded by RSM alumnus Bjorn Dudok van Heel (MBA '07); its purpose is to enable the street children of Lombok, Indonesia to access the basics of a healthy life, including food, shelter, and medical attention and, more importantly, education.

Further presentations included an address by the head of the RSM alumni association Philip Leijten (EMBA �99), who encouraged the graduates to �be generous to the School� in terms of both time and money; and the occasionally-hilarious farewell speeches of both the MBA and EMBA classes.

The assembled group, including the graduates, their friends and families, and RSM staff and faculty, then made a very public parade down the Coolsingel to the Rotterdam Stadhuis (City Hall) for a celebratory cocktail hosted by Mayor Aboutaleb. The early-spring day offered unseasonably warm and sunny weather, fitting indeed for the optimism of this festive graduation.

~ Bjorn Dudok van Heel, Co-founder of Peduli Anak ~