Even watching the members of the various faculties make their entry on the lawn was enough to give everyone goosebumps: led by their deans, the graduates strode onto the lawn in their faculty groups to rapturous applause from the audience. As is traditional, the two theological faculties kicked off proceedings once again this year. “It’s always an unbelievable feeling to stand here on the stage and gaze into so many happy faces—more and more of them each year!” said Rector Professor Michael Hoch, as he welcomed the 2,000 or so graduates from 82 countries and their almost 5,400 friends and family members who had come along to celebrate with them.
It was an emotional moment for all of them, this ceremony that marked the end of an important chapter in their lives and whose significance was also highlighted by graduate Sebastian Walter. In his ceremonial speech, which he gave on behalf of his fellow graduates, he offered up three areas that “his” faculty—the Faculty of Catholic Theology—focuses on in its research as helpful strategies for his peers to better meet the challenges of our time: dealing with ambiguities, identities and different designs of meaning.
Another highlight was the conferral of the teaching prizes on especially committed teachers from all the faculties (separate report to follow), with Vice Rector Professor Klaus Sandmann thanking the recipients for all they had done for teaching and learning. The applause from the graduates left nobody in any doubt as to how highly the winners were appreciated by all concerned.
The graduates then received their symbolic degree certificates at various stations positioned around the Hofgarten lawn. They were easily recognizable from the colored sashes and tassels of their faculties, such as royal blue for the Faculty of Arts, scarlet for the Faculty of Medicine or emerald for the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional, and Engineering Sciences. As always, the traditional “tossing of hats,” which saw around 2,000 caps launched into the air at the same time, was an impressive sight. However, the most sought-after figure was probably Rector Michael Hoch himself. In soaring temperatures, he spent the whole day strolling around the Hofgarten lawn clad in his deep-red gown as he chatted with graduates, their friends and family about their studies and their plans for the future—and was always on hand for a truly unique souvenir photo.
“Forever Uni Bonn” anniversary party pulls in the crowds
In the afternoon, the academic ceremony gave way to a vibrant summer celebration put on for the whole city. The “Forever Uni Bonn” anniversary party commemorated the event’s early days and acknowledged its founders, among them the then Vice Rector, Professor Max P. Baur, who launched the Universitätsfest in 2005, and the Managing Director of the Rectorate, Dr. Martina Krechel, who has been in charge of organizing the event ever since together with her team.
Rector Hoch took the anniversary as an opportunity to look back on how the University had evolved over the past 20 years: “Twenty years of the Unifest means more than the tens of thousands of caps that have been tossed into the air over the past two decades and the thousands of hours of work that have gone into each and every one of these celebrations. These 20 years have also seen the University of Bonn climb rapidly to the pinnacle of the higher-education landscape in Germany and Europe. Today, on the 20th anniversary of the Unifest, we have more Clusters of Excellence than anywhere else in Germany and are aiming once again to retain our status as a University of Excellence—our chances are good, and we are determined to become one of the top 50 universities in the whole world. Thus our graduates benefit not only from the excellent education we provide but also from the excellent reputation we enjoy.”
Representing the well over 30,000 alumni who have participated in Universitätsfeste to date, Sarin Nabiyar—who attended its very first incarnation and is now a teacher in nearby Hennef—was welcomed to the anniversary ceremony by Rector Hoch. The guests of honor also included Professor Matthias Winiger and Dr. Reinhardt Lutz, who helped to found the festival in 2005 in their capacity as Rector and Provost of the University respectively. Michael Kranz from the Universitätsgesellschaft Bonn, Jürgen Pütz from Volksbank Köln Bonn and Friedhelm Müller from Sparkasse KölnBonn were also recognized—as representatives of the festival’s longstanding sponsors—for having made it possible in the first place.
Mayor of Bonn Katja Dörner conveyed the congratulations from her city, in whose summer events calendar the Universitätsfest counts as one of the highlights, and encouraged the new graduates to maintain their links to the region even as they entered the world of work.
Stalls had been set up around the Hofgarten, offering information, hands-on activities and opportunities to meet people: from the Alumni Network, University Sports, bonnFM and Healthy Campus through to photo walls and greetings cards to take home.
The anniversary party also left nothing to be desired on the music front, featuring performers such as the rock band Cat Ballou, who sing in the local Kölsch dialect. Another highlight was the Singfonie sing-along concert with the University of Bonn Orchestra, a kind of orchestral karaoke that invited everyone to join in. The party was brought to a fittingly rousing end in the evening with music, dancing and a set from DJ Danero.
Visit the Unifest website for more information.
