Kleve District – “Keep at it – carry on as you’re doing.” This was how Prof. Dr Marie-Louise Klotz encouraged the members of the Friends of the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Cleve Campus e.V. to maintain their close ties with the students even beyond the day’s events.
Sparkasse chief Wilfried Röth had just presented the association with a sound budget; managing director Hans-Josef Kuypers had outlined a vibrant, active year featuring numerous events; and campus chair Peter Wack had handed over the new Smart car to the AStA’s volunteers, the General Students’ Committee – a car in which AStA Chair Carolin Holtey drove back to the university that very evening. Far more importantly, however: to sustained applause, Peter Wack presented the outgoing president with the certificate for the Campus Cleve Social Award, a prize worth 2,000 euros in recognition of social commitment.
“We are sad,” Wack began his laudatory speech at the recent Campus Cleve general assembly, “sad because, as president, you are leaving the university and will therefore be stepping down as an ex officio member of the board of our Friends’ Association.” Without Ms Klotz, Wack continued, the university would not be in such a strong position. From the very beginning, the chairman reported, highlighting the outgoing president’s social commitment, the students themselves were at the heart of her efforts. First-year students were given bicycles and laptops; they were helped to find accommodation; university sports were a priority; and procuring musical instruments for groups and bands became a challenge. Internships had to be secured, and scholarships had to be arranged. “Ms Klotz, you became a woman of action. Hesitation, procrastination, prioritising problems rather than working on solutions – that was not your style. You have lived up to your name and, rather than doing things by halves, you’ve gone all out.” Amid loud applause, Wack presented the certificate to the outgoing president, who immediately donated the money to the university sports programme and the two cricket teams. The members are likely to remember the closing words of Chairman Peter Wack: “Ms Klotz, we will miss you.”
