Awards Ceremony
George Washington University School of Business
Howard Rubin, B.B.A.,'81, GWSB Board of Advisors Member
May 14, 2009
Congratulations to all of the graduates that are receiving awards today. You should be very proud of your accomplishments and I am here to say that your hard work over the last four years has really paid off. You have made your University and the School of Business proud of your accomplishments. I also want to congratulate your parents as today I am not only a proud alumnus of the GWSB but also a parent whose child is graduating in the Class of 2009. Graduates make sure you thank your parents for 17 years of sacrifice, unconditional love and encouragement that has allowed you to reach this milestone.
Graduates for the rest of your lives your future will be associated with the George Washington University. When you meet someone in your professional or personal lives they will ask you, “Where did you get your degree?” You and GW are linked forever. And I can tell you that despite the stock market and the economy, the value of your degree is trading at an all-time high. The stock of GWU has never been higher. As a member of the Class of 1981, I will tell you that for about the first 15 years after I graduated when I told people I went to GW, they thought it was Georgetown. Lucky for you that is not the case anymore. GW is now the other well respected university located in our nation’s capital. I take tremendous pride and honor that I have been allowed to help in some small way the GW School of Business shine during the last decade.
Each of you will take away your own unique experiences of GWU and Washington, DC. For me it was living in a 6 in Thurston freshman year, sledding on cafeteria trays at 2 am on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after a pretty big snowstorm, taking classes with legendary professors like Bill Handorf, driving up to the West Wing of the White House for a meeting my boss had my junior year, Reagan’s first inauguration and the day he was shot, getting a great job through the career center that got me started in the investment business and my great friends, some of whom are still active with the university today like Steve Ross of Ross Classroom and Russ Ramsey, the GWU Chair of the Board of Trustees. I loved living in DC and I still love coming back to Washington today. Remember your experiences and stay in touch with all of the people who have positively impacted you during your time here.
I have always told my children that with “privilege comes responsibility” and that is also true for the alumni of GW. We have to pay it forward and help those who follow in our footsteps so they can also achieve their goals in the future. So how can you help?
There are many ways that you as graduates can assist the School of Business in forwarding its mission. First and foremost, stay connected with the school. Keep your contact information current and offer to provide assistance to those who reach out to you.
Volunteer to mentor either undergraduate or graduate students. Participate in the new Links for Life program, you will benefit just as much if not more than your mentees. Get involved in your local alumni association. It is a great way to stay in touch with your friends. Become a Class Executive as one of the volunteer leaders of your class year. It is a great way to stay connected with the School and your classmates.
Help GWSB connect with your employer and act as a liaison in creating internships, summer and full time job opportunities with your company. Of course you can always get even more involved over time by playing a leadership role in one of the school’s centers or industry forums or join the Board of Advisors. As you can see everyone can play a role without a major time commitment.
There is another way to assist and that is by providing a monetary contribution each year as a way of giving something back to the school. Each of you have benefited from the philanthropy of many business school alumni who helped build our great new business school building, Duques Hall. My first gift the year I graduated was $10. Participation is more important than you could imagine. Sacrifice a dinner out or whatever you believe that you can afford, but please participate. If you do, you will be rewarded in ways that you can’t imagine by having the opportunity to play a role in continuing to keep the stock of the GW School of Business trading at all-time highs.
Congratulations and Good luck in the Future.