Eindhoven University of Technology: MomenTUm bigger than ever in ‘anniversary party week’
Whereas last year’s MomenTUm was forced to take place digitally, the event established in 2018 is now back as it was intended: a high-profile, exuberant celebration of all academic and degree ceremonies. To celebrate the 65th year of TU/e, this anniversary year’s event is being given a festive boost with an extended program that lasts from Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 October.
WALK OF FAME
First and foremost, MomenTUm literally offers a stage to all graduating bachelor students over three consecutive shows on Friday and Saturday – each for a different trio of departments and all presented by science journalist and theatre maker Diederik Jekel.
Along with a thousand fellow students they will be festively honored all at the same time in a walk of fame on the catwalk in Forum (the hall in front of the MetaForum building). The students who were not able to celebrate their graduation last year due of corona are also invited to participate.
The shows offer plenty of other entertainment for the audience of more than 3,500 invitees, with performances by student music association Quadrivium, student dance association Footloose and singer Wilbert Pigmans, known from the hit ‘De Toreador’. Of course, the caps will be thrown in the air by all the bachelor graduates together.
The graduates will gain inspiration for the next phase in their careers during the three shows in which alumni Angelique Balguid (Philips), Lex Hoefsloot (Lightyear) and Edwin van Rest (Studyportals) are interviewed.
AWARDS
Traditionally, there is no lack of awards at MomenTUm. During the first show on Saturday the researchers elected best bachelor and master teachers at TU/e will be announced and they will take home the Best Teacher Award. And during the second show on Saturday, the 50,000th TU/e student to have graduated will be honored.
On Friday, at a closed ceremony, the Marina van Damme grant will be awarded to a talented female alumnus. The amount of 9,000 euros will enable her, for example, to broaden her knowledge and boost her job opportunities and her career. This year, the scholarship will be awarded for the 39th time.
CELEBRATION
During the same ceremony the winners of the Academic Awards will also be able to celebrate. The jury will announce who wrote the best theses in the bachelor, master, PdEng and PhD categories this year. In addition, an Audience Award will be given to the person with the most public votes (voting is possible until Wednesday, October 13).
Of course, there can be no program without a student party. This year the party will take place on Thursday evening as a fantastic kick-off ahead of all the other festivities. With performances by DJ trio Kriss Kross Amsterdam and cover band Starstruck, among others, more than 3,600 students will be able to celebrate their graduation in the MetaForum’s market hall.