40th Anniversary Gala Welcomes Alumni and Friends

          

A weekend of activities recognizing Webster Geneva Campus’s 40th Anniversary culminated with a Gala Fundraiser with alumni and friends, over a celebration evening of cocktails, art, music, dinner and dancing, all for a great cause, held at le Domaine du Grand Malagny in nearby Genthod on Saturday, March 23rd.

The evening kicked off with a reception and gallery exhibit, “Women Who Inspire”, by artist Sema Jonsson, featuring her series of over 100 portraits of women leaders past and present. Beatrice Fihn, executive director of ICAN and subject of one of the portraits, was present. ICAN, The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, is a Nobel prize-winning NGO who represents a coalition of non-governmental organizations in one hundred countries. The featured exhibit recalls Webster University’s humble origins and founding in St. Louis, as a pioneering initiative that became the city’s first college dedicated to women’s education.

Current student Emil Brew-Butler served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and an address by Dr. Clementina Acedo, Director General of Webster Geneva Campus, was followed by speeches by senior leadership of Webster University, including our President Dr. Beth Stroble and Provost, Dr. Julian Schuster. Testimonials were also shared by Christian Milliet, President of the Webster Geneva Campus Alumni Association, as well as from current bachelor student Belinda Mziray, whose warm words and and heartfelt thanks spoke to the core of the fundraiser: the human impact of scholarship funds.

L’Ecole Hôtelière de Genève catered the Gala dinner, the proceeds from which will go toward the Webster Geneva Campus Scholarship Fund, and the party kicked off after dessert when Webster Geneva Campus alumna, Azania Noah, took to the stage and began her performance with a few favorite anthems from across the Webster years. Emil Brew-Butler then swapped his microphone for the turntable, and “D.J. Risky” led the remainder of the night’s entertainment, as dancing continued into the early hours on Sunday.

Webster Geneva Campus’s leadership extends its gratitude for the contributions of the 40th Anniversary committees, as well as its deepest thanks to the entire team on the 40th Anniversary Weekend committees for their contributions, and in particular to Celia Joachim, for her countless hours and personal creativity that pulled together a world-class ‘event of the decade’ for Webster Geneva Campus.

Webster Geneva Campus also extends a final thanks again to our many corporate sponsors, table leaders and individual contributors. These organizations and all individuals who contribute to the 40th Anniversary scholarship fund are helping Webster University to deliver upon its mission: to provide high-quality learning experiences that transform students for individual excellence and global citizenship. Thank you!

Other photos from the evening can be obtained by contacting Geneva.events@webster.edu.

Photos by Jay Burton.