Class of 1969 (Photo: Therese Bartusch)
Fifty years after graduating, nine members of the class of 1969 returned to Mainz University of Applied Sciences for a reunion. The class of ’69 was the third cohort to earn a degree in business administration from the Higher School of Economics (HWF). The HWF was the predecessor of today’s Department of Economics, which was then incorporated into the Rhineland-Palatinate University of Applied Sciences in 1971.
Fifty years later, the “wild ’69ers” have gone gray and grown a bit older, but otherwise not much has changed. They meet regularly. “It’s a tradition,” confirms Walter Scharhag from Mainz.
In 1966, they began studying business administration. “We started at the Citadel and graduated in 1969 in the building in the Berliner Siedlung,” the former students recounted. The percentage of women in this program was zero. “And that was just as well. That way, we weren’t distracted and could focus on our studies,” the seniors commented with a wink. To study at the HWF, applicants were required to have completed a business apprenticeship and worked for one year. To pursue their studies, however, they had to give up their jobs. It was a risk, but one that didn’t give them any headaches. “We never felt that we wouldn’t be able to find a job later on—quite the opposite,” recalls Frieder Thiele. And they were proven right. After graduation, the business graduates went out into the world and built remarkable careers. They became managers, bankers, auditors, HR professionals, and CEOs, working at well-known companies such as Global Food, Pepsi, Condor, Thomas Cook, and many others.
Even though there were no female students in their class, they are all married. “Since most of us got married shortly after graduation, most of us will soon be celebrating our golden wedding anniversaries,” says Gerd Rochelmeyer. And here’s another nice thing: all the marriages are still going strong. There were no divorces. So, a very good class indeed!
