Brother James Gaffney,

It is an honor for me to speak on behalf of my colleagues, the graduates of Bethlehem University who pursued higher degrees at Lewis, and those who are still there at this moment.

I acknowledge the quality of education that Lewis University provides. This is not only because I was there at a point in time, but also through my teachers at Bethlehem University who also had earned their degrees at Lewis. Fifteen years ago, I graduated from the School of Business at Bethlehem University. After spending two years at Lewis University, I returned to serve in my hometown, Bethlehem. This gives me the opportunity to look into this experience from three different perspectives:

1- As a graduate of Bethlehem University, I had the honor and the privilege to study at Lewis in the early 1990s. Lewis University’s education has opened the doors of opportunity for me and for many other BU graduates. For this we are all thankful.

2- As a graduate of Lewis University, I can assure you all, that the education I obtained while there is a cornerstone in my professional life. It is for the time I spent at Lewis University that I owe advancement in my career. My colleagues and I have achieved goals and missions that were deemed impossible without the experience we gained at Lewis University. My colleagues and I are all proud of being part of the Lewis University community.

3- As an educator at Bethlehem University, and as a person who considers the interest of both BU and the graduates of the Faculty of Business Administration at BU as top priorities, I thank you for continuing to support us through your generous scholarships; the scholarships you offer to our graduates in an attempt to help us build the professional capacity of our faculty and students. The gifts you offered, and are still offering, are much appreciated by those directly benefiting from them, and by those students whom we currently teach at BU. Therefore, please allow me to thank you on behalf of all of those present here, administrators, faculty and students for the many gifts you offer.

Believe me, we are making a change in the lives of our students. The same way you helped make a change in ours.

We are happy that you are among us today.

Thank you and please enjoy your stay ….

Fadi Kattan
Dean
Faculty of Business Administration
Bethlehem University
11 March 2005