When Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA 2016 student speaker Luis Bellon wrapped up his commencement speech at the Greek Theater last week, he produced a pair of scissors from under his gown.
"Join me in throwing away our old boxes, the ones that are now too small...and here's shedding boxes!" And with a flourish, he snipped off his long ponytail.
It caught the crowd's attention—they roared with laughter and applause—but it was not a mere attention-getting stunt. Bellon's heartfelt speech captured what many of his classmates have expressed: three years in the Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA program was transformative.
"We came to Haas to dream," Bellon said, quoting classmate Iris Korovesi. "What has united us all from the first was that original nagging feeling; that knowledge clawing at us from inside: that there was more to life, and to us, than what we were before Haas."
Question the Status Quo: Elvina Hewitt
We lead by championing bold ideas, taking intelligent risks and accepting sensible failures. This means speaking our minds even when it challenges convention. As leaders and creative thinkers, we thrive at the world’s epicenter of innovation.
Confidence Without Attitude: William Morgenstern
We make decisions based on evidence and analysis, giving us the confidence to act without arrogance. We lead through trust and collaboration.
Students Always: Angela Cheng
We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. We know that there is always more to learn. We strive to engage with others in continuous pursuit of knowledge and growth.
Beyond Yourself: Melissa Althea Tsang
We shape our world by leading ethically and responsibly. As stewards of our enterprises, we take the longer view in our decisions and actions. This often means putting larger interests above our own.
The Berkeley Leader Award: Jack Shao-Wei Song
