12/06/2013
A special moment was when the Cor Aben Award for Outstanding Contribution to NHTV Life was handed out for the first time. The presenter of this special honorary category was Dave Aben, son of Cor Aben. The moment he started to speak the Graanbeurs went silent and he gave the following speech:
"I am proud and honored that the award for Outstanding Contribution to NHTV Life is named after my father Cor Aben.
After a career of 35 years working for NHTV he deserved his pension in 2010. He only enjoyed this for 2 months when they found out he had cancer. Two years of fighting against this terrible disease, my father got the news that there was no medication to help him anymore. This was the moment that he has given up and three months later he died on the 30 of March 2013.
I want to thank all the people who placed a message on the condolences register at the NHTV site. It was really nice to read how appreciated my father was by his colleagues, the students and especially the bond he had with the A team.
My father was involved in just about all events organized at NHTV. Many students and staff have worked with him in the field of school events, launches, graduations, study, open days, and much more. Some have been along with him to special destinations and all of them have benefited from his counsel.
The winner(s) of the award has the same competences as my father: helpful, creating new events/associations, example for students, social etc
My father was in close contact with this winner during parties, pub crawls and many other activities.
Searching on the internet I found they even have their own beer.
The winner is Geno(o)tschap D’n Straffe Hendrik"