In a ceremony held in the "Grand Amphi" of the school in Paris on May 5, 2011, Professor Horst Hippler, Rector of University of Karlsruhe in Germany, and Eric Benhamou, former CEO of 3Com and Palm, and current AFAM President and Founder received the title of Docteur Honoris Causa . Taking a page from the book of major American universities, Arts et Métiers ParisTech started what will hopefully become a formal tradition and chose to honor two individuals, one from the world of academia, and the other from the world of industry, who have made significant contributions to the school's reputation and the value of its diplomas, both domestically and overseas. The ceremony was presided by Professor Gérard Coffignal, director of doctoral studies, under the patronage of Education Minister Madame Valérie Pecresse, and featured dignified academic garments and classical music. Director Jean-Paul Hautier awarded the doctoral degrees on behalf of the school. Louis Magne, major donor, also joined via audio link and received an honorific plaque (now displayed in the Grand Amphi) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the school. 

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"Arts et Métiers ParisTech students are renowned among our faculties for their technical capabilities and their motivations ..." - Prof David Dornfeld, U.C. Berkeley Dean of Mechanical Engineering

On February 10, 2011, Arts et Métiers ParisTech signed a partnership agreement with University of California, Berkeley to expand their research cooperation through the bilateral exchange of graduate students and researchers. The fields of focus include green building technologies, sustainable manufacturing, and smart grids. Under the terms of the agreement, several graduate research positions will be set aside by U.C.Berkeley for qualified Arts et Métiers ParisTech graduate students every year. In addition, graduate students from U.C. Berkeley will have the option to follow a Masters curriculum at Arts et Métiers ParisTech and apply to industrial internship positions in France through the Arts et Métiers ParisTech industry connections and intern placement services. The collaboration agreement was signed by UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau and by Arts et Métiers ParisTech Vice Chairman in charge of International Affairs Jean-Marie Castelain. Much of the work that lead to this agreement can be credited to Professor David Dornfeld, Chair of U.C. Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering's department and to AFAM board member Xavier Wartelle, General Manager of Paris Region Internal Mission Enterprise (PRIME). Also present at the ceremony were Materials Science and Engineering Professor Ronald Gronsky, Audrey Stewart, Arts et Métiers ParisTech International Relations, Thomas Deschamps from the San Francisco Consulat de France, and Eric Benhamou, President of AFAM.


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From left to right: Xavier Wartelle, David Dornfeld, Eric Benhamou, Jean-Marie Castelain, Robert Birgeneau, Thomas Deschamps, Ronald Gronsky
 
 
The AFAM is proud and excited to announce that we have become a member of AAGEF (Association des Amis des Grandes Écoles Françaises) on behalf of Arts et Metiers ParisTech. This membership will enable our Arts et Metiers alumni base to expand their personal and professional relationships with alumni from the Grandes Ecoles members of the AAGEF, as well as to participate in social and professional events across the US. Stay in tune for events via our website and by checking on www.aagef.com. Thomas Ferre, AFAM board member, will join the AAGEF board and serve as our liaison into this organization.
On November 30, 2010, the AFAM Silicon Valley chapter held its annual holiday celebration dinner at Cabana hotel in Mountain
View.The crowd present was larger than in previous years, and for the first time combined 3 generations around the same dinner
table, with a few alumni’s children and parents. Participants included Olivier Brozowski, Yarith Phay, Jean-Christophe Depetris,
Laura Ferrandand her parents, Merwan Ben Habib, Jean Prevost, Aurore Prevost, Nicolas Delporte, Jean-Marc Mommessin,
Amaury de Closset, Luc-Emmanuel Barreau, Xavier Wartelle et Eric Benhamou. During the dinner Xavier Wartelle gave a report on
the first year of the Shasta program, which was followed by a rich discussion. Eric Benhamou reminded the group of the
mission and objectives of AFAM, and of the importance of making a financial contribution before year end, in tune with
the values of fraternity and solidarity imprintedupon the school since its creation.

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On October 18th at the French Consulate in New York City, Arts et Metiers Paristech alumni were extremely pleased to participate in an event organized by the AAGEF. AAGEF (American Associations of Grandes Ecoles de France - www.aagef.org) regroups the most prestigious French Grandes Ecoles. Despite restricted attendance, 18 schools were represented. AFAM's presence was strongly noticed with 9 alumni (7 of whom are the happy campers in the following photo). Our thanks to all the Alumni who participated, to all our French Grandes Ecoles friends who were there with us, to the Consul General who was a remarkable host, and of course to the AAGEF for inviting us and making this event a success. While the AFAM has not yet formally joined AAGEF, our application is in the final stages of review by the AAGEF board. Together, we look forward to help improve our relationships with other Grandes Ecoles represented in the US, and to boost our social and professional agendas for the benefit of our members.

Thomas Ferre, CFO, on behalf of the American Friends of Arts et Metiers ParisTech