Six young people with academic qualifications have received the Ludwig Schunk Award. Three young men and women received the awards for their outstanding academic achievements at the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM) and for their community service. At a ceremony at the company's headquarters in Heuchelheim, they were able to accept the certificate, which came with 1,000 euros each.
This year's prizes went to Peter Abt from Frankfurt (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering), Vanessa Dern from Wetzlar (Bachelor of Business Administration), Selina Hofmann from Wölfersheim (Master of Industrial Engineering), Martha Willmot from Linden (Master of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Systems), Bent Leudesdorff from Offenbach (Master of Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics) and Christoph Roß from Giessen (Master of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology). Some of them are already working today, others are further qualifying academically.
At the ceremony, THM President Prof. Dr. Matthias Willems combined his recognition of their personal achievements with an expression of joy at the reunion: "I find it exemplary the willingness to learn with which you have studied to achieve your goals and the commitment you have shown beyond that in your charitable activities. But I am also pleased today and here with you that we have reached a point in the pandemic where it is once again possible to experience an awards ceremony in a real gathering."
Gunthard Sommer, Chairman of the Board of the Ludwig Schunk Foundation, emphasized the high value of the honorary commitment of the award winners. "The Ludwig Schunk Award sends a signal that a willingness to perform, outstanding degrees and voluntary commitment are not only compatible, but also rewarded," he said at the award ceremony. "And it symbolically honors the many successful collaborations between THM and Schunk." The award is dedicated to company founder Ludwig Schunk, from whose company the Schunk Group has developed as an internationally active technology company with around 9,000 employees in 29 countries.
Schunk and the THM have a long-standing cooperation in teaching, research and development. Students at the university complete internships there or deal with company topics in their bachelor's or master's theses. The company has been involved in the dual StudiumPlus program for many years. The Ludwig Schunk Foundation is also one of the sponsors of the German scholarships at the THM.
The best graduates of the year from the THM's Giessen and Friedberg departments, which offer study programs in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and business administration, can apply for the Ludwig Schunk Prize. A jury consisting of representatives of the foundation and members of the university decides on the award. The criteria are final grades and the extent of the respective volunteer work.
