Faculty III bids farewell to its graduates at a festive graduation ceremony at the Apollo Theater
In his welcoming remarks, the dean of Faculty III, Prof. Dr. Marc Hassenzahl, highlighted the importance of transitions and new beginnings. He encouraged the graduates to look back with pride on their achievements, to consciously savor the moment, and at the same time to look forward with confidence to the challenges ahead. Together with Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Strina, Vice Dean for Teaching and Regional Cooperation, he guided the audience through the varied program with charm and a touch of humor.
Siegen’s Mayor Tristan Vitt also extended his congratulations to the graduates. He emphasized the close connection between the University of Siegen and the region and expressed the hope that many of these young professionals would continue to shape their professional futures in Siegen-Wittgenstein. At the same time, he encouraged them to remain open to new paths—because it is often only in retrospect that one can see where life has actually led them.
Saxophonist Esther S. Klever once again provided the musical accompaniment, and her performances impressively complemented the festive atmosphere of the afternoon.
A special highlight was the presentation of the Artur Woll Prize. With this award, the Association for the Promotion of Faculty III—Faculty of Economic Disciplines, Business Information Systems, and Business Law at the University of Siegen e.V. annually honors the best graduates of the Faculty’s degree programs. The prizes are each endowed with 600 euros and commemorate Artur Woll, the founding rector of the University of Siegen.
The certificates were presented by the association’s chairman, Gerd Dilling, who holds a degree in business administration. The recipients were:
- Luca Schmidt, B.Sc.
(Top student in the Bachelor’s program in Business Administration)
- Lynn Josephine Mielecke, B.Sc.
(Top graduate in the Bachelor’s program in Economics)
- Vi Hao Chu, B.Sc.
(Top graduate in the Bachelor’s program in Business Information Systems)
- Lorena Pilotto, LL.B.
(Top graduate in the Bachelor’s program in German and European Economic Law)
- Søren Klempel, M.Sc.
(Top graduate in the Master’s programs in Business Administration)
- John Allysius Gaetos, M.Sc.
(Top graduate in the Master’s program in Economic Policy)
- Felix Maximilian Schaffer, M.Sc.
(Top graduate in the Master’s program in Pluralist Economics)
- Gina Kaulen, M.Sc.
(Top graduate in the Business Information Systems master’s program)
-
Ruksana Safarova, LL.M.
(Top graduate in the German and European Economic Law master’s program)
Not all award recipients were able to attend the ceremony in person, but they were, of course, included in the honors.
A discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Strina with Sarah Steurer, an alumna of the University of Siegen and founder of the startup DelphiCore, as well as Karin Horchler, a startup coach at the University of Siegen’s Entrepreneurship Center, provided interesting insights into the world of entrepreneurship. Sarah Steurer recounted her journey from the initial idea to founding her company and emphasized the important role of the Entrepreneurship Center, which not only supported her but also introduced her to her future business partner. Together, they highlighted how valuable networks and the right support can be when taking the leap into self-employment. In keeping with this theme, the discussion was held under the motto: “Every successful startup begins with the courage not only to conceive an idea, but also to give it a chance.”
Faculty III extends its warmest congratulations to all graduates on successfully completing their studies and wishes them every success in their future professional and personal journeys, the courage to take on new challenges, and the continued curiosity to recognize and seize opportunities.