Farewell—but not forever: Cheers to the graduates!

(Press office)

Graduates of the Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts celebrated their graduation on Friday evening at the Rosengarten Convention Center. The event also recognized outstanding achievements and volunteer work.

Festive attire, many familiar faces, and plenty of memories: For the graduates of Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the farewell ceremony at the Rosengarten Convention Center marked the culmination of their time as students. Together with family, friends, professors, and staff, they celebrated their graduation.

University President Prof. Dr. Stefan Gast congratulated the graduates from the six faculties and the Faculty of Continuing Education. “You don’t have to know what the future holds. But you can help shape it,” he told them as he sent them on their way. He encouraged them to remain curious, ask questions, and not settle for things that don’t work. He added that democracy, too, needs people who take responsibility and actively help shape their society.

Medals of Merit for Exceptional Dedication to the University

On behalf of the Student Parliament, Lea Sophie Hössel and Andreas Fröhlich bid farewell to the graduates and paid special tribute to the dedication of those who had served the student body during their studies.

A special moment of the evening was the presentation of the medals of merit. The university awards these medals to students who, beyond their studies, have shown exceptional commitment to the university and its student body over an extended period of time.

Vice President Prof. Dr. Ada Bäumner presented the medals of merit.

The following were honored in 2026:

• Katharina Bork
• Nadine Freitag
• Corinna Haenlein
• Tarek Hansen
• Tabea Hennig
• Philipp Hofmann
• Annika Kramer
• Alexander Kraus
• Marcel Lilie
• Eric Link
• Alisia Norcia
• Philipp Schuhmann
• Thomas Senker
• Nora Stracke

Their involvement took many forms: They served on student government and university committees, represented the interests of their fellow students, were active in departmental student councils, participated in university elections, and took on responsibilities in student self-governance. Others organized events, supported new students, or contributed to the further development of campus life.

DAAD Prize for Ali Mahmoud

There was already applause when Christian Erkenbrecher, director of the university’s International Office, explained that some 700 international students enrich campus life. The DAAD Prize, worth 1,000 euros, honors outstanding international students who are academically and socially engaged. In his laudatory speech, Prof. Dr. Jochen Merhof, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, praised the outstanding achievements of Ali Mahmoud, who has been studying computer science at Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts since the winter semester of 2023. His current grade point average is 1.2; he serves as a tutor, has volunteered at a senior care facility in Rödental, and helps refugees.

GfB Recognition Award for Anna-Lena Schneider

With the

GfB

Recognition

Award

, the Society for Business Administration (GfB) honors graduates of the Faculty of Economics who combine strong academic performance with a commitment that extends beyond their studies. The prize, worth 500 euros, was awarded for the twelfth time in 2026 and went to Anna-Lena Schneider from the bachelor’s program in Industrial Economics. She completed her studies with an overall grade of “very good.” Prof. Dr. Uwe Demmler highlighted that she was also actively involved as a first-semester tutor, in the student council, and as part of an international project with Bulgaria.

Top Graduates

The

top graduates of each graduating class were honored with gold, silver, and bronze achievement medals. The medals were presented by the respective deans or associate deans of the faculties.

Gold medals were awarded in 2029 to:

Applied Natural Sciences and Health

• Lucienne Valentin – Bioanalytics, B.Sc.
• Leonard Schlosser – Bioanalytics, B.Sc.
• Sina-Maria Uhlenbusch – Integrative Health Promotion, B.Sc.
• Rebekka Görtler – Integrative Health Promotion, B.Sc.
• Lisa Steiniger – Future Technologies, B.Eng.
• Hanna Schmidt – Midwifery, B.Sc.
• Yuzhi Cao – Future Technologies, B.Eng.
• Lukas Murrmann – Engineering Physics, B.Eng.
• Lukas Manuel Weigand – Engineering Physics, B.Eng.
• Veronica Casaliglla – Analytical Instruments, Measurement and Sensor Technology, M.Eng.
• Linus Müller – Health Promotion, M.Sc.
• Natanja Ehrhardt – Bioanalytics, M.Sc.
• Katharina Bauer – Bioanalysis, M.Sc.
• Daniel Pollmann – Simulation and Testing, M.Eng.
• Wisam Sawan – Simulation and Testing, M.Eng.

Design + Build

• Annika Kramer – Architecture, B.A.
• Maria-Theresa Weiner – Architecture, B.A.
• Alina Krieger – Civil Engineering, B.Eng.
• Ida Stübinger – Civil Engineering, B.Eng.
• Natalie Herrmann – Interior Design, B.A.
• Leonie Mahler – Interior Design, B.A.
• Vanessa Gundler – Integrated Product Design, B.A.
• Leonie Liebenberg – Design, M.A.
• Christos Lekkas – Resource-Efficient Planning and Construction – Civil Engineering, M.Eng.
• Sebastian Felkl – Resource-Efficient Planning and Construction – Civil Engineering, M.Eng.

Electrical engineering and computer science

• Jonas Preißner – Automation Technology and Robotics, B.Eng.
• Jonas Stelzer – Automation Engineering and Robotics, B.Eng.
• Florian Pointinger – Electrical and Information Engineering, B.Eng.
• Lukas Renner – Energy Engineering and Renewable Energy, B.Eng.
• Anna Saffer – Energy Engineering and Renewable Energy, B.Eng.
• Rinaldo Schuster – Computer Science, B.Sc.
• Felix Gentzsch – Computer Science, B.Sc.
• Christian Knausdorf – Data Science, M.Sc.
• Regina Hermann – Data Science, M.Sc.
• Markus Hübner – Electrical and Information Engineering, M.Eng.
• Alexander Stefani – Electrical and Information Engineering, M.Eng.
• Edward Kromm – Computer Science, M.Sc.

Mechanical and automotive engineering

• Raphael Böhnlein – Additive Manufacturing and Lightweight Design, M.Eng.
• Fabian Stegmann – Additive Manufacturing and Lightweight Design, M.Eng.
• Sheida Mahmoudi – Autonomous Driving, M.Eng.
• Amadeo Welz – Autonomous Driving, M.Eng.
• Sebastian Leise – Development and Management in Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, M.Eng.
• Leon Michel – Development and Management in Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, M.Eng.
• Michael Hess – Automotive Technology, B.Eng.
• Felix Blechinger – Automotive Technology, B.Eng.
• Maximilian Müller – Mechanical Engineering, B.Eng.
• Andreas Dotterweich – Mechanical Engineering, B.Eng.

Social Work

• Jessica Hoffmann – Social Work, B.A.
• Sally Luise Oberender – Social Work, B.A.
• Theresa Müller – Social Work, M.A.

Economics

• Daniel Emanuel Heim – Applied Digital Transformation, B.A.
• Tobias Rüffer – Part-Time Business Administration, B.A.
• Alisa Kus – Business Administration, B.A.
• Lundresa Azemi-Sadiku – Business Administration, B.A.
• Annika Katzenberger – Business Administration, M.A.
• Anna-Lena Schneider – Industrial Economics, B.A.
• Celine Böß – Insurance Management, B.A.
• Tim Reindl – Business Administration, M.A.
• Simone Lell – Change Management and Transformation, M.A.
• Nora Stracke – Change Management and Transformation, M.A.
• Phan Phuc Nguyen Ngo – Master of Arts in Financial Management
• Zareef Askary – Financial Management, M.A.
• Kirstin Stülb – Future Design, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity, M.A.
• Nicole Haschke-Hirschauer – Future Design, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity, M.A.

Faculty of Continuing Education

• Carolin Datscheg – Part-time Business Administration, B.A.
• Nadine Amon – Business Administration (part-time), B.A.
• Dominik Stöcklein – Business Administration (Part-time), MBA
• Jonathan Elflein – Business Administration (Part-Time), MBA

Host Uli Noll—known from RadioEINS—once again charmingly guided the audience through the evening and chatted with the faculty representatives about, among other things, their own farewell parties: Prof. Dr. Michael Wick (Applied Natural Sciences and Health), Prof. Dr. Egbert Kessler (Design + Construction), Prof. Dr. Jochen Merhof (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), Prof. Dr. Matthias Geuß (Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Engineering), Prof. Dr. Christiane Alberternst (Social Work), Prof. Dr. Uwe Demmler (Economics), and Prof. Dr. Michael Hartmann (Faculty of Continuing Education).

Not a Farewell Forever

President Gast also made it clear that graduation does not necessarily mean the end of one’s connection to the university. The newly established Presidential Staff Office “Customer Relationship Management, Alumni & Friends” is intended to strengthen ties with former students in the future and more closely involve alumni in teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and campus life; Director Andreas Renner was already available to alumni as a point of contact during the farewell party.

DJ Gramoe played songs requested by the graduates, and the samba group Aipalé brought rhythm and color to the Kongresshaus. The event was also supported by the University Association. The chairman, Prof. Dr. Roland Hertrich, also briefly highlighted the positive impact the members’ contributions have. More information is available here.

Amid the buffet, music, and conversation, there was time for personal goodbyes, shared memories, and a look ahead to what lies beyond graduation. For the graduates, a new chapter is now beginning—with very different paths ahead. Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts will always remain a place to which they can return at any time.