On Saturday, June 15, 2024, Mainz University of Applied Sciences held a graduation ceremony for the eight bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the Department of Construction and Environment. More than 200 guests gathered to celebrate this important moment. The event, which took place in the auditorium at the Holzstraße campus, honored the outstanding achievements of the graduates.
In the summer semester of 2023 and the winter semester of 2023–24, a total of 103 students in the Department of Construction and Environment successfully completed their studies. Of these graduates, 55 were present on Saturday to receive awards for their outstanding academic achievements. The ceremony began with inspiring speeches by Prof. Dr. Susanne Weissman, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Andreas Garg, Dean of the School of Engineering. The event was moderated by Prof. Dr. Axel Freiboth, Head of the Department of Construction and Environment, and Prof. Thomas Giel, Director of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Technical Real Estate Management. Each graduate was called to the stage individually and personally honored by the program directors.
In addition to the individual honors, numerous awards and prizes were presented:
- Karl Gemünden Prize to Helena Mohr
- Karl Gemünden Climate Protection Prize to Johanna Meisser
- Karriè Encouragement Award to Sabrina Mangerich
- Recognition of the top students in the Construction Management specialization by OBG Hochbau GmbH & Co. KG: Marie-Luise Kühn and Tim Rohbeck
- Honors for the top graduates presented by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Engineers to: Michelle Dobner (Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering); Dennis Müller (Master’s in Civil Engineering: Renovation and Retrofit); Christopher Kruse (Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering); Torben Ledermann (Bachelor’s in Construction and Real Estate Management/Facilities Management); Marco Mullen and Philipp Hotz (Master’s in Construction and Real Estate Management/Facilities Management); Yves Twardawa (Master’s in Technical Real Estate Management)
A special highlight of the celebration was the speech by Eva Dietrich, the long-time chair of the Civil Engineering Student Council. With her emotional and humorous commencement address, she captivated the audience and took the guests on a journey through her time as a student. She began with her first days during Freshman Week and her expectations of starting out on the new campus, only to end up at the “old” Holzstraße. Eva described how she came to love this special campus and did everything she could to celebrate her master’s graduation there as well. She recounted how fellow students became friends and how wonderful it was to realize that even professors are just people who sometimes struggle with the quirky technology at Holzstraße. Her words elicited both smiles and tears in the hall.
The celebration provided an opportunity to share experiences and memories with fellow students and faculty, and underscored the strong sense of community within the Department of Construction and Environment. With the knowledge and skills they have acquired, the graduates are well prepared for the challenges of their careers. Mainz University of Applied Sciences is proud to have educated these dedicated professionals.
Photos: Christian J. Ahlers
