The prize for intercultural commitment 2021 of the city of Ilmenau and the International Office of TU Ilmenau, endowed with 500 euros, was awarded this year to the indian student Soundarya Gopala Reddy. The 26-year-old fulfilled the requirements for the prize of helping people from different cultural backgrounds and bringing them together in the best possible way. As an active member of the Indian Cultural Organization, a non-profit association by and for indians living in Ilmenau,she has helped new students settle in at the university through the International Office's we4you buddy programme. At the beginning of the winter semester 2021/22, the master's student of the Micro and Nanotechnologies programme accompanied the new international students of the Groupe of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology on their first steps in their new environment during the first week. In the student council, the representation of interests of the students of the TU Ilmenau, Soundarya Reddy stands up for the interests of her fellow students as head of the department for international affairs and as deputy head of the department for culture. And finally, at the student radio station hsf, she accompanies newcomers from writing the schedule to recording a radio show.
Talking about her involvement in Ilmenau for others, Soundarya Reddy says, "I have realised that one should not only focus on studies but also on extra-curricular activities.Wisdom is necessary to develop compassion and empathy, and I strongly believe that one can acquire this wisdom by joining a student organization. Just the thought of meeting new people from multicultural backgrounds excites me."
DAAD prize for outstanding achievements by international students 2021
The DAAD 2021 German Academic Exchange Service Award, worth 1000 euros, was also awarded to an indian student, Moses Christopher Bollavarapu. With a current grade point average of 1.05, the 26-year-old student of the master's programme Research in Computer and Systems Engineering excels in his studies. But Moses Bollavarapu sees his purpose in life not only in academic achievements, but also in contributing to the well-being of all people. Even during his undergraduate studies in india, he was very active in volunteering and taking responsibility for himself and the society: He vaccinated children, helped blind people and participated in planting campaigns.At the TU Ilmenau, he is involved in the student council and the student committee of his degree programme, where he supports other international students.
Moses Bollavarapu already fulfils the requirement for receiving the DAAD award of being involved in socio-political, social or cultural activities for his fellow human beings through his humanistic attitude: "As a citizen of this world, I believe that I have a great responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the people around me."
Contact
Sophia Siegfried
Head of International Office
+493677 69-2510
sophia.siegfried@tu-ilmenau.de
