TU Ilmenau is awarding "Deutschlandstipendien" to 45 students in the 2022/23 academic year - more than ever before. This is made possible by companies, foundations, associations and private individuals such as Torsten and Jana Schmidt, who provide half of the funding of 300 euros per month for a scholarship. As the great-grandson of Prof. Georg Schmidt, rector of the "Thüringische Technikum", the predecessor of the TU Ilmenau, Torsten Schmidt still has close ties to Ilmenau and the university.
When the "Deutschlandstipendien" were presented to this year's scholarship holders on November 17 in the Auditorium Maximum of the TU Ilmenau, Jana and Torsten Schmidt were already on the plane back to their adopted home of Texas. Beforehand, however, the two had not missed the opportunity to make a detour to Ilmenau during their visit to Germany:
A visit to the cemetery where my great-grandfather is buried and a walk to the Technikum and through Scheffelstraße, where my father lived, are part of our standard program in Ilmenau.
His great-grandfather Georg Schmidt, born as the eighth son of the city gardener of Ulm, had also been enabled by a scholarship to study mechanical and electrical engineering at the Technical University of Hanover from 1890 to 1894, before coming to Ilmenau in 1894 to the newly founded "Thüringische Technikum" and becoming rector of the institution at the age of only 32. Even today, the city campus of the TU Technical is named after him.
This is one of the reasons why the Schmidt couple still have close ties not only to the city, but also to the university. Since 2014, the couple have been sponsoring an annual "Deutschlandstipendium" of 150 euros per month for a student whose career path indicates outstanding achievements in their studies and career. The other half of the 300 euros per month comes from the federal government. This year, a total of 19 companies, foundations, associations and private individuals made it possible to award scholarships to 45 students. TU Ilmenau has been involved in the federal program since it began in 2011. A total of 475 Deutschlandstipendien have been awarded in the past eleven years.
Jana and Torsten Schmidt have even doubled their commitment this year and are now sponsoring two scholarships per year. "Our democracy only survives if we support bright minds," Torsten Schmidt is convinced. Since the death of their father last year, the Schmidt couple has also been members of the "Universitätsgesellschaft Ilmenau - Freunde, Förderer, Alumni e.V.". It sees itself as a link for all those who have an interest in the prosperity of the TU Ilmenau, especially in promoting its scientific, cultural and student life.
Education as a matter of the heart
Even though Torsten and Jana Schmidt were unable to attend the scholarship award ceremony this time, their hearts were still in it.
Investing in the education of young people is a matter close to our hearts
says Jana Schmidt.
Education is crucial for a better tomorrow in every country in the world. The TU Ilmenau and its predecessor institution are part of our family history. So what better way than to maintain this contact in this useful way?
The university thanked the two for their support commitment with a small reception in the university's Senate Hall, where the portrait of great-grandfather Georg Schmidt still hangs today.
Especially in the current times, this form of support for students is particularly socially relevant
said Prof. Anja Geigenmüller, Vice President for Studies and Teaching, who presented Torsten and Jana Schmidt with a sponsorship certificate:
Sponsors like you make it possible for us as a technical university to support particularly bright minds on their educational path and thus at the same time ensure the innovative strength and future viability of our country, from which we all ultimately benefit.