The Big Reunion: Jacobs University Celebrated Homecoming
October 4, 2022
Many had been waiting for this for a very long time: For the first time in three years, the alumni of Jacobs University Bremen celebrated their traditional Homecoming on campus. More than 80 graduates from nine classes traveled from all over the world for the three-day reunion.
One of the highlights was the gala on Saturday evening, which was held under the motto "Celebrate the Future". To help future students build a bright future, hosts Suna Turhan (class of 2010) and Henrik Maedler (2007) appealed to the crowd to donate to the alumni scholarship program. Seven former and current scholarship recipients gave vivid accounts of the opportunities the scholarship opened up for them. Alumni and students provided the entertainment for the gala: opera singer Julia Klotz (2007), Mayssane Boudi (2022) sang accompanied by Can Yetismis (2023) on guitar. Raika Schaeffer (2017) and Akshun Abhi (2015) performed a dance duet. "Meeting so many great friends, new and old, reminded us once again how privileged we all were to study here together," said Suna Turhan, summing up the weekend.
Homecoming kicked off with the Career Symposium on Friday evening, where students, staff and alumni discussed the topic "Making Good Decisions About What's Next". The symposium was followed by a networking reception where stories were exchanged about the past and present, and the future was pondered. Alumni and faculty then gathered at the campus bar, TOS, to continue the comradery.
On Saturday morning, alumni received information from the university leadership about the future of the university. Information was provided by Professor Fabio Pammolli, President of Jacobs University, and Serg Bell, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Schaffhausen Institute of Technology (SIT), majority shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Jacobs University. All were invited to the Food Truck Fest thereafter for lunch.
For Stefan Rustler, Homecoming was both a reunion and a farewell. "It was a great weekend. I was very pleased to be able to conclude my three years as Alumni President and eight years on the Alumni Board in person on campus with so many Jacobs alumni," he said. Conny Scheitz from the class of 2007 was recently elected as his successor. "I am passionate about education because it is the greatest opportunity we can give to our next generation," emphasized Scheitz, who studied Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the international University. "Here at Jacobs University, I learned the value of diversity, discussion, and interdisciplinarity. As such, the University is uniquely positioned to support and educate the global change makers of tomorrow. I couldn't be more excited to contribute to that."
More information:
https://www.jacobs-university.de/alumni-association
https://www.jacobs-university.de/news/perfect-fit-two-new-scholars-take-their-studies-jacobs-university-help-jacobs-alumni