International Wine Business student Ivana Garvanski has been honored with this year’s DAAD Prize (German Academic Exchange Service), which is endowed with 1,000 euros. The prize was awarded by Prof. Dr. Jon Hanf, Head of the International Wine Business Program, and Sonja Thielemann, Head of the International Center, during the lecture entitled “Operatives Marketing” held on December 15, 2021. As part of the lecture, Garvanski’s fellow students Liisa Muikku and Natia Beboshvili were also honored for their outstanding voluntary commitment and received the “Geisenheim Prize for Social Commitment”, which is worth 500 euros.

“Universities are facing numerous challenges because of the Corona pandemic – also in terms of engaging students and helping international students settle in. With their outstanding social commitment, our award winners have made an important contribution to overcoming these challenges,” says Sonja Thielemann.

The DAAD Prize Committee at Hochschule Geisenheim University explains that Ivana Garvanski is an important link between the University Administration and the international community on campus. She shows outstanding social commitment and goes the extra mile to support and motivate her fellow students – not only within her degree program but also as part of the Buddy Program of the International Center. By awarding Ivana Garvanski with this year’s DAAD Prize, Hochschule Geisenheim University wants to honor exactly this extraordinary commitment.

In Germany, the DAAD Prize has been awarded for more than ten years and aims to reflect the large number of international students at German universities and the role they play for our society and the scientific community. Since 2016, Hochschule Geisenheim University has awarded the prize to international students in recognition of their commitment.

As an addition to the DAAD Prize, Hochschule Geisenheim University launched the “Geisenheim Prize for Social Commitment” last year to honor voluntary work and highlight the importance of student commitment to the university community. Just like last year, the prize was awarded to two students – International Wine Business students Liisa Muikku and Natia Beboshvili – who both excelled with their social commitment to the benefit of their fellow students.