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President Harald Riegel (left) and Vice-President Anja Dieckmann (right) congratulate this year’s award recipients, Netanya Jason Christopher Iskandar (DAAD Prize) and Samantha Sada (“Buddy of the Year” Award). Photo: © Aalen University of Applied Sciences | Gulchin Ibrahimli

Last week, the International Center of Aalen University of Applied Sciences presented the 2025 German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Prize as well as two awards from the International Society Aalen e. V. (ISA). Students, lecturers, and additional guests came together to celebrate the commitment and achievements of the award recipients. The evening offered an impressive demonstration of how strongly lived interculturality connects and enriches the university community.

At Aalen University, the 2025 DAAD Prize of the German Academic Exchange Service and the association ISA awards “Buddy of the Year” and “Experience and Share Abroad” were recently conferred. The event was marked by personal stories, moving moments, and a powerful message: education transcends borders. To open the ceremony, Pascal Cromm, Head of the International Relations Office, welcomed the audience. He emphasized that especially in times of global conflict, education has the power to bring people and the world closer together and, through joint effort, help make it a better place. He also praised the exceptional “welcome spirit” embodied by the international community at Aalen University.

DAAD Prize 2025 for Netanya Jason Christopher Iskandar

This year’s DAAD Prize was awarded to Netanya Jason Christopher Iskandar from Indonesia, a bachelor’s graduate in Electrical Engineering. “His outstanding academic performance — he achieved the best final grade of the entire electrical engineering cohort — and his commitment to the community, both in his home country and in Germany, make Mr. Iskandar a particularly deserving candidate for the DAAD Prize,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Klaus Maier, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, who had nominated the student for the award. In his home country, Iskandar taught computer skills to children from low-income families and was involved in various environmental projects. In Aalen, he volunteered with the German Red Cross and additionally earned the ‘Honorary Ambassador of East Württemberg’ certificate, which is awarded in cooperation with the regional districts.

Samantha Sada: Openness, Courage, and a Special Friendship

The “Buddy of the Year” award presented by the association ISA was given to Samantha Sada, a student of Iraqi descent in the Physician Assistant program. Throughout her studies, Sada demonstrated remarkable openness, tolerance, and exceptional dedication in supporting international students from countries such as Armenia, India, and Turkey. A particularly emotional moment occurred when a student from Armenia stood up from the audience, presented Sada with a bouquet of roses, and emphasized that Sada had been her first friend in Germany. The audience—Samantha Sada’s family included—was visibly moved.

Nick Massholder: Intercultural Experiences with Humor and Heart

The “Experience and Share Abroad” award of the International Society Aalen e.V. was presented to Nick Massholder from the Business Psychology program. With humor and warmth, Massholder recounted his study semester in Brazil—where at times he had to communicate using little more than gestures—as well as his internship experience in Lithuania. Upon returning, he actively encouraged many of his fellow students to take the step abroad themselves.

Rosemarie Francis-Binder from the International Center guided the audience through the program with charm and poise. Musical interludes, including a rendition of “We Are the World” performed on saxophone by Mario May of the International Center, complemented the evening’s atmosphere. At the concluding buffet, guests and students took the opportunity to engage in conversation and continue their international exchange. Many agreed: this evening will be remembered as a celebration of diversity and the spirit of community at Aalen University.