RWTH Recognizes Excellence with Kármán Prizes and University Medals
Rare honors go to students Marc Gschlössl and Alexander Schütt, University physician Dr. Doris Keller, and Chief Administrative Officer Jörg Dautzenberg.
The coronavirus pandemic was a significant stress test for RWTH. The pandemic and the resulting lockdown also caught the people at RWTH off guard and unprepared. “It is only due to the amazing spirit of collaboration and solidarity among the entire RWTH community and everyone’s structured action that we were able to maintain the basic operations in teaching and learning, including exams, and that allowed us to continue our research endeavors. The urgently needed administrative tasks were also fulfilled thanks to all RWTH groups. This deserves great respect and recognition,” said Professor Kai-Uwe Schröder, Chairman of the University Senate, looking back. It is for this reason, the Senate decided to award two rare honors: the University Medal and the Kármán Prize.
The Kármán Prize is intended for enrolled and former students of the University and is awarded for outstanding services to RWTH combined with excellent academic performance. “During the pandemic, students in particular had to come to terms with major restrictions in their everyday lives. They could no longer attend seminars and lectures in person. Marc Gschlössl and Alexander Schütt showed extraordinary commitment to students’ interests and have now been honored with the Kármán Prize,” emphasized Schröder.
Marc Gschlössl
Marc Gschlössl was AStA chairperson at the beginning of the COVID crisis. During the enormous stress test caused by the pandemic, he was always the crucial link between University management and the student body. “He shaped the open and trusting collaboration between the crisis management team, university management, university administration, group representatives, and the entire student body,” emphasized Schröder.
Alexander Schütt
At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Alexander Schütt was AStA’s deputy chairperson and speaker for AStA’s Education and University Communication Department. From August 2020, he was Head of the Crisis Management and University Governance Structure Unit at AStA. Alexander Schütt is exceptionally committed to public service. For example, he was a co-initiator of the #AStAhilft initiative – “students dedicated to unbureaucratic emergency aid,” which was awarded the prize for excellent support for international students in Germany by the Federal Foreign Office.
Jörg Dautzenberg and Dr. Doris Keller
Jörg Dautzenberg and Dr. Doris Keller – two people who showed extraordinary commitment to addressing the coronavirus crisis – have been awarded the University Medal. The University Medal is awarded to University members and affiliates for outstanding contributions to RWTH. The last time such an award was presented was in 2014; before that, it was in 2006. Keller is head of the University Medical Center. During the pandemic, she was also responsible for job-related health care for University staff. The doctor and her team developed hygiene measures and communicated them to the University community. She was responsible for vaccination advice and set up and coordinated a vaccination program for all members of the University.
As Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Department 5.0, Jörg Dautzenberg was responsible for organizing and coordinating the crisis management team and its office. He and his team coordinated all the necessary measures to protect the University staff and took great care to consider everyone’s health. With outstanding commitment, he also created the digital infrastructure needed for teaching and learning, including exams, and thus improved the students’ lives immensely.