At the graduation ceremony on October 7 on the Görlitz campus, four graduating classes were bid farewell.
It's done! After a long wait due to the pandemic, four graduating classes were bid farewell at the graduation ceremony in Görlitz on October 7.
Rector Alexander Kratzsch had invited students to the same marquee on the Görlitz campus that had already been used for the matriculation ceremony a week earlier. Now the tent was bursting at the seams with a total of around 1,200 guests.
In order to get everyone 'under one roof', there were two ceremonies in which the graduates from 2019 to 2021 and then the class of 2022/23 were honored by the 500 or so graduates who had arrived. Both ceremonies provided a worthy setting in which to celebrate the end of an important phase of their studies together with their families.
Charmingly moderated by Franziska Stölzel (graduate and social scientist for change and transformation processes), the duo Hübner-Schönfelder on cello and electric piano and student Lea Heymann with her enchanting singing provided the musical accompaniment to the program.
In his first graduation speech, Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch had warm words for the graduates, who had to adapt to changed study conditions during the coronavirus pandemic and find new paths together with university lecturers. He was particularly pleased that so many had accepted the invitation to Görlitz to be officially released into professional life by their university once again.
He emphasized that the University For Future process, which was launched in 2020, is taking the further development of the university into its own hands just as much as the graduates are currently taking their professional future into their own hands. A reunion and learning from each other is always worthwhile for optimal mutual progress. If only because of the tree planted for each year group in Zittau's student park.
Prof. Dr. Günther Hasinger, Director of the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA), earned some applause in his speech when he talked about his impressive CV. Among other things, it has taken him to the cover of the youth magazine BRAVO as a member of the 1970s band Saffran, as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, as Research Director at the European Space Agency (ESA) and now finally as Founding Director at the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA) in Görlitz.
Whether varifocals, ceramic hobs or components of cell phones and navigation devices, Prof. Hasinger used vivid examples to illustrate the great innovative power of the high-tech science of astrophysics. With great enthusiasm, he pointed out the potential for the region and demonstrated to the graduates that the path to the stars can take many a side path.
Then the time had come. The graduates were ceremoniously called to the stage by the Rector and the respective faculty representative and officially bid farewell. Many unforgettable group photos were taken with the graduates' hats on their heads and their farewell gifts in their hands.
The subsequent awarding of the prizes of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences Sponsors' Association for 2022 and 2023 honored the graduates who distinguished themselves during their studies and with their final thesis through outstanding academic achievements. Prizewinner of 2023 Alexandra Lucia Klein gave the graduation speech in the second round, before presenter Franziska Stölzel concluded by inviting the audience to enjoy the supporting program on the Görlitz campus grounds and the graduation party in the Görlitz Club L2 in the evening.
The university had already invited guests to a joint campus breakfast from 10:00 a.m., which was gladly accepted by the guests. At special faculty networking tables in the Görlitz canteen, the graduates were able to talk to their former professors and faculty members and find out about a Master's degree and career opportunities at the HSZG or about the networking work of the association HiLusatia! association. At the KIA stand a small farewell gift awaited the graduates of the dual study program and the Film Academy Saxony was also on site and presented its wide range of courses.
At the campus store stand one last souvenir of the university could be purchased before heading to the Exma party. The doors of the L2 Club in Görlitz opened at 18:00. With champagne, juice and a great atmosphere, the graduates and guests partied long into the night to DJ and live music from the Balkaneros.
Photos: Marcel Schröder
Text: Cornelia Rothe
