Franziska Jehle: Honorable award for exemplary commitment!

Franziska Jehle: Honorable award for exemplary commitment!

On July 19, 2025, Franziska Jehle was awarded the BESTEN Prize 2025 from the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Education. This honor, which is endowed with 1,500 euros, recognizes exemplary student commitment. The award ceremony took place during the Summer Jam, the AStA's traditional summer festival. Prof. Dr. Gabriele Hofmann, who appeared as a laudator, was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Ina Henning represented. In her speech, the laudator emphasized Jehle's outstanding commitment to the university.

Franziska Jehle has been active in numerous areas since the 2019/20 winter semester. Her commitment extends to various activities: as a tutor in the music and philosophy departments, in student advisory services, and at the senior college, she has played an important role. She is also involved in organizing the KiKiFe children's cinema festival. Jehle also takes on particular responsibility in student self-administration, where she acts as chairwoman of the German student department representative and is a member of appointment committees and accreditation procedures.

Diverse commitment and social issues

A focus of Jehle's commitment is the connection between professional work and social issues. She was significantly involved in the Music.Power.Violence conference (2024) and took over the organization and coordination of the student forum. In her speech, the topics of inclusion, democracy education and gender equality that were important to her were highlighted, which are also reflected in her academic work.

For her tireless efforts she was honored by Prof. Dr. Gabriele Hofmann and Prof. Dr. Jana Krüger, Vice Rector for Studies and Teaching, was thanked. Both congratulated Franziska Jehle on the award and emphasized the importance of her commitment to the university.

Awards for student aid projects

In another context, notable student commitments were also recognized. 15 students from the Catholic University of North Rhine-Westphalia (katho) were honored for their work in disaster relief. Their commitment was based on the experiences of the devastating floods in July 2021, which hit the town of Stolberg near Aachen hard.

The students helped clean up and joined a self-organized supply camp called “Willy”. In this camp, the students offer support to people affected by the natural disaster, especially those who are socially disadvantaged. The core team has been running a social tent in the relief camp since August 2021 and offers various types of help, including:

• Zuhören der Sorgen der Betroffenen
• Kinderbetreuung
• Psychologische und soziale Beratungsangebote
• Unterstützung bei Behördengängen und Anträgen

In winter 2021, students conducted a flood survey among more than 4,000 affected households to determine needs. The founding of a non-profit association “We continue together” ensures that the social tent projects can be continued in the long term. Her remarkable achievement was honored on March 28, 2022 at the “Gala of German Science” of the German University Association.

Such actions show how students not only use their knowledge but also their commitment to serve society and thus make a significant contribution. The commitment of both Franziska Jehle and the students of the Catholic university is an outstanding example of how universities and their members can actively contribute to improving social conditions.