Associate Dean Professor Kathrin Volk and Academic Dean Professor Michel Melenhorst welcomed the graduates, their families, and guests. “Today we are celebrating not only the successful completion of your degree program, but also the many ideas, designs, and projects you have developed over the past few years,” said Professor Volk. The Faculty of Detmold School of Design stands for an education that combines creativity, social responsibility, and the ability to actively shape the future.
Farewell Address by Professor Martin Hoelscher
A special moment of the ceremony was the speech by Professor Martin Hoelscher. For him, it was also his last official appearance at TH OWL before his retirement. Through his many years of work in the Bachelor’s program in Urban Planning, the Master’s program in Urban Development NRW, and the Master’s program in Urban Planning and Sustainable Transformation, he has had a lasting impact on urban planning education and the development of the Detmold School of Design. In his farewell speech, he shared personal thoughts and wishes with the graduates for their future paths.
Following musical performances, special coursework and outstanding Theses were recognized. Awards were presented to the top students in the various degree programs:
Bachelor’s in Architecture: Lina Biermann
Bachelor’s in Interior Architecture: Joelina Dunja Breyvogel
Bachelor’s in Urban Planning: Lisa Marie Engel
Master’s in Architecture: David Böckmann and Muriel Sara Rummenie
Master’s in Interior Architecture – Spatial Arts: Lisa Brockmann, Lea Seibel, Sarah Christin Busch, Carolin Theißen, Elisa Püttmann, Lena Heidemann, Jana Niehues, and Rita Bierl
Master’s in Urban Planning and Sustainable Transformation: Hacer Akbudak, Maren Müller, and Leonie-Kristin Riemke
Master’s in Integrated Design: Anastasiia Krasnikova
Awards for Outstanding Theses
The Association of German Interior Architects of North Rhine-Westphalia (bdia NRW) honored Bachelor’s graduate Jule Böller and Master’s graduate Elisa Püttmann. Honorable mentions were awarded to Bachelor’s graduates Lale Helin Karatay, Lia Heijnk, and Sarah Makus, as well as Master’s graduates Jana Niehues and Carolin Theißen.
The award from the Association for Urban, Regional, and State Planning (SRL) went to Lasse Potthast.
The student representatives also reflected on their time together as students. Lana Niehaus and Torben Reinhold bid farewell to their fellow students with a speech. Student representative Torben Reinhold was also honored for his exceptional social commitment.
116 bachelor’s and 63 master’s degrees
The respective program directors then presented the certificates. A total of 179 degrees were awarded:
- 47 bachelor’s degrees in Architecture
- 53 Bachelor’s degrees in Interior Architecture
- 16 Bachelor’s degrees in Urban Planning
- 23 master’s degrees in Interior Architecture – Spatial Arts
- 18 master’s degrees in Architecture
- ten master’s degrees in Urban Planning and Sustainable Transformation
- twelve master’s degrees in Integrated Design
“You are leaving the Detmold School of Design with the knowledge and skills to help shape the spaces, buildings, and cities of tomorrow. We wish you courage, curiosity, and joy for everything that lies ahead,” said Professor Kathrin Volk and Professor Michel Melenhorst as they bid farewell to the graduates. The ceremony concluded with a reception for all attendees.
Julia Grabe provided musical accompaniment for the event with vocals, piano, and guitar.
That same morning, the graduation ceremony for students in the Landscape Architecture field of study took place at the Höxter campus.