Foreign students enrich the University of Stuttgart, both culturally and academically. To honor this, the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) annually funds a prize (1.000 € per university) to be awarded to an outstanding foreign student.
This year, the International Office selected Noelia Margarita Loaiza Villagómez - again, after 2019 (Aron Asfaha), a student of Faculty 2. The award winner from Ecuador is studying environmental engineering (Umweltschutztechnik) at the faculty. In addition to her professional qualifications, she received the award for her impressive commitment to social projects within various committees at the university. As a founding member of the Department for Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Affairs, she supported the student council stuvus. Furthermore, Villagómez is also deputy student council spokesperson on the Environmental Engineering Student Council, a member of the Faculty Council, and of the Faculty 2 Student Council, and mentor for the "Intercultural mentoring program at the University of Stuttgart".
In an interview (see later), Mrs. Villagómez explains why volunteering is worth it.