German student Ulrich Kameni Ngango Veigne from Bremerhaven honored with DAAD award for voluntary work
Ulrich Kameni Ngango Veigne, a native Cameroonian, initially just meant to take a language course in Germany before joining his family in America. However, his plans took a different course. Instead of traveling to the States, he found himself right at home in Germany, drawn to the culture and language, and promptly decided to study in Germany long-term.
Despite enrolling in Wirtschaftsinformatik at the Technical University of Clausthal, Ulrich soon found the course too theoretical. This sent him on the hunt for a more practical university. Consequently, one little mistake led him to the university in Bremerhaven. While he initially planned on attending the University of Bremen, like his cousin, a misclick during his application ensued in him unwittingly selecting Bremerhaven instead. Not to worry, though – Ulrich seized the opportunity to visit the city and the university, and was pleasantly surprised by what he found, particularly the beautiful red buildings and the campus' beachfront location.
It wasn't long until Ulrich started making new connections at the University of Bremerhaven, including fellow Cameroonian students. Although he had already spent some time in Germany and grasped the language, the beginning of his studies was no walk in the park. To complicate things, teaching on campus was prohibited due to COVID-19, so Ulrich found himself grappling with solitude. Motivated by his tough initial experiences and his desire to connect with others after the pandemic, Ulrich decided to immerse himself in helping others who were also adjusting to life in Germany.
When he came across the Buddy program application in his inbox, he wasted no time in signing up. With a fervor for other cultures and languages, Ulrich saw the Buddy program as the perfect opportunity to form new relationships and expand his network. Additionally, he wanted to brush up on his English, which may have become rusty due to his time in Germany. Initially, Ulrich was paired with two Thai students, but when his presence proved valuable to the other students in the group, he quickly found himself becoming their makeshift go-to guide.
Taking on the Buddy role was only the beginning for Ulrich. He loved the work so much that he threw himself into it even more, reapplying for the Buddy position and offering his help to countless international students who sought him out. Eventually, the International Office assigned Ulrich the role of heading the Local Erasmus Initiative (LEI), placing him in charge of working alongside local students to support students coming to the university for a semester abroad.
Ulrich's passion and dedication to supporting international students didn't go unnoticed. Before long, he was honored with the DAAD Prize for his extraordinary efforts. The award came from the German Academic Exchange Service, recognizing his exceptional academic performance, commitment, and intercultural engagement during his studies at German universities. Ulrich's nomination came from Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Feldmeier, Dean of Faculty 2, who acknowledged his social competency, empathy, team spirit, and international bridging abilities.
Ulrich doesn't limit his involvement to his studies and the DAAD Prize. In addition, he supports the Center for Equal Opportunity and Diversity and worked at the International Summer School 2024. His accolades are a testament to his exceptional leadership, passion, and commitment – qualities that position him as an inspiring role model for countless students who are new to Germany.
Ulrich, motivated by his tough initial experiences and his desire to connect with others after the pandemic, found a perfect opportunity for learning and network expansion by joining the Buddy program at the University of Bremerhaven. As the program progressed, his passion for helping others led him to take on leadership roles, such as heading the Local Erasmus Initiative (LEI), demonstrating his dedication to lifelong learning and education-and-self-development, particularly in the field of online-education.
