"More than just a bachelor's degree": graduating in the fall creates a feeling of being at home at Zeppelin University

It became quiet in the hall when the two graduates Christina Zeile and Moritz Colsman took to the stage: she at the microphone, he at the piano. "Ich liebe das Leben" by Vicky Leandros filled the room and became a song of farewell that condensed the past four years into three minutes.

The scene was touching: it made it tangible that modules and ECTS had become lived time - friendships, all-night conversations and afternoons in the university café Beton & Bohne.

Between a panoramic view of the lake and white-clothed tables, presenter Anna Lammerskitten opened the evening with the sentence: "You can get more out of it here than just the Bachelor's degree." Meaning: Those who come to ZU don't just take a certificate with them, but experiences for life.

The 5th semester student guided the audience through the evening together with Antonia von Achten.

President Anja Achtziger set the scene for the evening: it looks "almost like a dining room" - but this place is actually the university's living room. A living room stands for closeness, warmth and a sense of belonging - and it was precisely these feelings that arose at Graduation 2025 on campus.

The hall listened spellbound to the speech by Professor Jan Söffner, who is popular for his affectionate yet intellectual sentences. This year, he spoke about letting go, which is "sad in a beautiful way" - and about what he was able to learn from his Bachelor protégés: positive defiance, sober self-reflection, a sense of justice without bitterness, genuine listening, the will to create, empathy and self-confidence.

His conclusion: "You can carry on like this!" An orientation for the next step forward.

This year's alumni speech also showed warm-hearted optimism: Andreas Evers, who represented the honor of this office this year, traveled from Milan to the lake and took away the graduates' nervousness about the next step: "The alumni network remains a support and springboard for you at all times." A warm promise that the affiliation will not end after graduation: ZUlers remain there for each other, no matter where it takes them.

Student Arthur Abidurin D. Gaye also had warm words that many will certainly keep in mind in their first job, in their Master's program or when founding a company: "Don't give up easy. Life is an unpredictable roller coaster. It is in you. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, crawl - but by all means, keep moving."

Katharina Schöttle and Christina Zeile looked back on the four years of study on behalf of the Bachelor's graduates - from the Corona period, when fellow students had to point out safety distances in embarrassing orange vests, to the farewell with the sentence from the theory of science: "I know that I know nothing."

The Graduation Gala 2025 was an evening that brought together four years - as different as they were for everyone. But at the end, the image of the living room remains: laughing and crying eyes, hugs and glances towards the stage where the singing was just taking place. The evening showed that the ZU living room has doors to the world - but Lake Constance will always remain a piece of home.

ZU students received awards from Vindelici Advisors AG for their outstanding theses. The "Best Bachelor Thesis Award" for the best Bachelor thesis, worth 300 euros, was presented to Yoram Bauer in the field of Economics, Xenia von Elverfeldt in the field of Communication and Cultural Studies and Luca Julie Kuhlmann in the field of Politics, Public Administration and International Relations.

The "Best Master Thesis Award" for the best Master's thesis, also worth 300 euros, went to Luke Heinemann in the field of Communication and Cultural Studies. The awards were presented by Anja Achtziger on behalf of Vindelici Advisors AG.

The "Gips-Schüle Student Research Award", sponsored by the Stuttgart-based Gips-Schüle Foundation and endowed with 300 euros, was also presented. The prize was awarded to Felix Müller in the field of economics and Ezgi Gülistan Gül in the field of sociology, politics and economics. The awards were presented by Dr. Stefan Hofmann, Chairman of the Gips-Schüle Foundation, which promotes research, young talent and teaching in Baden-Württemberg.