Jacobs alumnus is 'Romanian Student of the Year'

Former Jacobs University student Mihai Cîrlănaru has been named ‘Romanian Student of the Year in Europe’ during a festive gala in Bucharest organized by the League of Romanian Students Abroad.

January 12, 2012

The 23-year-old was honored during the 'Academic Excellence Awards' at Parliament Palace by Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi.

Speaking at the ceremony Mr Baconschi said: “This award goes to a brilliant Romanian computer scientist, who is another example of how Romania shines in the IT field. We have colonized Silicon Valley, but we also need such people in the Romanian IT industry, people who one day will return to the country.”

Mihai Cîrlănaru graduated from Jacobs University with a degree in Computer Science in 2011. He is currently studying at Cambridge University for an MSc in Advanced Computer Science, which he will finish this year.

At the same event Mihai's fellow Jacobean Alexandru Ichim, 22, also received an honorable mention as he came second in the 'Romanian Student of the Year in Europe' category. Alexandru graduated from Jacobs University last year with a BSc in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and is currently enrolled at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland studying for an MSc in Computer Science.

A total of five Jacobs students were shortlisted for the awards at European bachelors level. The jury, which included the President of the Romanian Science Academy, was greatly impressed by their intellectual potential and achievements.

More than 800 students and alumni from foreign universities alongside representatives from  the world of politics, business, academia and non-governmental organizations attended the gala in the Romanian capital.

Photo: © Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania