New award from Stiftung Mercator for Jacobs University students

This year, for the first time, Stiftung Mercator has provided the Mercator Award to honor two students from Mercator College, who have distinguished themselves through outstanding social commitment and excellent academic achievements. Endowed with of 5,000 Euros each the prize will be awarded annually to one 2nd year and one 3rd year undergraduate student resident at Mercator College. The first awardees are the Canadian Taylor Hartrick, who is studying International Politics and History, and the Indian Bioinformatics and Computational Science student Mitul Kamlesh Jain. The Mercator Award was bestowed on December 2, 2008.

[ Dec 03, 2008]  „It is Stiftung Mercator’s goal to invest into the advancement of especially gifted and committed students as it is at the same time an investment into the future of our society,” Dr. Bernhard Lorentz, the foundation’s CEO, said on the occasion of the first bestowal of the Mercator Award. “The prize individually recognizes outstanding intercultural and social commitment of Mercator students and thereby encourages others to follow this example.” In 2002, the Stiftung Mercator, as one of the university’s first main donors, already supported the conversion of the second on-campus college with 6.5 Mio. Euros. Mercator College, as it was named in honor of the benefactors, houses 200 students from more than 40 nations.

“In the name of the students I offer my heartfelt gratitude to the Stiftung Mercator,” Jacobs University President Joachim Treusch said at the awarding ceremony. “With the years the name “Mercator” has become much more than a name for college. By now it is more of a concept and a special multicultural community the college inhabitants identify with and proudly call themselves “Mercatorians”. I am convinced that the new award will spur them to new heights for the benefit of the whole campus community.”

Awardee Taylor David Hartrick, now in his second study year of International Politics and History, dedicates himself to creating new forms of intercultural dialogue, debate as well as integration across borders. He initiated “B – a – Link”, a student forum committed to promoting creativity and charity at the same time. Using this forum, debates and charity events were organized. Since fall 2008 Taylor is also heading the Academic Affairs Committees of the Undergraduate Student Parliament, which, together with the university’s leadership, works on improving the study conditions. In the student parliament he also represents Mercator College.

Mitul Kamlesh Jain is a third year Bioinformatics and Computational Biology major. Since the beginning of his studies he has been a student representative, of Mercator College as well as for the whole Jacobs student body. After two successful years in these functions, the 20-year old Indian has now been elected Vice President of the Student Parliament. In addition to that he is a dedicated member of the University’s theatre club. By his extraordinary commitment Mitul is continually contributing to improve and enrich the multicultural campus life.

About Stiftung Mercator The Mercator Foundation is one of the largest German Foundations. It initiates and supports projects to further better education at schools and universities. In the open-minded spirit of 16th century cartographer Gerhard Mercator the foundation supports projects that enhance and encourage tolerance, and scientific and cultural exchange, and which provides young people with opportunities to develop their full potential, regardless of their cultural and social background. more info »