Rita Akago has received the Reza Mehran Prize from the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen ). The 28-year-old Cameroonian, who is studying Medical Physics in the THM 's Master's program, accepted the €800 award at a ceremony held by the Department of Hospital and Medical Technology, Environmental and Biotechnology.
“I had heard good things about Germany, especially about the education,” the student replied when asked what motivated her to come here from her home country. An acquaintance had sparked her interest in Giessen and the university of applied sciences. After a language course at the preparatory college in Marburg, Rita Akago began her studies in Biomedical Engineering at the then-named Giessen -Friedberg University of Applied Sciences in the winter semester of 2008/09. She completed her studies at the TH Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences in March 2013 with her Bachelor's degree.
According to her own assessment, her academic success was aided by her quick integration into the group of Cameroonian students in Giessen . Furthermore, her participation in study groups helped her to integrate well into the university. Her involvement in the Department as a tutor also contributed to her success. Since July 2013, she has been working as a project staff member at the Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection at THM University of Applied Sciences, "with great dedication, diligence, reliability, and enthusiasm," according to Prof. Dr. Martin Fiebich. She also contributes to the project "University in a Migration Society – Intercultural Opening of THM" as a liaison to international students. Her intercultural orientation extends to music; for several years she has sung in the Giessen choir "Voice of Africa.".
Both her academic achievements and her diverse extracurricular activities fulfill the award criteria. Prize donor Prof. Dr. Reza Mehran taught at the Friedberg Department of Information Technology – Electrical Engineering – Mechatronics. During his own studies in Aachen, he received an award after completing his undergraduate degree. More than the money, the associated recognition motivated him to successfully complete his diploma. The professor, originally from Iran, hopes to achieve a similar motivating effect with the prize he has donated for international students THM.
What does this award mean to Rita Akago? "It's always nice when someone says, 'You did a great job.' Usually, that happens among friends or family. When the recognition comes from a different circle, you feel a bit proud. I've hung the award certificate on the wall," the student reveals. Her long-term goal is to return to Cameroon one day. But first, she wants to channel the boost of motivation from the award into completing her master's degree and then work for a company in Germany. And because she likes Giessen so much, she's considering starting her career in Central Hesse.
