Kleve District – Studying is expensive. You need money for your first place of your own; you have to pay for your first shopping trips out of your own pocket to fill your new fridge – and your usual hobbies, such as playing tennis, going to the cinema or a night out at the disco, all have to be paid for as well. In short: students can make good use of every euro cent. So it’s fortunate that there are committed individuals and forward-thinking companies in the region who are helping selected students with so-called scholarships.
The Friends of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Campus Cleve e.V. – now numbering 214 members – took up this issue months ago, asking questions, making requests and bringing together shared interests. Now, during a pre-Christmas press conference held on the premises of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, donors and students were invited to speak. The President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr Marie-Louise Klotz, was in attendance, as was Dr Martin Goch, who, as Vice-President for Internal Affairs, ensures that generosity and practicality form a sensible partnership. The Campus Cleve Friends’ Association was also present – represented by its managing director, Hans-Josef Kuypers, who just a few weeks ago had written to dozens of companies as part of the Kleve District Economic Development Agency’s activities – and was able to secure a number of concessions.
The leading roles, however, were played by the actual donors and their ‘protégés’. The students receive 300 euros per month – 1,800 euros annually from the generous donor, and the same amount from the state, which is why it is also referred to as the ‘Deutschlandstipendium’.
Among the particularly committed scholarship providers is Sparkasse Kleve, represented at the event by its board member Wilfried Röth. No fewer than five scholarships are funded from the ‘pool’ of the bonus savings scheme – and this despite the fact that the Kleve-based bank, together with representatives from the region, already provides a substantial sum year after year for the endowed professorship held by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters. Paeßens Zahnwelten must undoubtedly also be mentioned amongst the committed supporters; as the provider of one of the first scholarships, it helped pave the way for this series of activities. Dr. Sommer Werkstofftechnik GmbH from Issum-Sevelen has also recently taken on the funding of a scholarship.
The latest ‘tally of good deeds’ at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences now stands as follows: a joint scholarship was funded by Linsen Druckcenter GmbH in Kleve and the printing firm catdesign GmbH & Co. KG, also based in Kleve.
From Kevelaer, the firm Holz Derks – represented by its managing director, Heinz Derks – has also offered a one-year scholarship, demonstrating its willingness to provide 1,800 euros for a Germany Scholarship.
One scholarship is being funded by the Karl and Maria Kisters Foundation, also based in Kleve. A joint scholarship from tourism promoters across the entire district of Kleve will benefit the ‘Alternative Tourism’ department and the scholarship holder, Anika Böllstorf.
Even before these latest commitments were announced, the Friends’ Association was already funding five scholarships – further proof that Peter Wack, Chair of Campus Cleve, who is currently on his Christmas holiday, regards helping others as a welcome challenge.
Caption: The two scholarship holders, Isabell Eickhoff and Bastian Bayer (front right and front left in the picture), will receive financial support for one year from their sponsors as part of a Germany Scholarship. The dedicated sponsors are delighted for them.
Photo: Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences
