GUF-100 prizes 2024

The GUF-100 prizes are awarded every year to the best students at our University. This year, they were awarded on 21 May during the Ceremony of Merits. The GUF-100 prizes consist of a certificate and €2,500 in prize money. In addition, the prize winners are asked to join the GUF100 community and one of them is invited to make a short speech at the official opening of the 2024-2025 academic year in the Martinikerk.

A jury selects the 11 prize winners from the candidates nominated by the faculties. There is one winner per faculty. In addition to the members of the GUF Board, the jury also included Ruben Wagenvoort, the student assessor of the Board of the University. This year, the GUF-100 award was skilfully organized by Roos Reuvenkamp and Professor Hanny Elzinga.

A UG-wide appeal is made for candidates for the GUF-100 prizes. Students can put themselves forward, and lecturers and fellow students can nominate candidates from within their Faculty. Faculty committees study the letters of motivation and CVs that they receive, before selecting three of the nominated students. Good academic results are important for nomination, but candidates must also be able to demonstrate outstanding personal or academic merit beyond their studies. Finally, the 33 selected nominees from all 11 faculties are invited to give a short presentation (pitch) and answer questions from the jury.

Every year, it is gratifying to see how many good students apply or are nominated, and the excellent job that the faculty selection committees do to ultimately put forward three outstanding candidates. This also makes it inspiring for the jury to read the submitted motivation letters and CVs, to witness all these excellent students hold their pitch, and finally to choose the winners from their midst.

Hopefully, the short commendations below will give you an impression of the extraordinary students who study at our University.

On behalf of the jury, Professor Lou de Leij, Chair of the Board of the Groningen University Fund