The Europa-Park Dome in Rust hosted the award ceremony for the “Junior.ING” student competition organized by the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Engineers. Over 1,400 students showcased impressive tower models under the theme “Tower - Reach for the Sky!” Their creative and technically sophisticated designs were celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Award Ceremony with Distinguished Guests
The festive event at the Europa-Park Dome drew a large crowd of young talents presenting their independently designed tower models. State Secretary Sandra Boser MdL, Andreas Nußbaum, 2nd Vice President of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Engineers, Ute Zeller, a member of the chamber’s board, and INGBW Managing Director Davina Übelacker presented the trophies and certificates. Witold Buenger, the chamber’s press spokesperson, moderated the ceremony, creating a vibrant atmosphere that perfectly framed the recognition of the aspiring engineers.Winners of the Competition
In Category I, for students up to grade 8, Furkan Sancar, Arda Özkan, and Osman Can Sancar from Realschule Schömberg claimed first place with their model “Trigon.” Cornelius Schwarz, Matthias Schwarz, and Anja Schwarz from Gymnasium Korntal secured second place with their “Flechtwerk.” Emily Kramer, Adelina Drandar, and Sonia Radu from Schönbuch Gymnasium took third place with their “Holz-Tornado.” In Category II, for students from grade 9 and above, Jaron Weis, Jonathan Roller, Reis Sopaj, and Khoi Nguyen from Albert Schweitzer Gymnasium in Gundelfingen won first place with their “Power Tower.” Franz Schaible and Leo Fohringer from GMS Ochsenhausen-Reinstetten earned second place with their model “Die Nadel,” while Leona Fijala and Charlotte Eknigk from Realschule Rutesheim took third place with their “DNA.”Creativity and Engineering in Focus
The participants were tasked with designing innovative tower models that combined creativity with technical expertise. The diversity of the designs ranged from delicate wooden structures to robust, meticulously crafted models. The organizers praised the students’ dedication and engineering precision. The participants brought the theme “Tower - Reach for the Sky!” to life with remarkable independence, demonstrating how imaginative ideas can merge seamlessly with technical finesse.Voices from the Event
Ann-Kathrin Mack, managing partner of Europa-Park and a trained architect, praised the creativity and technical sophistication of the models. She stated: “As an architect, I am impressed not only by the creativity and dedication of the young participants but also by the technical finesse of their numerous models - a huge compliment for that. Building has always played a significant role at the Europa-Park Erlebnis-Resort. Even in our anniversary year, numerous construction projects are being driven forward with passion and at a rapid pace. Enthusiasm for science and technology is a key driver of innovation and progress in our country. I sincerely hope you maintain this enthusiasm, as you are all potential future engineers.” Mack encouraged the students to nurture their passion for science and technology, recognizing their potential as future engineers.State Secretary Sandra Boser expressed her excitement about the students’ achievements. She remarked: “I am thrilled by the creative ideas and dedication of our students in this competition! Initiatives like these inspire the many bright MINT minds in our region and engage them in these fields. I firmly believe that by supporting and nurturing our youth, we can tackle even the greatest challenges of our time.” Chamber President Stephan Engelsmann emphasized the competition’s role in fostering young talent. He said: “The Junior.ING student competition is a vital part of our long-term strategy to nurture future engineers. It provides young people with early opportunities to engage with engineering thinking in a practical way and to creatively tackle technical challenges. Given the growing shortage of skilled professionals in technical fields, competitions like Junior.ING make an invaluable contribution to inspiring and nurturing young talent.” He added that the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Engineers aims to strengthen technical education and spark interest in engineering studies through such initiatives.
