THUAS student Chinyere wins the ECHO Award!

Hosting the event made it even more memorable. But the cherry on top came at the end, when our very own Chinyere Aronu walked away with the win! "I don’t see this award only as recognition for myself, but for all the people whose stories, experiences, and expertise I was able to draw upon", said the beaming winner.   

During the opening, chairperson of the day Saber Benjah noted that THUAS’ contribution to the development of ECHO. Our president, Elisabeth Minnemann, echoed this sentiment in her speech with an addition: "It works both ways, because ECHO also contributed to the development of THUAS, and we are very, very grateful for that."  

A privilege  

THUAS is a place where students and staff from very diverse backgrounds and perspectives meet each other daily. "That is the greatest privilege and our greatest strength. All the nominees showed leadership and courage. That has always been necessary, and even more so today. You are role models to us, and we can learn from each other, because we need each other", said Elisabeth.  

The organization  

Mary Tupan-Wenno, management team member, executive director, and facilitator of ECHO, shared: "THUAS is truly a warm place for us. An institution we have collaborated with for many years, and it always feels like home. A truly multicultural school that promotes inclusion and seeks connection with municipalities and communities outside the university."

Perseverance  

Since ECHO’s founding in 2001, more than 700 students have been nominated. Three of them were present: Rudy van der Beek (nominated in 2016 by THUAS), Samah Lahoud (lecturer in Community Studies at HvA, nominated in 2013), and Mohammed Al Tameemi (plastic surgery trainee in Rotterdam). Each had an inspiring story, each faced setbacks, and each demonstrated remarkable perseverance.  

The winner  

Chinyere, winner of the hbo-award, already has big plans following her victory. "I hope my project Chichi Connect continues to grow. I want to reach more young people and not just those who are always on stage. I want to bring forward the underrepresented stories."

Winning this award means not only national recognition but also participation in a summer course at UCLA. "Well, after hearing all these inspiring stories from other winners, I expect only great things. I hope that, like them, I will gain knowledge in LA that helps me in my career as a future public administrator, and that it helps me bring diversity, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity to the forefront."

Support  

For Chinyere, this was a home game, and it showed in the audience’s response. "When you show ambition at THUAS, they really stand behind you. Before this, I studied Public Administration at another school, but I never truly felt at home there. That’s why I took a big leap and chose THUAS, despite the travel time."