The Chemnitz Student Representative Award “Get Involved!” was presented for the first time on 10 June at a ceremony held in the City Council Chamber at the Town Hall. The award was initiated by Franziska Herold, Chemnitz’s Equal Opportunities Officer, and Dina Norberger, Chemnitz’s Children and Youth Officer. The prize recognises pupils who show exceptional commitment to their fellow pupils, respectful coexistence and a democratic and inclusive school culture.
In the primary school category, Emma Kreißig from the Albert Einstein Primary School was awarded first place. The Year 4 pupil has been active as class representative for several years, supports younger children as a reading mentor and mediates in conflicts between classmates. Thanks to her commitment to peaceful and respectful coexistence, she is regarded as an important point of contact at her school.
First place in the secondary school category went to Leandro Kappel from Oberschule Am Flughafen. Particularly noteworthy are his self-initiated tablet project to promote equal opportunities in digital education, his involvement in the City Pupils’ Council, and his contribution to the school’s internal ‘School Charter’, the school’s pupil tribunal. In doing so, he actively promotes co-determination, fairness and participation.
In the special needs school category, Nico Pietzsch from Terra Nova Campus was honoured. The student representative impressed the jury by introducing a World Café to encourage greater student participation, developing a set of rules of procedure for the student council, and his involvement in the Chemnitz City Student Council. Through these initiatives, he strengthens democratic participation and responsibility at his school.
First place in the grammar school category went to Lena Schierz from the DPFA-Regenbogengymnasium. The student representative is committed, among other things, to providing free menstrual products at her school, supports the initiative “School without Racism – School with Courage”, and has organised projects such as a day of testimony on the Bosnian War. In addition, she also volunteers outside school to support children and young people.
Dina Norberger, Children and Youth Commissioner: “It is amazing how much young people are already achieving at such a young age, how actively they help shape their school, and how much they stand up for others. After all, democracy does not begin in adulthood or in politics – it begins in everyday school life, in listening to one another and in taking responsibility for one another.”
Franziska Herold, Equality Officer: “With the Student Representative Award, we want to encourage young people to continue their commitment – even beyond their school years. Those who experience at an early age that their own voice can make a difference are more likely to continue taking on responsibility and actively shaping our society in politics, business and civil society.”
The Student Representative Award aims to highlight young people’s commitment and strengthen it in the long term. At the same time, the award is intended to encourage other students to take on responsibility and play an active role in shaping both school and society.
The winners of the Chemnitz Student Representative Award “Get involved!” 2026:
Primary school
1st place: Emma Kreißig (Albert Einstein Primary School)
2nd place: Lia Winkler and Maja Tessmer (BIP Kreativitätsschule)
3rd place: Paula Günther (Borna Primary School) and Linea Phung (Heinrich Heine Primary School)
Secondary School
1st place: Leandro Kappel (Am Flughafen Secondary School)
2nd place: Iona-Paula Nicula (Untere Luisenschule)
3rd place: Fenja Christel (Gablenz Secondary School)
Special needs school
1st place: Nico Pietzsch (Terra Nova Campus)
2nd place: Lisa Schubert (Altchemnitz School)
Grammar school
1st place: Lena Schierz (DPFA Regenbogengymnasium)
2nd place: Hannah Josephine Preis (Einsiedel Grammar School)
3rd place: Laura Fischer and Elena Thormann (Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe-Gymnasium)
The inaugural presentation of the Chemnitz Student Representative Award was made possible thanks to the support of eins energie in sachsen, the GGG, Volksbank Chemnitz and the Potentialakademie.