This was MomenTUm 2024!

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September 27, 2024

On September 26 and 27, we celebrated MomenTUm, the academic ceremony of the year, with our graduating students and the best teachers of 2024.

The moment of MomenTUm: caps flying through the air. Photo: Bart van Overbeeke

It started with a smashing party on September 26, where the various artists played the roof off. The following day, our rector magnificus Silvia Lenaerts presented the Academic Awards for the best graduation theses and announced the Best Teachers 2024. Of course, there was also the moment when all graduates received their diplomas and were allowed to walk on the Walk of Fame to the applause of their friends and family. The traditional throwing of the caps was the festive finale of the ceremonies.

MomenTUm opened with a spectacular party. Photo: Bart van Overbeeke

Get the party started

What's a graduation without a good party? The party at MetaForum's Market Hall nearly went through the roof again during MomenTUm The Party. Acts such as Turfy Gang, BTMS, and Mr. Belt and Wezol got all the students dancing.

Academic ceremonies

This year, there were so many graduates again, nearly 1,600, that we needed two MomenTUm ceremonies to give all the graduates their Walk of Fame. This way, we could guarantee a spot for the large number of graduates as well as their families and guests.

Liselotte Graas handled the presentation of both festive ceremonies. The diplomas themselves were presented during ceremonies at their own faculty.

Rudi Bekkers and Silvia Lenaerts. Photo: Bart van Overbeeke

Best Bachelor Teacher 2024 - Morning ceremony

The Best Bachelor Teacher 2024 award goes to Rudi Bekkers of the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences. He received the award from the jury because, in his courses on patents and regulations, he inspires future young engineers and imparts much knowledge.

In his teaching style, he ensures that every student gets attention without singling out students or making them uncomfortable in front of the whole class. Using real-life examples, his students learn the ins and outs of regulatory governance. His enthusiasm shines through in the classroom, allowing him to create an environment in his lectures where students can think critically and dare to ask questions.

He is dedicated to connecting theory with practice in his courses, which is why he challenges future engineers to think about the role of laws and regulations in their future work. This sets his teaching style apart from other teachers, focusing on industry rather than theory or research.

The other nominees, Oded Raz (Electrical Engineering), Ivo Filot (Chemical Engineering & Chemistry), and Claudia Fecarotti (Industrial Engineering), also received thunderous applause for their presentations.

Melvin Drent and Silvia Lenaerts. Photo: Bart van Overbeeke

Best Master Teacher 2024 - Afternoon ceremony

Melvin Drent of the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences received the Best Master Teacher 2024 award in the afternoon session. His nomination on the website says that you can see his passion for teaching reflected in his dedication to the success of his students, both in their academic careers and also on a personal level.

You can tell that just from the more than 20 students he supervises or has supervised in the master's phase of their education. He is tremendously approachable and actively seeks feedback from his students. His interactive teaching style keeps students engaged and able to absorb the knowledge well.

Drent also ensures that his examples and cases are always current. His involvement with students extends beyond the lecture hall; for example, he joins them on study tours. His unique blend of his own academic achievements, strong bond with the students and genuine enthusiasm for science and teaching makes Drent stand out as an enormously talented teacher and researcher.

Also in the afternoon, all nominees, Andrea Fiore (Applied Physics), Hélène Aarts (Built Environment) and Drent presented themselves to an enthusiastic audience.

All nominated bachelor graduates with on the far left Milan van Bussel and second from right Wiktor Kwapinski. Photo: Ariadna Masot

Academic Awards

In between the two ceremonies with graduating students, it was time for the presentation of our Academic Awards. Each program nominated one bachelor's and one master's graduate for this purpose. Their theses were judged to be the best of their program in the 2023-2024 academic year. To recognize these outstanding achievements, all nominees received a certificate thereof from the hands of Rector Silvia Lenaerts.

The award for the best bachelor thesis went to Wiktor Kwapinski (Applied Physics), titled "Improving heat dissipation in hex-SiGe nanowires using 2D hBN flakes." The jury praised the scientific quality of his work and his new original ideas to solve heat dissipation problems.

Lyanne Budé from the faculties of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, won the prize for the best master's thesis titled "Development of coaxial cable antennas for ultra-high field MRI: The Coax Dipole and Coax Monopole Antenna." Not only did Lyanne obtain two master's degrees simultaneously, but her work on ultrahigh field MRI was of exceptional quality. She collaborated with UMC Utrecht for her thesis research.

All nominated master graduates with fifth from the right Lyanne Budé. Photo: Bart van Overbeeke

Additionally, there was an audience award for the best thesis. This award went to Milan van Bussel (bachelor of Sustainable Innovation). With over 2587 votes, it was an exciting race, but Van Bussel narrowly won with 220 votes, closely followed by the runner-up with 217 votes.

The winners of the best theses were chosen by an independent professional jury. For the public award, anyone, student, employee, or acquaintance, could vote until September 25. The nominees can be found on the website, but also on billboards on the TU/e grounds. This exhibition of all nominees will be on display next to the pond at Atlas until October 3. After that, the expo will move to The Strip on the High Tech Campus where it can be admired until October 10.

+31 40-247 4101 h.a.raaijmakers@remove-this.tue.nl

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