With the Horst Gräfer Prize, the Paderborner Hochschulkreis e. V., the Heidloff Family Foundation and the SolarKapital Foundation are once again honouring exceptional personalities who pursue their dreams despite all adversity.
Prof Dr Horst Gräfer was a university lecturer at Paderborn University from 1972 to 2005 and was particularly distinguished by his unconventional life path. Coming from a rather modest background, Gräfer first completed a commercial apprenticeship in industry and only then acquired his general higher education entrance qualification. After completing his studies, he initially worked in controlling before deciding to complete a doctorate.
After Horst Gräfer's death in 2022, the Paderborner Hochschulkreis e. V. (PHK) set itself the task of honouring his legacy. Every year, the Horst Gräfer Prize honours a person who has followed a similarly unconventional path in life as Horst Gräfer did in his time.
The prize, which is endowed with 5,000 euros, is aimed at anyone who does not lose sight of their goals despite the challenges they face - whether they are a pupil, student or already fully employed. The aim is to support people who motivate others through their determination and show that unconventional paths can lead to success. The prize is sponsored by the Heidloff Family Foundation and the SolarKapital Foundation.
The deadline for applications is 31 July 2025. Informal applications with a letter of motivation, CV and, if applicable, letters of recommendation should be sent by email to Paderborn University e.V. (phk@mail.uni-paderborn.de).
