aau/KuessYoung athletes were honored at the University of Klagenfurt on November 16, 2025, in the presence of Vice Rector Doris Hattenberger and Governor Peter Kaiser as part of the pilot project “Spitze in Schule & Sport.”
Education and elite sports are not mutually exclusive – on the contrary: they can mutually strengthen each other. The cooperative project between the university and the State of Carinthia specifically targets education-oriented young athletes with the goal of motivating them to achieve good performance not only in sports but also in school. This aims to establish a solid foundation during school years for a future dual career in both athletic and academic fields (Spitzesport & Studium).
During the event, those young athletes (grades 9-13) who best succeeded in combining academic and athletic performance were honored. The award recipients received a mini scholarship as recognition for their achievements and as motivation for their continued path.
Among those offering congratulations, alongside honored guests from politics and sports, were the elite athletes Nadine Weratschnig, Hanno Douschan, and Magdalena Lobnig, who serve as role models for dual career paths in this context. Additionally, the two top-ranked athletes – rower Antonia Gigacher and sport climber Timo Uznik – each received a guaranteed spot in the University of Klagenfurt’s “Elite Sports & Studies” program. This enables elite athletes to optimally develop both academically and athletically through a subject-specific mentoring system.
More about the project idea: https://www.aau.at/usi/spitze-in-schule-sport/

Der Beitrag Project “Spitze in Schule & Sport” (Excellence in School & Sport) Honors Young Talents erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.