On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Alina Dressel, a former student of BBS Syke Europeschule and a trainee at Cordes and Graefe, was honoured with the Trainee of the North award in the field of wholesale and foreign trade, specializing in wholesale. The award ceremony, hosted by the AGA Business Association in Hamburg, recognized her outstanding achievements.
For the 27th time, the AGA Business Association and INW – Bildungswerk Nord presented the Trainee of the North award, a prestigious North German Training Award for Trade and Services. The ceremony was attended by over 120 guests in Hamburg and featured seven awards: five in the categories of foreign trade, wholesale, retail, e-commerce, and services, as well as an audience award and a sponsorship award for trainees who have shown remarkable perseverance despite personal challenges.
This award not only celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of trainees and their companies but also serves as a source of encouragement and recognition for all participants. Alina Dressel passed her final examination with excellent results. Her class teacher, Christina Gerlach, was also acknowledged for her role in Alina’s success.
In addition to the trainee, both the training company and BBS Syke received certificates. The Trainee of the North award comes with a prize of 1,000 €, a training voucher, and a short film showcasing the trainee’s work at their training company. Alina Dressel creatively and inspiringly highlighted the training process in her company, earning widespread admiration.
AGA represents over 3,500 predominantly medium-sized companies across five coastal states, including wholesale and foreign trade businesses as well as business-related service providers. AGA President Dr. Hans Fabian Kruse emphasized the vital importance of dual training during a discussion with the event’s moderator, Yared Dibaba. Dr. Kruse remarked, “Dual training remains one of the cornerstones of the German education system and is a model for success.”
Actor, musician, and entertainer Yared Dibaba guided the audience through the event with charm and ease. The ceremony also featured a captivating musical performance by a trio comprising cellist Charlotte Jeschke, singer Robine, and guitarist Jan Salander. Among their memorable performances was the Ode to Hamburg, a modern rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, created as part of Hamburg’s UEFA EURO 2024 cultural program.
