The student union of Häme University of Applied Sciences annually selects the recipients of the HAMK Student of the Year award. The aim of the recognition is to highlight the good and high-quality work that HAMK personnel do for the benefit of students in different parts of the organization.
This year, the student union asked students in the spring for nominations for the award. We received a gratifying number of responses – and best of all, nominations came from all seven campuses. The students’ messages conveyed strong appreciation for HAMK’s teaching staff: the teachers’ dedication, support and desire to develop education were noticed and wanted to be highlighted.
In the 2024 selections, special emphasis was placed on the teacher’s commitment to developing education and the ability to emphasize the importance of university of applied sciences as part of the student’s study path and future.
A jury assembled by the student union board considered all nominations and made selections based on them. The HAMK Student of the Year were announced at HAMK’s personnel days, and the award recipients were presented by Henriikka Mastokangas, the chair of the student union board.
Certificates of Honor were awarded to:
🏆 Eija Lankinen, Senior Lecturer in Horticulture, Lepaa
🏆 Elis Kivi, Senior Senior Lecturer in Civil and Municipal Engineering, Hämeenlinna
🏆 Katja Holopainen, Senior Lecturer in Health Care, Hämeenlinna
Students shared the following feedback in their nominations for the award recipients:
Eija Lankinen
“As a new teacher, Eija has stepped into big shoes and already begun renewing horticulture education in her first academic year. She is always approachable, understanding, and provides clear learning modules.”
“Eija is truly student-oriented. She’s easy to reach, responds quickly, and never makes students feel like their questions are silly. Her feedback on assignments is clear and encouraging.”
“She is easy to talk to and always cheerful!”
Elis Kivi
“An inspiring and skilled teacher. His learning materials and assignment instructions are always well prepared and clear.”
“Elis is passionate about his work and knows how to engage students in the subject matter. His lessons are interesting—even the more challenging or ‘boring’ topics become enjoyable. It’s clear he genuinely cares about his students and their learning.”
“You can tell he cares about students’ development. His classes are enjoyable, and getting out of bed in the morning doesn’t feel so bad when you know his class is coming up. His positive personality helps reduce school-related stress.”
Katja Holopainen
“Katja is a development-oriented teacher! She constantly brings in new ideas and different teaching methods, and she’s not afraid to jump into the unknown. She always encourages students and is ready to help no matter the situation.”
“She inspires learning and creates a comfortable and safe environment.”
“She maintains an active presence on social media and hosts a podcast, both of which generate interest and enthusiasm for modern nursing education. Thanks to her, HAMK is seen as a dynamic and cutting-edge university. She also has a wide professional network beyond HAMK and collaborates with many external partners.”