Among the invited guests were numerous members of the Hamburg Parliament as well as representatives of the first sponsoring companies. These included Hapag Lloyd AG, Deutsche Kreditbank AG and the city-owned Gasnetz Hamburg GmbH, which presented themselves to the scholarship holders that evening and took the opportunity to come into contact with exciting young people.

"In the beginning, there was a generous inheritance and the desire to create something new and special for our city. With the help of the first sponsors - Hamburg companies - it was possible to implement a scholarship programme that is attractive for students and companies alike. With the Hamburg Stipendium, we want to set an example, especially in view of current social developments. Through financial and non-material support, we distinguish students with a refugee or migration background as committed and competent students who have their place in our society and are significant for its future."

- Jürgen Allemeyer, Managing Director Studierendenwerk Hamburg

"The Hamburg Stipendium supports precisely those students who shape their studies from special life situations and thus ensures their participation in university life."

– Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, Family and Integration

"Through my experience as the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration in the last Federal Government and as a former coordinator of integration projects at the Körber Foundation, I know how to appreciate the achievements that people with a migration or refugee background make on their life's journey. For some of them, a successful university degree opens up entirely new perspectives from which society as well as the students themselves and also their families can benefit."

– Aydan Özoğuz, Former Minister of State for Migration, Refugees and Integration