During the DIES today, the University Fund Twente awards two full Marina van Damme scholarships. Both Lisa Deijlen (Mechanical Engineering, MSc 2018) and Wietske Woliner-van der Weg (Technical Medicine) will receive the full prize, consisting of a work of art and a cash sum of €9,000. This is the first time in the history of the scholarship that two candidates have been declared full winners.
For the 2025 edition, the award committee received 14 applications, considerably more than in previous years. The committee spoke of an exceptionally high quality and, due to the unique strength of the two best plans, decided to nominate two winners this year.
Selection process
The entries were assessed by a committee comprising representatives from the University Fund, the University of Twente, the business community, and the network of former winners. The committee unanimously selected two candidates who clearly stood out for their vision, ambition and potential. After an additional online interview, both candidates were nominated as winners.
Winner: Lisa Deijlen
Lisa Deijlen is a professionally driven and analytically strong engineering alumna who started her career as a mechanical engineer and has since grown to become Business Intelligence & IT Manager at Vogel's Holding B.V. After studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Twente, she gained extensive experience at ASML, where she held both technical and strategic roles. When she moved to Vogel's, she developed a new BI department, introduced data-driven work processes and recently progressed to become head of the entire IT department. In her current role, she combines her technical background with strategic IT management, cybersecurity and digital transformation. With her ambition to continue growing towards a management position, she is using the Marina van Damme Scholarship to further immerse herself in IT strategy, leadership and cybersecurity, with the aim of realising a future-proof, innovative and secure digital organisation.
Winner: Wietske Woliner-van der Weg
Wietske Woliner is a pioneering technical physician whose career is characterised by courage, curiosity and the drive to make a broader impact than her field traditionally allows. As one of the first TG graduates and the first to start a fellowship, she developed a strong generalist profile centred on connecting, organising and innovating. After gaining experience in research, clinical care, AI applications and change management, she found her place in Friesland, where she led large-scale technological and organisational projects at Nij Smellinghe, among others. She is now programme manager for paediatric rehabilitation at Revalidatie Friesland, a role that combines her values, social relevance, collaboration and sustainable care. With her strategic insight, broad technical foundation and ability to engage people in change, Wietske is working to create future-proof care in the northern Netherlands and continues to actively develop herself to further increase her impact.
Marina van Damme Scholarship
The Marina van Damme Scholarship was made possible thanks to a donation from Dr M.A. van Damme-Van Weele. In 1965, she was the first person to obtain a doctorate at the then Technische Hogeschool Twente (now the University of Twente). The scholarship consists of a cash prize of €9,000 and an award and was presented for the 23rd time this year.
