Federal Cross of Merit Awarded to IU Academic Lecturer Stefan Mageney
On 15 January 2026, Stefan Mageney was awarded the Medal of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his outstanding voluntary commitment.
Wuppertal, 23 January 2026. Stefan Mageney, Academic Lecturer in Applied Psychology at IU International University of Applied Sciences and musician from Wuppertal, has been awarded the Medal of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mayor Miriam Scherff presented him with the award during a ceremony at the town hall.
Stefan Mageney is being honoured for his many years of exceptional volunteer work. Following the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004, he initiated a benefit festival to raise funds for the victims. This initiative later led to the founding of the association "Wuppertal hilft!" (Wuppertal Helps!), which Mageney co-founded and of which he remains the chairman. For many years, the association has organised numerous fundraising events for social causes.
Engagement through strong networking in the music scene
Thanks to his close contacts in the music scene, the rock singer repeatedly succeeded in recruiting many musicians for charity performances. The participating artists waived their fees. Since 2005, this has raised approximately €500,000, which has been donated to foundations and associations supporting people in need.
Beyond his work with the club, Stefan Mageney also made a social impact: After a severe bout of COVID-19, he participated in a campaign by the Ministry of Health. Using the hashtag #IchHatteCorona (I Had COVID), he called for people to take the disease seriously.
Back in 2016, the city of Wuppertal had already recognised his commitment and awarded him the "Wuppertaler" prize for his services to "Wuppertal hilft!" (Wuppertal Helps!). The Federal President's Medal of Merit, now awarded to him, is the logical next step in the national recognition of his lasting contribution to the common good.
IU congratulates Stefan Mageney most sincerely – for his exemplary role, which visibly strengthens society and community.
With nearly 130,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution, based in Erfurt, began teaching in 2000 and now has 37 campuses. IU stands for maximum flexibility in study: whether through dual study, distance learning or on campus – students from over 160 nations tailor their educational path to suit their individual circumstances. With more than 200 degree programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and MBA level, IU imparts practical skills. Innovative learning concepts foster targeted, future-proof skills for an increasingly AI-driven world of work. A modern, digitally supported learning environment and the use of artificial intelligence enable effective, personalised learning. As a pioneer in this field, IU has developed its own digital learning companion, ‘Syntea’, which has been in use since 2023. A network of over 15,000 companies – including Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn – makes IU a strong partner in the training of skilled workers and consistently links academic teaching with practical experience. Further information at: iu.org
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