Every year, a jury awards the prestigious HZ Stern graduation prize to the student with the best graduation project. Winners receive the bronze sculpture known as the HZ Stern, a cash prize of 1,000 euros and a certificate from the Executive Board.
This year, seven Bachelor’s students have been nominated. Their projects range from research into the implementation of the theme of menstruation in preventive health research, to the digitisation of 3D food printing, to a study into the experiences of residents of the Province of Zeeland with the Zeeland Sports Agreement.
A jury, chaired by Wies Buysrogge, will announce the winner on 2 December at the HZ Café in Vlissingen.
We are proud to present the nominees for the HZ Stern 2026 below!
Nominated bachelor students
Emma Mercová (Chemistry)
'Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tumor-Targeted'
For my graduation project, I worked on developing fluorescent molecules that can find and target certain cancer cells. I combined small molecules called peptides, which can recognize specific cancer cells, with fluorescent dyes that make the cells easier to see. I then tested these molecules on different types of cancer cells to see whether they would reach the intended targets. The results showed that they successfully entered the cancer cells they were designed to target, while other cells showed little to no uptake. These findings could contribute to future research aimed at improving how tumors are identified and visualized.
Emma about her graduation project
Lin Nelen (Communication)
'Province of Zeeland: Communication Strategy for the Zeeland Sports Pact'
For my final-year dissertation, commissioned by the Province of Zeeland, I investigated how residents perceive the communication surrounding the Zeeland Sports Pact. Using a survey and interviews, I examined, amongst other things, their awareness of the pact, their information needs and their expectations. The results showed that awareness of the Sports Pact and the results achieved is still relatively low. Furthermore, the roles of the various parties involved were not always clear. Based on this, I developed a communication strategy with specific recommendations for the Province, SportZeeland and local authorities. Ultimately, I hope that my research will not only improve communication but also get the people of Zeeland moving.
Simon Potacnak - ICT
‘Digitalising process of 3D food printing'
People who struggle to chew or swallow due to various medical conditions must eat puréed food, which rarely looks appetising. Gastronology, a Dutch company, uses 3D printers to shape these purées into recognisable foods, like broccoli or carrots while preserving their taste. However, testing each new design means printing it on an actual printer, which often takes more than 20 minutes.
Whenever the printed structure collapses, they have to start over which wastes food. For my thesis, I built software that digitally simulates the printing process in seconds. It shows where the printer moves, predicts when a shape might fail, and lets the food designers fix the instructions before printing without wasting a single gram of food.
Simon about his graduation project
Nikol Grueva (International Business)
‘How can Growers Packers design and implent a data-driven soft-fruit buying price forecasting dashboard that improves pricing accuracy and profitability in a highly volatile European market?’
For my graduation project in International Business, I explored how fruit prices change over time and whether historical data can help predict future prices. I chose this topic because fruit prices are highly sensitive to market changes, and it let me combine my interest in business, data, and real-world market developments. I developed a forecasting approach and presented the results in a dashboard that makes the information easier to understand. The findings showed that historical patterns can provide useful short-term forecasts, helping companies identify trends and make better-informed purchasing and sales decisions. Most surprisingly, even seemingly unpredictable prices contained recurring patterns, showing that forecasting can considerably reduce uncertainty.
Nikol about her graduation project
Jennifer-Ann Robinson (Pedagogy)
‘From uncertainty to understanding’
A conversation with Veilig Thuis can be nerve-wracking for a young person. Often, young people are unsure why the conversation is taking place, what is going to happen and what will happen to their story afterwards. In my final-year research project, I investigated how Veilig Thuis Zeeland can better support young people in this regard. I spoke to staff about their experiences of conversations with young people and investigated what might help to provide greater clarity and build trust. Using the findings, I created various resources that explain in simple terms what young people can expect. In this way, I aim to dispel uncertainty, reduce anxiety and ensure that young people feel better prepared and heard.
Jennifer-Ann about her graduation project
Susan Duerink (Verpleegkunde)
‘From Taboo to Topic – incorporating the topic of menstruation into preventive health screening’
During my final-year research project, I investigated how the topic of menstruation could be made a regular feature of preventive health screening for 10-year-olds within the GGD Zeeland’s youth health care programme. Menstruation is a normal part of health, but the subject is still often shrouded in taboo. Research shows that many women feel inadequately informed about menstruation and do not always know when symptoms require medical attention. By making menstruation a topic of discussion from a younger age, girls can be better prepared for their first period and health problems can be identified earlier. My research resulted in implementation recommendations for youth health services.
Susan about her graduation project
Luca Andrei (Watermanagement)
‘Case study on pollutant and hydraulic residual capacity assessment of a WWTP in northern Italy under different flow rate and temperature conditions’
My topic was the residual capacity assessment of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) under different weather conditions. The goal was to see if the plant can treat more wastewater, like from toilets. Treatment would be compromised if weather events pushed the plant hydraulics past their limits, resulting in a suboptimal effluent. I looked at individual treatment steps and incoming flow rates, which varied depending on the weather conditions, and analyzed how the two affect each other and to what extent. For example, a high flow rate might give the bacteria used in WWTPs insufficient time to consume incoming pollutants.
Luca about his graduation project