Starting in 2020, the video competition b@s videochallenge is under the patronage of Elke Büdenbender, judge and wife of Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “I see education as the key to a self-determined life, and so each child needs to have the same opportunities for education,” she explains. That goes hand in hand with the goal of the b@s videochallenge of enabling students of all school types to learn digitally. Participants also develop their understanding of business, creativity, and competence in handling digital media, thus gaining insight into the breadth of occupations. “This concept impressed me so much, I was happy to become the patron,” Elke Büdenbender continued.

“We are very grateful for Mrs. Büdenbender’s support. Since 2017, we’ve been building a bridge with the b@s videochallenge between business and digital know-how—open to all students. Mrs. Büdenbender’s trust is a clear signal to us to make a significant contribution in digital education,” Dr.  Babette Claas, head of the educational initiative business@school, explains.

Elke Büdenbender was born in 1962 in Siegen-Weidenau. After going to the Aufbaurealschule Siegen and an apprenticeship as an industrial management assistant, she attended Siegerland-Kolleg in Siegen. She then worked as a management assistant at a logistics company. In 1985, she began studying law in Gießen, and after finishing her legal clerkship at the state court of Hanover in 1994 she worked as a judge at the administrative court of Hanover. In 1995, Elke Büdenbender married Frank-Walter Steinmeier; they have one daughter. Elke Büdenbender is currently on leave from her job as a judge at the administrative court in Berlin.