Germany"s Top Father is from the University of Freiburg

Marcel Oettrich from the Office of Marketing and Knowledge Management of the University of Freiburg has been chosen as Germany"s "Top Father 2010." The 5,000 euro award is conferred by the whole grain bakery Mestemacher under the aegis of Federal Minister for Family Affairs Dr. Kristina Schröder. Each year since 2006 the company has recognized two top fathers who practice a cooperative marriage and family model in which both parents succeed in achieving a healthy balance between family and career. The jury chose Marcel Oettrich for the distinction because he shares equal responsibility with his wife for the upbringing of their eleven-year-old daughter Hannah and their nine-year-old son Paul. This common commitment to family enabled his wife, Dr. Yvonne Ziegler, to complete her doctoral degree. Hannah and Paul were born while Oettrich was completing his degree in art history, German studies, and European ethnology. The day care service of the Freiburg Office of Student Services helped the pair to complete their studies without interruption.