The Ralf Törngren Prize 2025 is Awarded to Kajsa Viitamäki
The Åbo Akademi University Foundation is awarding Kajsa Viitamäki, Bachelor of Arts, this year’s Ralf Törngren Prize. The €7,000 prize is awarded annually to a student at Åbo Akademi University who has made a significant contribution to the development of the university or its Student Union, alongside their academic studies.
Kajsa Viitamäki (b. 1998, Korsholm) is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Philosophy, having previously completed a Bachelor’s degree in English and undertaken subject teacher training in pedagogy. In addition to her academic work, she has demonstrated exceptional dedication to student advocacy. Her involvement includes serving on both the board and the representative council of the Åbo Akademi Student Union, as well as holding active roles in student associations. This year, she continues her service as a member of the Student Union’s representative council, and as a student representative on the Faculty Board of Arts, Theology and Psychology.
“I have learned a lot through my involvement, from leadership to organisational skills to collaboration and responsibility. I have also improved at acknowledging mistakes and, most importantly, at continuing to try. Additionally, I have gained substantial knowledge in student and university affairs,” says Viitamäki.
She credits past student leaders, including last year’s Ralf Törngren Prize recipient Nicolina Nordman, as her role models.
The recipient of the Ralf Törngren Prize is selected by the board of the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, based on submitted nominations. The selection is prepared by a prize committee composed of the foundation delegates MPS Riina Forsman, LLM Astrid Thors, and Professor Jorma Mattinen. The committee unanimously recommended Viitamäki, highlighting her active engagement in student well-being, inclusivity, and her willingness to address complex issues constructively and diplomatically.
Viitamäki was nominated by the Åbo Akademi Student Union. In the nomination, Student Union Chair Emilia Melén wrote: “Kajsa’s honesty, courage, and passion for student welfare make her a highly deserving recipient of this award.”
Looking ahead, Kajsa Viitamäki sees her future in the field of education.
“I’m deeply interested in educational issues and would like to pursue research in pedagogy, particularly around democratic education and the declining reading comprehension among young people. I want to understand how this affects their ability to think critically and resist disinformation. While I am not currently interested in formal politics, I would be eager to work at the state level, for instance as a parliamentary assistant,” says Viitamäki.
The Ralf Törngren Prize was awarded by Stefan Wallin, Chair of the Board of the Åbo Akademi University, at the Foundation’s Delegation spring meeting in Turku on 12 May at 17.00.
The Ralf Törngren Prize was established in 2001 by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation to honour the contributions of Ralf Törngren to the foundation, Åbo Akademi, and its Student Union. Ralf Törngren (1899–1961) served as CEO of the foundation from 1931 to 1948 and was a prominent member of the Finnish Parliament representing the Swedish People’s Party. He held several ministerial posts, including Minister of Social Affairs, Finance, Foreign Affairs, and served as Prime Minister and party chairman. He was also a lecturer in economics, an honorary doctor at the Åbo Akademi School of Business and Economics, and an active figure in local politics in Turku.
For more information:
Kajsa Viitamäki
Phone: 050 356 4611
Email: kajsa.viitamaki@abo.fi
