In 2022 the UQ German Club, in liaison with the UQ School of Languages and Cultures, established this German language prize to support the next generation of students to create change whilst studying and to recognise and celebrate significant milestones including more than 110 years of teaching and learning German at The University of Queensland and the 10th anniversary of the UQ German Club.

The award recognises the legacy of UQ German students and staff who have made a significant impact on the discipline including founding staff member Hermiene Ulrich who is the first female to teach at UQ. She came from a German background and taught German from day one of classes in 1911 and went on to teach modern languages during World War One.

Her work was extended by Professor Jeremiah Joseph Stables who became the first Head of Department for what is now the School of Languages and Cultures in 1923 before becoming the driving force that led to the establishment of the Institute of Modern Languages.