The Grants Award Ceremony for the 2023-2024 academic year brought together students who were receiving a grant for the first time and those grantholders that are due to graduate this year in the Aula Magna of UIC Barcelona. The event also included institutions participating in the annual #NoTalentWithoutAFuture campaign to support the University’s financial aid programme. 

Once again, the award ceremony put the student at the centre of the ceremony, recognising academic excellence and equal opportunities, which is “the true advancement of a society”, in the words of the rector, Alfonso Méndiz. This year, nearly 150 students participated among the more than 1,000 students who have received UIC Barcelona grants.

Nadia Mafara, a third year Journalism student and grantholder, presented the event. The students were represented by Ignacio García-Valdecasas Roig, a 6th year Medicine student, who made a thank you speech to the University and the companies for supporting talent and giving students this opportunity. Antón Aluja, a former student and current lecturer at UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, also spoke: “In a way, I am now closing the circle, coming home and giving back a part of what UIC Barcelona offered me,” said the Alumni representative at the event.

 Juan Miguel Carmona, from the Maria Pou–Lunet Foundation, also took to the stage of the Aula Magna ‌‌ and gave a speech representing the donor companies present. Representatives of the Maria Teresa Rodó Foundation, the Maria Pou-Lunet Foundation, Torrella Ingeniería Arquitectura, the Damm Foundation, the Barraquer Foundation, Mi Fundación Alex – Clínica Mi Tres Torres and Santander Universities also attended the ceremony. The representatives of the companies awarded the grant diplomas to the students. 

The rector of UIC Barcelona, Alfonso Méndiz, also participated in the ceremony, thanking companies for their contribution to the grants and financial aid programme in his speech. “Today we can celebrate the talent and effort of our students because a number of companies and foundations believed in their potential and commitment,” said the rector, who stressed that the event is always a celebration of talent, excellence and improvement.

The vice-rector of the University Community, Esther Jiménez, also addressed the students in her closing speech, congratulating them and encouraging them to continue their journey in the pursuit of excellence. “Never stop dreaming and contributing to society [...] and remember that receiving a grant is an honour, but also a social responsibility,” said Jiménez. 

UIC Barcelona hosts this event to publicly congratulate all the students who have been awarded grants and give thanks to the commitment to student education by all the institutions and individuals that have donated to these talents of the future.