Ceremonial awarding of scholarships for the academic year 2024/2025

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, scholarships for the academic year 2024/2025 were awarded at the Catholic University of Croatia from the CUC Scholarship Fund "Marko Franović" and from the University's own resources.

Along with the scholarship recipients at the ceremonial academic ceremony in the hall "Blaženi Alojzije card. Stepinac" were attended by the rector prof. Željko Tanjić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Science and President of the Commission for Awarding Scholarships, prof. Roberto Antolović, PhD, Heads of University Departments of CUC, Vice-Dean for Quality of the School of Medicine and University Chaplain Branimir Jagodić.

Rector Tanjić gave an introductory speech to those gathered, in which he pointed out that we are in the time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas. "The celebration of Christmas illuminates our history, our hearts, our lives with the joyful news that God in his son Jesus Christ has become one of us. He has endowed us with his presence, his communion that changes and reshapes the world, with light that even in these difficult and dark times brings joy, hope, which strengthens and strengthens us on our life paths and does not allow hopelessness to prevail. I would say that the awarding of today's scholarships is a reflection of that goodness and God's closeness as well as the kindness and closeness of those who help our University to fulfill its mission in Croatian society and our Croatian people and the Church, to raise and educate young people for knowledge, for truth, but also most importantly, for kindness through the generosity of many, and that is why today I want to thank once again Mr. Marko Franović, our patriot, an expatriate in Australia who dedicated his entire life to the good of those who work, the good of the Croatian homeland, the good multitude of individuals and institutions that he tirelessly supports. I am glad that in his kindness he recognized the value and importance of our Croatian Catholic University in different ways. His donations for the scholarship are only a small part of his large donation, which supports our University in the procurement of equipment, construction of infrastructure, especially our Library, as well as in many other ways," the rector concluded.

On behalf of the committee for awarding scholarships, Vice-Rector prof. Roberto Antolović, PhD, gave a speech. "The possibility of providing scholarships to a certain number of students is an important event for the University, and especially for our students, which should encourage all stakeholders to think about how to be better at what we do, and how we should contribute to the development and quality of studying at the University through our work and activities.  A greater number of scholarships were secured thanks to the kindness of our donor, Mr. Marko Franović, a Croatian emigrant from Australia, a man who knows and recognizes the importance of the culture of upbringing and the great importance of education, and especially the scholarship of excellent students, with his donations. This year, too, we managed to achieve our goal of using the University's own funds and the funds of our donor, Mr. Franović, we will provide financial resources for scholarships for our students as additional motivation and easier fulfillment of student obligations", said Antolović.

A total of 17 scholarships were awarded: 11 scholarships in the category for student excellence, one scholarship for top athletes, two scholarships for students of lower socio-economic status, one scholarship for students with disabilities, one scholarship for students without adequate parental care and one scholarship for student children of Croatian veterans from the Homeland War. The total amount of each individual scholarship has been increased this year and amounts to EUR 2,500 per year.

Scholarships were awarded to students: Ivona Škrinjar (Nursing), Klara Jurković (Medicine), Renato Kozarić (History), Martina Špilek (History), Nika Baić (Communication Sciences), Veronika Karlović (Communication Sciences), Stella Lukač (Psychology), Talia Babić ( Psychology), Ivana Dramac (Sociology), Sara Novosel (Psychology), Marija Kraljević (Sociology), Adrijana Kikić (History), Sara Barković (History/Sociology), Lucija Pandžić (Psychology), Doris Božičević (Communication Sciences) and Ema Lasić (Sociology).
 

Martina Špilek, a history student, gave a speech of thanks on behalf of the scholarship holders. "It is an honor and a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address you this year on behalf of the scholarship holders of our University. What is studying anyway, what is a university anyway? What is its purpose? When I enrolled, now more than four years ago, I didn't know, I couldn't even imagine what the phrase "academic community" meant. However, as a former classics student, I was attracted to the "Alma Mater". It is the affectionate name for the university that certainly provided us with a lot of knowledge, but also taught us many good values. However, it was up to us whether we would accept those values ​​and the knowledge that the university provided us. Thank you to the Catholic University of Croatia and to you, Mr. Franović, for for many years of selflessly rewarding, helping and encouraging the students of our University with your generosity. Listening to your life story in the past years, showed us how much every effort, work and discipline in life pays off," Špilek said.