Conferral of commemorative documents, awards and scholarships of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation

Date of publication: 21. 10. 2022
News

On 19 October, the ceremony of awarding the commemorative documents, awards and scholarships of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation (FUNG) took place at the Lanthieri Mansion in Vipava. New donors, as well as the first recipients of FUNG scholarships and awards, show that the Foundation is gaining momentum.

Awardees, Management of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation and Rector of the University of Nova Gorica. Photo: Miha Godec
Awardees, Management of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation and Rector of the University of Nova Gorica. Photo: Miha Godec

So far, FUNG has already managed to double the value of the donations raised in 2022, compared to 2021. Donations by individuals are crucial in this respect, as they account for 80% of the funds raised. Unfortunately, the share of corporate donations is only 20%. As much as 60% of the donated funds were earmarked for scholarships for students from the University of Nova Gorica (UNG). This is also reflected in the fact that in the 2022/2023 academic year, FUNG plans to offer three additional scholarships for UNG students; one from the Fund for Talented Students and two from the Matija Franko Scholarship Fund for Student Athletes.

“Even though the new academic year has just started, we already have new donors who will receive their commemorative documents at a similar time next year. At the same time, the FUNG Management Board has received a proposal for the creation of a new Fund for Development and Innovation in Education, which will sensibly complement and balance the areas of activity of the FUNG Funds. In addition to the scholarship funds (Fund for Talented Students, Matija Franko Scholarship Fund for Student Athletes) and the Fund for Development of New Study Programmes, the funds mainly focus on supporting scientific research (Fund for Research Financing, Fund for Infrastructure Development, Zavratnik Fund for Cancer Research, and Fund for Development of Cognitive Sciences). The latter requires significantly more investments or donated funds than are needed for student scholarships”, said the President of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation, Prof. Dr. Mladen Franko, in his address.

The event continued with the awarding of commemorative documents. The title of Silver Donor was awarded to Jane Robertson Blanch. “It has been a privilege and an honour to be a part of a foundation that not only honours Matija Franko, but also helps young, talented athletes to have a successful future. I hope that in the not so distant future I will meet the winners and follow their success stories,” she told us from abroad. Unfortunately, she was not able to attend the event and Jurij Franko accepted the award on her behalf.

Prof. Dr. Sonja Lojen and Janez Novak became Bronze Donors.

As Prof. Dr. Sonja Lojen, a long-time lecturer at the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Nova Gorica, said on receiving the title, she gladly contributes to the University of Nova Gorica Foundation, as she wants students and staff at the University of Nova Gorica to have the best possible opportunities to create and learn. “I was especially drawn to the Matija Franko Scholarship Fund for Student Athletes, which I hope and wish to see expand in the future."

Janez Novak was inspired to donate to the fund for student athletes by Prof. Mladen Franko. “Every year, we go ski touring together. Mladen and I used to compete in alpine skiing in our youth, where Matija Franko, after whom the Scholarship Fund is named, was a coach”, said Janez Novak, a member of the Management Board of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation.

The presentation of commemorative documents was followed by the awarding of scholarships and awards to students from the University of Nova Gorica. For the first time, a scholarship from the Matija Franko Scholarship Fund for Student Athletes was awarded, in the 2022/2023 academic year going to Ivan Devetak, a student of the School of Engineering and Management, and a volleyball player at IL POZZO Pradamano, Udine.

“I am very honoured to be the recipient of the Matija Franko scholarship for student athletes. This gives me a feeling of satisfaction, and rewards the efforts that I put into my studies and sport. I am especially glad that this university is friendly to student athletes, and therefore allows me to balance my studies and sport, as the latter takes up a lot of my time. This year, I actually transferred to the Italian senior B league”, said Ivan Devetak upon receiving the award.

For the third year in a row, the Jožko Markič Awards were awarded, and for the 2021/2022 academic year were bestowed on two students from the School of Arts, Ana Logar and Anastasija Kojić.

The award, which is donated by the A-media, d. o. o. company in memory of the company’s co-founder, Jožko Markič, means a lot to Ana Logar, as it gives her hope. “My actions throughout the year, which obviously led to this award, were actions of my own initiative, to do good, to help people and to work with them. It is good to see that my actions have been noticed and have left a good impression on someone.”

“This award is further proof that I am on the right track and that my efforts are paying off. When I think about how to use this award, I am torn between investing in a trip, and starting a new project and buying new equipment. Whatever decision I make, it will undoubtedly benefit not only my master’s project, but also my other university assignments and work outside the school. Finally, I would like to say how grateful I am for this opportunity,” said Anastasija Kojić.

As Prof. Dr Franko concluded, supporting scientific research is an important priority for the long-term development of FUNG. “The latter requires significantly more investments or donated funds than are needed for student scholarships. Therefore, raising funds to support scientific research remains one of main long-term objectives of FUNG. In the short term, the new FUNG Management Board will focus on providing scholarships for UNG students in the next three years.”

Andreja Leban, Public Relations

Attachments

Conferral of commemorative documents, awards and scholarships of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation. Photo: Miha Godec
Prof. Dr. Mladen Franko, President of the Management Board of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation. Photo: Miha Godec
Prof. Dr. Sonja Lojen, Bronze Donor (left) and Prof. Dr. Mladen Franko, President of the Management Board of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation. Photo: Miha Godec
Janez Novak, Bronze Donor (left) and Prof. Dr. Mladen Franko, President of the Management Board of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation. Photo: Miha Godec
Jurij Franko - accepted the Silver Donor award on Jane Robertson Blanch behalf (left) and Prof. Dr. Mladen Franko, President of the Management Board of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation. Photo: Miha Godec
Student Ivan Devetak (left) and Jurij Franko (right). Photo: Miha Godec
Student Ana Logar (left) and Prof. Boštjan Potokar, dean of the School of Arts (right). Photo: Miha Godec
Student Anastasija Kojić (left) and Prof. Boštjan Potokar, dean of the School of Arts (right). Photo: Miha Godec
Conferral of commemorative documents, awards and scholarships of the University of Nova Gorica Foundation. Photo: Miha Godec