Técnico student distinguished with the Jerónimo Martins Merit Award
Sofia Varandas, a student in the BSc in Industrial Engineering and Management (LEGI) at Instituto Superior Técnico, was the winner of the 4th edition of the Jerónimo Martins Merit Award. Valued at €2,250, the prize annually distinguishes the student with the best performance among those newly enrolled in the degree.
The award ceremony took place on the Oeiras campus on 30 September and brought together the five students with the highest final admission scores in the 1st phase of Portugal’s national higher-education entrance contest, selected from eight candidates. Each participant addressed the jury—Tânia Pinto Varela and António Ribeiro (Técnico faculty) and Paulo Jesus (Jerónimo Martins Group)—with a presentation of up to five minutes on their goals and perspectives for the course.
During the presentations, the candidates Diogo Hipólito, Madalena Moura, Maria Pinto, Mariana Teixeira, and Sofia Varandas shared their motivations for choosing the programme and reflected on how training in this field can respond to current challenges faced by companies such as the Jerónimo Martins Group, a member of the Técnico Partners Network.
The President of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, congratulated the selected students, highlighting that “students already arrive at the School with great potential, and it is up to Técnico to provide the best conditions for them to develop their talent and give that value back to society.” He also emphasised that partnerships with companies like Jerónimo Martins are essential to create the conditions that foster students’ academic success.
Opening the ceremony, Paulo Jesus, Head of Learning & Innovation at the Jerónimo Martins Group and a member of the jury, underlined the importance of supporting the talent and versatility of Técnico students from the very start of their academic journey. He also noted that, as a large company, Jerónimo Martins offers opportunities across multiple areas, and that closer engagement with students helps them better understand these possibilities.
The ceremony also featured a testimonial from Inês Silva, the laureate in the 2024/2025 academic year, who shared the impact of the distinction on her academic path and encouraged the finalists to seize the opportunities that may arise from it.
In addition to the individual distinction, the award includes a €1,500 donation to the coordination of the degree programme within Técnico’s Department of Engineering and Management (DEG). Representing the department, José Figueira, a Técnico faculty member, thanked the company for its contribution, noting that the funds will be directed towards improving teaching resources and implementing innovative methodologies that enhance educational excellence.
The partnership between Técnico and Jerónimo Martins, strengthened over the years, reinforces the School’s ties to industry and stands out as the only initiative that recognises the talent of newly-enrolled students at Técnico.