The Rector of the Miguel Hernández University (UMH), Jesús Pastor Ciurana, and the President of the UMH Social Council, Francisco Borja Miralles, presided over the ceremony, which was attended by various authorities and prominent figures from the social, political, and economic spheres of the Valencian Community, as well as representatives from the social councils of several Spanish universities.

Students Tania Verdú Moles, Isidro Cutillas Rodríguez, and Miriam Martínez Guirao received the Student Award. The Research Award was given to Francisco Eduardo Rodríguez Valera, Director of the Evolutionary Genomics Group.

In the Young Researchers category, the award went to Professor Tatiana Sentamans Gómez, from the Department of Art. The Teaching Excellence Award was granted to Professors José Luis Micol Molina, from the Faculty of Experimental Sciences, and Concepción Paredes Gil, from the Higher Polytechnic School of Orihuela. This award is presented within the framework of an agreement signed between the UMH (Miguel Hernández University of Elche) and the Regional Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport.

The Soledad Group, comprised of companies such as Neumáticos Soledad, ConfortAuto, and InsaTurbo, received the Companies and Institutions award. This award recognizes its track record and efforts in collaboration with the UMH. The Innovation in Management award was given to the “Creation of the Purchasing Unit” initiative, presented by the Asset Management Service, whose director is Francisca Isabel Moya García.

The Social Council presented the Best University Athlete award to Marina Fabregat Jaén, an athlete from Elche, regional university champion, and Spanish junior runner-up in the 800 meters. An Honorary Award was also granted to tennis player Juan Carlos Ferrero for his close collaboration with the University, coinciding with the year of his retirement from professional tennis.

In the Corporate and Patronage Chairs category, the award went to the Family Medicine Chair, directed by Vicente Gil Guillén and in which LILLY, S.A. participates. Likewise, in the UMH Institutional Chairs category, which recognizes the achievements of individuals or entities within each of the University’s Chairs, the awardees were Miguel Hernández researcher Gaspar Peral Baeza for the Miguel Hernández Chair, sports journalist Santiago Gambín Hernández for the Pedro Ibarra Chair, and the Capella del Misteri d’Elx for the Misteri d’Elx Chair.

The Social Relevance award was given to Emilio Cano Cerdán, former president of the Council and Honorary Patron of the UMH Science and Business Park. Finally, the Social Council awarded the Elche Alzheimer’s Family Association (AFAE) in the Non-Profit Organizations category.

In addition, this year’s awards ceremony featured performances by Valencian soprano Yolanda Marín and the Capella del Misteri d’Elx.