In the first edition, one student received the “Martim Lancastre” Scholarship. In the second edition, there were two. This year, in the third edition, four Técnico students received the “Martim Lancastre” Scholarship. The ceremony took place on 7th December, in the Civil Engineering building of Alameda Campus. The awarded students attend the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Programme, but Industrial Engineering and Management students can also apply for the scholarship.
Alexandre Francisco, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, congratulated the four students “for being recognised for their effort, work and commitment”. He also thanked the patrons “for their support and recognition, particularly for the special significance” of this scholarship, which honours the memory of a boy who dreamt of studying Mechanical Engineering.
José Contreras Lopes received this scholarship during his first year in Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Programme. Now he is attending the third year, and his scholarship was renewed. According to the student, it is “a precious help”, words echoed by Carolina Cardoso, who received the scholarship for the second time.
This is the first time that Lara Sofia Pereira receives this support. “I’ll make the most of it and honour the cause it supports,” she said with a smile on her face. Bruno Miguel Borges, another student who also received the scholarship for the first time, confessed that he is “not good at public speaking”, drawing laughter from those present when he showed the ‘cheat sheet’ containing the speech he had prepared for the occasion. “Choosing Técnico was easy, mainly because of its prestige and importance, but the difficulties arose because I am displaced student,” said the student from Portalegre. Students receiving this scholarship are required to complete volunteer hours. In his case, he will make contact with disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the area.
As in previous years, the event was attended by patrons Diogo Chalbert, the person responsible for the creation of the scholarship, and Martim Lancastre’s parents. There were also new patrons, partners from an architecture studio, who made it possible to award the scholarship to a greater number of students. Diogo Chalbert celebrated this expansion: “My heart is full to see that this scholarship programme is growing, with more students and new people honouring Martim’s memory”.
