22 May 2025
The First Edition of the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships: A Resounding Success
It is a privilege to witness a project we have supported from the very beginning reach its defining moment. In September 2024, after months of work and planning, the first edition of the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships of Fundación Occident reached its peak: an emotional award ceremony and the launch of a training program that will support scholarship recipients throughout their academic and professional journey. Being part of this initiative is an honor, especially now, as the launch of a new edition in 2025 transforms it into something even greater: a growing community of talented, barrier-free young people.
On September 27, 2024, the iconic Torre Bellesguard in Barcelona set the stage for the award ceremony of the first edition of the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships. Amid applause, joyful smiles, and a few emotional tears, the 12 scholarship recipients and their families had the opportunity to meet and share a truly special moment.
The ceremony, hosted by journalist Núria Ramírez, began with a warm welcome to the scholarship recipients, who had travelled from different regions across Spain. In this first edition, a total of 85 applications were submitted from 15 different autonomous communities: 57 through the first admission pathway, aimed at first-generation university students, and 28 through the second, focused on supporting the first generation of women in STEM.
Following the speeches by Laura Halpern, President of Fundación Occident, and María Huertas, representative of the evaluation committee, came the most anticipated moment: the awarding of diplomas. One by one, the scholarship recipients took the stage to receive their recognition and be captured in a photograph symbolizing the effort and excitement with which they begin this journey. Afterwards, they shared their first impressions and expectations for this new chapter in a brief group conversation. The day concluded on a high note with an inspiring talk by Fátima Crispi, physician and researcher at BCNatal (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), who emphasized the importance of perseverance and personal growth in both academic and professional life.
@fundacionoccident Nuestros #becadosJS están listos para saltar todas las barreras y cambiar su futuro.🚀✨ Además, a los 11 becados y becadas que aparecen en el vídeo y que nos acompañaron el pasado septiembre a la ceremonia de entrega de las #BecasJS, ¡se les ha unido Jorge López! Jorge viene de Archena, en Murcia. Siempre ha sentido un fuerte interés por la política y el derecho. Por eso, ha decidido estudiar el grado de Derecho en la Universidad de Murcia⚖️. Gracias a las #BecasJS estos 12 jóvenes recibirán el apoyo y el acompañamiento que necesitan para convertirse en la próxima generación de médicas, ingenieros, matemáticas, abogados… ¿Quieres conocer sus historias? Tienes más información sobre ellos en nuestra página web. 🌐 #becas #becasespaña #educación #becasenespaña #estudiantesuniversitarios #fundacionoccident #AportodoconOccident @carmenberennguer @noa_s_f @olatzz_s @occidentseguros ♬ sonido original – Fundación Occident
This is the video we created for Fundación Occident’s Instagram and TikTok channels to introduce the scholarship recipients. It has already surpassed 343.2K views.
In addition to taking part in the selection and evaluation process, UbiK Media conceptualized and organized the final event—from designing the ceremony’s structure and writing the script and run of show, to creating all audiovisual and creative materials, and managing the full logistics, including guest coordination and venue management. We poured our hearts into every detail to make the day a truly memorable experience, and we are very proud of the result.
“Charlas con expertos”, a program designed to inspire through diverse role models
Beyond financial support, the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships include a training program designed to provide students with tools and role models to support their academic and professional development. In January, we launched the virtual talk series “Saltar todas las barreras: charlas con expertos”, aimed at connecting and inspiring scholarship recipients through real stories of professionals who have achieved success in their fields.
We kicked off the series with Jaume Ripoll, co-founder of Filmin, who shared his experience in the world of cinema and entrepreneurship in digital content platforms. He reflected on the concept of success: “One of the key factors for success is innovating without fear; we only discover new things when we allow ourselves to get lost.”
And in March, we had the pleasure of welcoming Nerea Roldán, physiotherapist and co-founder of the NGO Ser Madre, Ser Mujer, who spoke about her work to reduce maternal and infant mortality and to empower girls and women in Africa through education on health and reproductive rights.
We love that scholarship recipients get to experience these unique opportunities. That’s why we carefully select role models with the most inspiring profiles and take charge of coordinating and moderating each session to ensure a meaningful learning environment and a truly enriching experience.
A Future Without Barriers
The first edition of the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships has made a strong start, establishing itself as a transformative initiative for talented and determined young people. The award ceremony and the first expert talks marked the beginning of a journey in which these students will not only gain access to a university education, but also receive well-rounded support to successfully face the challenges of their professional future.
But this community continues to grow. In April 2025, the call for applications for the second edition of the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships was opened, offering a new opportunity for more students to benefit from the program. At UbiK, we reaffirm our commitment to Fundación Occident and, while we are fully engaged in the outreach and application review process, we are already counting down the days until we meet the 12 new recipients of this edition.
If you’d like to know all the details, take a look at the Jesús Serra Undergraduate Scholarships page on Fundación Occident’s website and social media channels.
