Universidad San Jorge recognized dozens of students who combine university studies with high-level athletic competition at its Gala del Deporte USJ 2026, awarding scholarships and special honors at a ceremony that university and regional officials said proves academic excellence and sporting performance can advance together, Heraldo de Aragón reported.
The event, held in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Communication and Social Sciences, brought together students, families, institutional representatives and members of the university community. Attending were Silvia Carrascal, the university’s rector; Lourdes Diego, vice-rector for Students and University Extension; and Cristina García, director general of Sport for the Gobierno de Aragón.
Scholarships Awarded to 13 Individual-Sport Athletes
The university presented its Becas Deporte Universitario USJ 2026, aimed at individual-sport athletes who excel in both academic and sporting settings. The recipients were Roberto Asún, Elena Casajús, Paula Gariburo, Carla Larruga and Daniela Roche.
Separately, the Becas para Deportistas Aragoneses de Alto Rendimiento — awarded jointly by Universidad San Jorge and the Gobierno de Aragón for a third year — went to Paula Aranda, Ana María Filló, Israe Rahali, Marta Sánchez and Pablo Sierra. Three students received both scholarships: Mireya Arnedillo, Alexander Jurado and Candela Pérez.
The gala also recognized students who represented the university at national and international championships: Raquel Zihan Calvo, Mikel Armañanzas, Aiara Garaialde, Alexander Jurado, Julia Muñoz, Marcos Palazón, Candela Pérez, Israe Rahali, Yacme Rubio Calvo and Amaury Samson.
Rugby Teams and Medalists Take the Spotlight
Judoka Joane Buldain stood out with three medals — one silver and two bronze — while Andrea Palazón collected three silver medals and one bronze across recent editions of the university championships.
The women’s rugby sevens team received special recognition for finishing runner-up at the Torneo Universitario Haizean, held in Bayonne in April.
More Than 800 Students Take Part in University Sport
Diego, the vice-rector, underlined the scale of sport at the university: more than 2,000 people participate in its sports activity, with over 800 students involved on a regular basis. She thanked the Gobierno de Aragón for its collaboration in developing Aragonese sporting talent through the Plan de Apoyo Universitario Aragonés de Alto Rendimiento, which allows athletes from the region to benefit from university services including physiotherapy. She described the gala as a deserved tribute to students who are, in her words, a true example for the entire university community.
Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Buldain shared her personal experience and thanked the university’s faculty for the support that made it possible to combine studies and competition. She recalled her path since leaving her hometown to train in Zaragoza and stressed the importance of continuing to support university athletes at a stage of life when they often feel forced to choose between competing and focusing exclusively on their studies. Sport, she said, should not be something people leave behind when they become adults.
Officials Frame Sport as Part of a Complete Education
García, the regional government’s director general of Sport, highlighted the daily effort put in by the students and the importance of initiatives that allow high-level sport to coexist with university training. She thanked Universidad San Jorge for its role in developing sporting talent and noted that athletes also serve as ambassadors for Aragón inside and outside the region.
In her closing remarks, rector Carrascal presented sport as a fundamental tool of integral education, telling students that sport does not occupy a space separate from their training but forms part of it. Through sport, she said, students develop habits such as discipline, consistency and self-demand, along with values like teamwork, respect and humility. She added that the scholarships awarded during the event represent far more than financial aid, saying they are a concrete way of telling the athletes that the university sees their effort, values their dedication and wants to accompany them. She reaffirmed the shared commitment between Universidad San Jorge and the Gobierno de Aragón to ensure young athletes can develop their talent without being forced to give up either of their vocations prematurely.
Questions Readers Ask About the USJ Sports Gala
What is the Gala del Deporte USJ? It is Universidad San Jorge’s annual ceremony recognizing students who combine university studies with high-level sport. The 2026 edition was held in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Communication and Social Sciences.
How many scholarships were awarded? Thirteen students received scholarships across the two programs: five in the university sports scholarship, five in the Aragonese high-performance scholarship, and three received both.
Which teams were honored?
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