Sport talents are not only born in courts, stadiums and pitches, but also in the university classrooms of the Valencian Community. The Trinidad Alfonso Foundation is so sure of this that they have renewed their commitment to the eight Valencian universities through UniEsports 2026 for the tenth year. This initiative is driven by the association presided by Juan Roig with the goal of promoting university sports and monetarily reward athletes for their efforts in sports and in their studies. Last Monday, the gala where this collaboration agreement was signed was hosted at the facilities of the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló. This event gathered principals, vice-principals and institutional representatives from the various universities, as well as the Foundation director, Juan Miguel Gómez. This image symbolises much more than an agreement, it reflects a strategic alliance for the present and the future of university sports.

The Universitat Jaume I principal, Eva Alcón; the Universidad Católica de Valéncia San Vicente Mártir (UCV) principal, José Manuel Pagán; the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) principal, José Esteban Capilla; the Campus Saludables i Esports of the Universitat Miguel Hernández (UMH) delegate principal, Raúl Reina; the Universidad de Alicante (UA) principal, Amparo Navarro; the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera (CEU-UCH) vice-principal, Javier Montañez; the Sports Service of the Universitat de València (UV) director, Ana María Gómez; the Universidad Europea de Valencia (UE) principal, Rosa Sanchidrián; and the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation director, Juan Miguel Gómez, attended the event.

UniEsport is an initiative with a very clear goal: to raise awareness of the importance of making sports and studies compatible for younger people. It is for this reason that the programme plans to promote and strengthen university sports, award students who manage to balance high performances in sports and education, and turn them into ambassadors for the sports community both inside and outside our national borders. This way, renewing the agreement consolidates a collaboration that has covered all aspects of university sports for ten years. From supporting students who compete in high-level sports while pursuing their studies, to providing financial support to those who participate in international tournaments. The visibility of the Autonomous Community University Sports Championship (CADU) is also being reinforced and the Comunitat de l'Esport brand is being promoted, which will continue to be featured on the official sports kits of the universities.

10th Trinidad Alfonso Foundation Awards

The gala also featured the presentation of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation Awards to university athletes with outstanding academic records. This is the tenth edition of an award that recognizes excellence in both academic performance and high-level sports. Each year, 16 awards are given—one male and one female for each university—with a prize of €1,000 and a commemorative plaque, intended for students who combine their university studies with sports. Moreover, two annual Extraordinary Prizes are awarded to the best male and female athlete who have already finished their university studies in the Valencian Community. These awards, which grant 2000 euros and a commemorative plaque, symbolise the Foundation’s commitment to an integral approach to success: training people who are prepared, competitive and with principles.

Trinidad Alfonso Foundation Awards to the best athletes of 2025

During the event celebrated on Monday, the awards corresponding to the 2025 edition were given:

• Universitat de València
  • Lucas Orduña, for the paddle tennis category
  • Victoria Andrés, for the skating category
• Universitat Politècnica de València
  • Bernat Ferrer, for the mountain race category
  • Pau Gimeno, freestyle wrestling category
• Universidad de Alicante
  • Izan Edo, for the triathlon category
  • Judit Farrando, for the basketball category
• Universitat Jaume I
  • Pablo Alba, for the athletics and cross country running categories
  • Silvia Doñate, for the chess category
• Universitat Miguel Hernández
  • Héctor Martín, for the football and athletics categories
  • Vladislava Bulat, for the swimming and athletics categories
• Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera
  • Satcha Flageul, for the surfin category
  • Sophy Zimmermann, for the sailing category
• Universidad Católica de Valencia
  • Ignacio Franch, for the basketball category
  • Evelyn Yankey, for the athletics category
• Universidad Europea de Valencia
  • Bruno Bozzo, for the motocross category
  • Alejandra Seguí, for the triathlon category

Trinidad Alonso Foundation extraordinary prizes to the best graduate students in the Valencian Community universities.

• Francesc d'Assís, from the Universidad Católica de Valencia, for the basketball category. 
• Alba Rei, from the Universitat Politècnica de València, for the karate category.