Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

UNIMORE Honours Sporting and Academic Excellence: Awards Presented for the 2025/2026 Unimore Sport Excellence Programme

Established in 2017, the programme promotes the dual career model by providing practical support to help students combine academic study with competitive sport. These measures include dedicated academic tutors, flexible study pathways and the issue of a Diploma Supplement certifying both academic and sporting achievements.

For the 2025/2026 academic year, 99 students (46 women and 53 men) were admitted to the programme, representing all University departments and a wide range of sports, including athletics, volleyball, swimming, rugby, taekwondo and archery.

Alongside these support services, the programme also provides financial benefits: this year, 5 scholarships and 6 accommodation grants were awarded.

“Mattia Dall’Aglio” Scholarships

The scholarships, worth €2,500 each, were established in memory of student athlete Mattia Dall’Aglio, who passed away in August 2017. Supported each year by his family together with a group of friends, the initiative rewards students who achieve outstanding sporting and academic results.

The winners of the 2025/2026 edition are:

• Massimo Schiavoni, a Management Engineering student and national university volleyball champion with the UNIMORE team, which has qualified for the 2026 European Universities Games;
• Andrea Dallari, a Computer Science student and competitive lifesaving swimmer, multiple Italian, World and European champion, and holder of international records;
• Greta Guaita, a Biological Sciences student and taekwondo athlete, gold medallist at the Italian Cup and a leading competitor at both national and European level.

“Aldo Brandoli” Scholarship

This award, also worth €2,500, is dedicated to the memory of Aldo Brandoli, the long-serving secretary of CUS Modena. Having devoted around forty years to the University Sports Centre, Brandoli is remembered for his close support of student athletes, accompanying them not only in their sporting and academic development, but also in their personal growth.

The award was presented to Mattia Marazzoli, a Biomedical Laboratory Techniques student and silver medallist at the World University Cross Country Championships.

“SAU Group” Scholarship

Now in its sixth edition, the scholarship is supported by a leading company based in the Modena area. The winner is Aurora Vicini, a student in Data Analysis for Business and Healthcare Finance, Italian indoor high jump champion and gold medallist at the 2025 National University Championships.

“UNIMORE continues to demonstrate its commitment to recognising the talent of student athletes by supporting an inclusive educational model focused on excellence,” said Professor Silvia Ferrari, Delegate for Sport. “The results achieved highlight the strength of the dual career programme and the continued growth of university sport.”

Alongside the awards ceremony, the University is preparing for the upcoming National University Championships, scheduled to take place from 23 to 31 May at the University of Eastern Piedmont, with a delegation of more than 100 athletes.

“Congratulations to all the student athletes involved in the USE project, who have achieved significant results both academically and in sport. Today we also send off the entire CUS delegation preparing to compete in the National University Championships. This year our University Sports Centre stands out as the only one in Italy to have entered teams in every discipline, qualifying for the finals in men’s and women’s volleyball, football and rugby. Finally, special good wishes go to the men’s volleyball team, which will compete in the European Universities Championships in Salerno this July, proudly representing UNIMORE and CUS at international level,” said Diego Caravaglios, President of CUS Mo.Re.

UNIMORE once again confirms its position among the most active and competitive universities in Italy, successfully combining high-level academic education with sporting excellence.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng