Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Giovanni Bonadonna awarded UniMORE’s “Ing. Giorgio Ferrari Memorial Scholarship”

Giovanni Bonadonna, a student on the two-year MSc in Energy Engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMORE), has been awarded the first “Ing. Giorgio Ferrari Memorial Scholarship” for the 2025/2026 academic year. Worth €5,000, the scholarship is funded by the late engineer’s widow to support a deserving student throughout their studies and keep Giorgio Ferrari’s memory alive.

The scholarship aims to pass on to future generations of engineers the values that shaped Giorgio Ferrari’s professional career: a spirit of service, technical expertise and a European outlook. His legacy looks to the future, supporting the development of professionals equipped to tackle energy challenges through sound knowledge and a strong commitment to international collaboration.

The initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between universities and private donors in recognising merit and creating tangible opportunities for young people, helping to develop the skills needed to address the ongoing transformation of the energy sector.

The award ceremony took place on Thursday 15 October 2026 at the Buccola–Bisi Pavilion, within the San Lazzaro complex in Reggio Emilia. Those in attendance included Professor Diego Angeli, Chair of the degree programme; Professor Elena Degoli, Head of the Department of Engineering Sciences and Methods (DISMI); and engineer Barbara Tegoni, President of the Reggio Emilia Order of Engineers. Professor Linda Magnani, Giorgio Ferrari’s widow and the scholarship’s benefactor, also attended, alongside colleagues and friends of the late engineer. Among them were engineer Alfredo Heinen, his former colleague at Ansaldo; Dr Giuseppe Adriano Rossi; and Professor Luigi Grasselli, who collaborated with him on several books.

“As the Department of Engineering Sciences and Methods, we are proud to host the first edition of this award, which recognises the merit and commitment of talented young people such as Giovanni Bonadonna,” said Professor Elena Degoli, Head of DISMI. “The scholarship named after engineer Giorgio Ferrari is an excellent example of the positive partnership between the University and private donors. Such partnerships are essential to providing our students with tangible opportunities and promoting high-level expertise in the energy sector. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Professor Linda Magnani and engineer Ferrari’s family for their invaluable contribution and their support for our academic community. Thanks to their generosity, we can preserve the engineer’s memory and pass on his values to future generations.”

“It is a great personal satisfaction and a reward for the efforts I have made over the past few years,” said Giovanni Bonadonna. “I would like to thank engineer Ferrari’s family for making this scholarship available. Above all, it was a day of remembrance, as well as an award ceremony. I would also like to thank my family for the efforts they have made, and continue to make, to give me the opportunity to study, as well as all the lecturers I have met throughout my academic journey, from the very beginning to the present day, who have inspired and nurtured my passion for energy engineering.”

Curriculum Vitae

Giovanni Bonadonna was born in Sassuolo on 27 March 1999 and lives in Fiorano Modenese. On 18 February 2025, he graduated in Management Engineering, specialising in Production and Energy, with a final mark of 101/110. His dissertation, entitled The Impact of Fouling in Filters on the Performance of Air Conditioning Systems, explored an issue relating to the efficiency of air conditioning systems.

During his degree, he completed a placement at System Electronics in Fiorano Modenese, gaining valuable professional experience. Alongside his studies, he also worked as a delivery driver and tutored secondary school students in mathematics, physics and electrical engineering. He further broadened his personal experience by spending several months in Cork, Ireland.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng