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Making us proud: Students receive special recognition from rector

They manage to combine demanding studies at Charles University with elite-level sports training and outstanding representation of the Czech Republic in international competitions. They achieve exceptional results in science and research. On Tuesday, 12 November, a group of four students received the Rector's Extraordinary Prize from Milena Králíčková, rector of Charles University.

Matěj Havlas, Vice-Rector Markéta Martínková, Rector Milena Králíčková, Martin Juhaščik, Alžběta Veverková, and Ondřej Perušič (from left to right).

Charles University Rector Milena Králíčková reminded invitees of the purpose of this award: “The aim is to honour students who achieve extraordinary results during their studies and who, in addition, engage in other activities, representing Charles University in an outstanding manner. Today’s ceremony demonstrates that within Charles University, there are many talents not only in their fields of study but also in numerous other areas. As rector, along with the deans and the entire leadership, we felt genuine pride and joy in selecting the laureates for these extraordinary awards, knowing that there are so many of you in our academic community—or, as I like to call it, our academic family. By receiving this prize and having your names recorded among the awardees, you become a permanent part of our university’s history,” the rector emphasised - wishing the laureates success in their future journeys.

The entire ceremony was led by Charles University Vice-Rector for Student Affairs Markéta Martínková, who explained that the Rector awards this prize to students for actions or activities undertaken during their studies that demonstrate exceptional civic courage or selflessness, for achieving outstanding results in science and research, or for earning prestigious recognition in cultural or artistic activities, or for excellent sports achievements in international competitions.

The Rector's Extraordinary Prize for the academic year 2022/2023 was awarded to:

Alžběta Veverková, a fifth-year student of the Master's programme in General Medicine at the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University..

She successfully balanced her studies with elite sports activities without applying for an individual study plan. She represents the Czech Republic at the highest international level in sprint canoeing. In the 2023 season, she became the European Champion in the U23 long race marathon discipline, and in this event, she also won a silver medal at the World Championship. She secured 4th place at the European Championship in the senior category and placed 4th and 6th at the World Championship.

Matěj Havlas, a fourth-year student of the Master’s programme in General Medicine at the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University.

He successfully combines his demanding medical studies with representing the Czech Republic in floorball at world championships. His academic and sporting achievements are exemplary. He is the Czech national champion in floorball, and at the World Championship in November 2022, he contributed significantly to winning the silver medal. With five goals, he was the top scorer for the Czech team and was named the best player in three of the six matches, including the final.

Martin Juhaščik, a graduate of the doctoral programme in Pharmaceutical Technology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Hradec Králové (graduated in May 2024).

He is researching the potential topical application of hyaluronic acid with skin sphingolipids. The significant potential of this research lies in the possibility of applying these substances to healthy or diseased skin. His research resulted in a simple and efficient design for preparing hyaluronic acid conjugates with skin lipids that spontaneously aggregate into nanoparticles capable of encapsulating pharmaceutically or cosmetically active substances. He prepared, characterised these conjugates, and developed an efficient production method, which, in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company, led to the submission of a Czech patent application. The results of his work were also published in prestigious journals

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Ondřej Perušič, a second-year student of the Master’s programme in General History and Political Theory at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University.

He, along with his partner David Schweiner, ranks among the world’s top beach volleyball players. Key milestones in his career include the 2023 World Championship title, the 2022 European Championship silver medal, the title of the second-best athlete in the Czech Republic in 2023, and the title of 16th best athlete in Europe in 2023. He participated in the Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris. He also actively engages in the academic community at the Faculty of Arts, both in calm times and during very challenging periods. Starting in the 2024/2025 academic year, he is also a first-year student in the doctoral programme in Theoretical Legal Sciences – Constitutional Law and State Theory at the Faculty of Law, Charles University. You can read an interview with Ondřej Perušič, conducted shortly after he and David Schweiner won the World Championship in beach volleyball, in Charles University’s Forum magazine.

TEXT: Helena Zdráhalová

PHOTOS: Hynek Glos