Return on Investments of the VU Kaunas Faculty Sub-Fund for Ambassador Scholarships

As International Philanthropy Day approaches, Ambassador Scholarships were awarded for the first time at Vilnius University (VU) Kaunas Faculty to the most active students. The scholarships were funded from the return on investments of the VU Kaunas Faculty endowment sub-fund established by the Acme Group.

Scholarships ranging from €100 to €900 were awarded to nine students, with a total of €3,000 allocated for scholarships in the autumn semester. The recipients of the Ambassador Scholarships are:

• Lukas Atstupėnas, 2nd-year undergraduate student in Financial Analytics;

• Benjamin Dieckmann, 2nd-year undergraduate student in Financial Analytics;

• Mantas Kalinauskas, 4th-year undergraduate student in Economics and Management;

• Orinta Kasparavičiūtė, 3rd-year undergraduate student in Financial Analytics;

• Rimantė Kelpšaitė, 2nd-year undergraduate student in Information Systems and Cyber Security (English-taught);

• Rūta Kubiliūtė, 2nd-year undergraduate student in Audiovisual Translation: Accessibility of Digital Content;

• Guostė Markevičiūtė, 4th-year undergraduate student in Lithuanian Philology and Advertising: Content Creation and Marketing;

• Solveiga Pacevičiūtė, 4th-year undergraduate student in Lithuanian Philology and Advertising: Content Creation and Marketing;

• Austėja Simonaitytė, 3rd-year undergraduate student in Lithuanian Philology and Advertising.

While presenting symbolic scholarship cheques to the students, Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Giedrius Romeika noted: “Today we are pleased to celebrate students who have distinguished themselves in ambassadorial activities and who promote the Faculty’s name through their initiatives. By applying the knowledge gained at the university, they not only develop organizational skills through voluntary activities but also broaden their professional, cultural, academic, and life experience.”

“I believe that a university education not only provides knowledge but also shapes values—that every educated person should create good, and that a future leader should contribute to the development of talents and leaders through personal example and genuine philanthropy. It is gratifying and symbolic that, using funds from the VU Kaunas Faculty endowment sub-fund established by the ACME Group, founded by alumni of the Kaunas Faculty, we are continuing this sustainable and meaningful tradition,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Giedrius Romeika.

Kaunas Faculty ambassadors took care of the Faculty’s image during the annual Vilnius University academic year opening procession. Through educational games and guided tours, they introduced the Faculty and the history of its buildings to the city’s residents and guests during the celebration of Kaunas’ birthday.

The ambassadors also organized the well-known Kaunas commemorative event River of Souls, conducted educational activities for school students, volunteered at various events, created the podcast Left After Lectures, and formed and successfully led the Faculty’s basketball team, which represents the Faculty in the Kaunas Amateur Basketball League and in interfaculty competitions for the VU Rector’s Cup.

Student applications were evaluated by a commission composed of Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Daiva Aliūkaitė (Chair), student Raminta Počepavičiūtė, Director of the Institute of Languages, Literature and Translation Prof. Dr. Danguolė Satkauskaitė, and Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics Assoc. Prof. Dr. Indrė Ščiukauskė.

The scholarship is awarded twice a year—during the autumn and spring semesters—to first- and second-cycle students of all study programs offered at the Faculty who have no academic debts or disciplinary penalties. Scholarships are granted for active involvement in the Faculty’s external communication campaigns, promotion of study programs, and for representing the Faculty as ambassadors in Lithuania or abroad.

More information about the scholarship is available here.