Valauskas Sub-Fund Scholarships Awarded, Honorary Wall of Patrons Unveiled at VU Faculty of Medicine

The John & Ida Valauskas Endowment Sub-Fund Scholarships were awarded to the four best-performing students with the highest grade averages at the meeting of the VU Faculty of Medicine Council on 25th of March, 2025. The scholarships were granted to the students of Medicine programme:

• Greta Ramonaitė, a 5th year student (Lithuanian programme);
• Edgaras Zaboras, a 4th year student (Lithuanian programme);
• Nazar Haponchuk, a 4th year student (English programme);
• Milan Jan Spotowski, a 5th year student (English programme).

The Dean, Prof. Dalius Jatužis, handed over the symbolic scholarship vouchers to the students and was very glad, saying: „Today we want to give special recognition to the students whose achievements inspire us, and make us proud. You are the shining lights of our University, the future leaders who will treat and teach us, and make our Faculty of Medicine famous in Lithuania and abroad. Your efforts and perseverance have not been in vain – your loyalty to the University and your diligence is the example to all of us“.

The competition for the John & Ida Valauskas Scholarship is open to all students of the Faculty of Medicine with good grades, who have not yet received a scholarship from this Sub-Fund and have been studying for at least five semesters. The scholarships are awarded in March every year. Recipients of the scholarships are selected on the basis of academic achievements.

During the festive Council meeting, the Honorary Wall of Patrons at the VU Faculty of Medicine was presented to the community and guests, honoring Canadian Lithuanian dental doctors Dr. Angelė Matildė Kazlauskas (1935–2020) and Dr. Sigitas Pranas Kazlauskas (1935–2005), John Valauskas (1905–1994) and Ida Mačiukaitė-Valauskienė (1909–1995), as well as Sophie Valentina Ambroza (1915–2004) for their significant philanthropic contributions.

The CEO of the VU Foundation, Justinas Noreika, expressed his delight that Western traditions of recognizing patrons are gaining momentum at Vilnius University, encouraging philanthropy and fostering the academic community’s gratitude toward supporters. Various initiatives, such as honorary patron walls and the establishment of named scholarships, contribute to strengthening the culture of philanthropy at the University.