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Rector's Awards Presented to Students and Staff for 2025, and Winners of the XII Photo Contest Announced

In the "Blessed Aloysius Card. Stepinac" Hall on the campus of the Catholic University of Croatia, a solemn academic ceremony was held on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, for the presentation of the Rector's Awards for the 2024/2025 academic year, the presentation of awards to employees and external associates, and the announcement of the winners of the XII University Photography Contest.

The gathered audience was initially addressed by Rector Professor Željko Tanjić, who noted:

This year's recipients of the Rector's Award are:

  • In the Excellence Category: Monika Knežević Dijanović, Master of Psychology, for her participation in three scientific projects, her work as a student demonstrator across multiple courses, her mentorship of incoming Erasmus+ students, and her engagement in organizing a scientific symposium.

  • In the Excellence Category: Adrijana Kikić, Master of History, for her intensive work as the secretary of the "Homo volans" History Student Club, her participation in the "Kliofest" festival, her presentation at the "In fonte veritas" conference, and her active contribution to the Volunteer Group and the University Chaplaincy.

  • Petra Kašnar, a third-year undergraduate student of Theological-Religious Sciences and Sociology, for promoting Catholic identity through her work in the University Chaplaincy, hosting the podcast of the "Mladi za domovinu" (Youth for the Homeland) association, and completing the animator-instructor program for the Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese of Zagreb.

  • Nora Kljajić, a third-year undergraduate student of Communication Studies, for her contribution to the development of the university community through volunteering at the Public Relations and Event Management Service, her activities in the Student Council and Chaplaincy, and her work on the organizing committee of the 2025 Summer School.

  • Katja Rončević, an integrated undergraduate and graduate student of Medicine, for her athletic achievements as a multiple national champion in artistic swimming, an accredited judge of the Croatian Artistic Swimming Federation, and a volunteer assistant coach.

On behalf of the awarded students, Nora Kljajić addressed the audience, emphasizing that at CUC they learn that knowledge gains its full value only when put at the service of others, in an environment where the student is viewed as a person with all their gifts and aspirations. During the musical interlude of the program, medical student Luka Ćevid performed the song "Iskra" by Damir Urban.

In the context of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the University's founding, the number of awards in individual categories was expanded this year, with awards presented across seven categories.

In the category of the Award for Excellence in Teaching, the recipients were Assistant Professor Vesna Mijoč from the Faculty of Health Studies, author of two textbooks and head of the Skills Lab, and Assistant Professor Ivan Uldrijan from the University Department of Communication Studies, the founder and mentor-editor of the student magazine Kompas.

The Award for Excellence in Scientific Research was received by Professor Livia Puljak, who ranks among the top 2% of scientists in the world for citation impact and who published 28 papers over the past year, and Assistant Professor Josip Ježovita, author of papers in prestigious Q1 and Q2 journals and the newly appointed head of the University Center for Lifelong Learning Programs.

For Encouragement and Achievements in Professional-Administrative, Technical, and General Affairs, the awards went to Ana Murphy, Head of the Rector's Office, who has been employed since 2010, and Tomislav Pipić, professional associate in the Department of Technical Affairs.

In the category of the Award for Institutional Contribution to the Development of the University, recognitions were received by Tomislav Jukl, Head of the University IT Unit, for successfully managing the complex process of digital transformation and introducing 110 business procedures, and Karla Žagi, PhD, from the University Department of Sociology, vice president of the CUC Alumni Association and head of a three-year accredited Croatian language learning project for foreigners funded by the Renovabis foundation. In the same category, awards were also presented to Professor Dubravko Habek for his crucial contribution to the development of Midwifery studies and the founding of the Faculty of Health Studies, and Professor Marta Čivljak, the first head of the University Department of Nursing and editor-in-chief of the scientific journal UniCath Journal of Biomedicine and Bioethics, which was included in the national database Hrčak this year.

The Award for Promoting Catholic Identity was presented to Assistant Professor Snježana Mališa for her consistent and recognizable promotion of Christian values in university life.

For the first time, awards were also presented in the category for External Associates and Friends of the University. The recipients are Professor Davor Vidas, legal science advisor who made an exceptional contribution to laying the foundations for the integrated study of Law, and Stanislava Rogić, a long-time advisor to the Rector and member of the Rector's Board, recognized for her pivotal contribution to the financial operations and strategic development of CUC.

On behalf of the awarded staff members, a speech of gratitude was delivered by Professor Marta Čivljak: 

The second part of the ceremony was dedicated to announcing the winners of the traditional photography contest, which this year, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, bore the theme "Francis' Imprint: 800 Years Later." The contest received 21 applications with a total of 55 photographs.

The President of the Evaluation Committee, Assistant Professor Krunoslav Novak, announced the three highest-ranked works, whose authors received monetary prizes sponsored by the Parish of Our Lady Queen of the Croats from Toronto:

  • First Prize (€200): Won by Franka Dobranić, a first-year student of Communication Studies, for the photograph "Love is Loved" (Ljubav biva ljubljena), depicting a Franciscan priest kissing the cross on Good Friday.

  • Second Prize (€150): Won by Luka Klišmanić, a third-year student of Psychology, for the photograph "Garo, Milica, Sonja, Mara...", showing a portrait of an encounter and a retired sailor's care for animals.

  • Third Prize (€100): Won by Mihaela Paluh, a third-year student of Communication Studies, for the photograph "Noise Without Sound" (Buka bez zvuka), which themes finding inner peace and silence in a busy and noisy environment.

The academic ceremony concluded with the student anthem Gaudeamus igitur, after which an exhibition featuring the 20 highest-ranked student photographs was officially opened on the first floor of Building B, which is open for viewing.