In recognition of the growing link between higher education and regional development in the Azores, graduate student Catarina Resendes has been awarded the Excellence Prize from EDA S.A. as the top student in the Master of Business Administration program at the University of the Azores.

The award ceremony is scheduled for April 16 at 6:00 p.m., in Amphitheater VIII on the university’s campus in Ponta Delgada. The event, open to the public, will bring together academic leaders, industry representatives, and students in a moment that reflects both academic achievement and broader regional aspirations.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Excellence Prize—valued at €1,500—honors the student with the highest final grade in the MBA program offered by the Faculty of Economics and Management. Beyond its monetary value, the award signals a deeper institutional partnership between EDA and the university, one rooted in a shared commitment to cultivating talent and strengthening the region’s human capital.

EDA, the Azores’ leading energy company, frames the initiative as part of its wider social responsibility strategy. In a statement, the company emphasized the importance of education and lifelong learning as pillars for building a more innovative and sustainable society—an investment not only in its own future workforce, but in the long-term development of the region itself.

The ceremony will also feature a keynote lecture titled “Financial Sustainability vs. Environmental Sustainability: How to Find the Balance?” delivered by Rodrigo Costa, a member of the company’s board. The theme reflects a central tension shaping both corporate strategy and public policy in island economies, where environmental stewardship and economic viability are often deeply intertwined.

Additional remarks will be delivered by Amélia Fonseca, representing the university’s rector, alongside João Teixeira and Gualter Câmara, who will highlight the collaborative framework that supports academic excellence in the Azores.

Attendees will receive a certificate of participation, underscoring the event’s role not just as a ceremony but alsoas a forum for dialogue on education, sustainability, and the future of the islands.

In a region where geography often shapes opportunity, moments like these point to a different kind of horizon—one defined by knowledge, merit, and the quiet but powerful work of building a more resilient society.

In Atlântico Expresso, Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.