Special commendations are awarded to students of the University of Ljubljana for achievements and participation in extracurricular activities.

Jaka Škoberne

Proposed by: Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana

With his dedicated work and talent, the guitarist Jaka Škoberne made a special name for himself as a musician and young artist during his studies, and achieved many notable successes. He has won first prizes at renowned competitions and has performed Astor Piazzolla's Double Concerto twice in collaboration with the Chamber String Orchestra of the Academy of Music of the University of Ljubljana under the direction of Associate Professor Janez Podlesek.

Rok Zaletel Černoš

Proposed by: Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana

The violinist Rok Zaletel Černoš stands out as a talented young artist, notably for his brilliant performance of H. Wieniawski's demanding Concerto No.1 in F-sharp minor with the accompaniment of the Slovenian Youth Orchestra. He is distinguished by his impeccable musical virtuosity and interpretation. He was awarded 2nd prize at the demanding Valsesia Musica International Competition in Italy and is the recipient of the Prešeren Prize for academic achievement.

Group of students for the spatial installation "CELLULAE #EDE941"

Nia Gombač, Strahinja Jovanović, Tine Lisjak, Hana Podvršič and Eva Popit

Proposed by: Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana

This group work by students of Visual Communication Design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana, is an intervention on the wall of the entrance hall of the new National Institute of Biology (NIB) building, a dynamic graphic design sculpture. The lenticular system allows viewers to move around the space to see an animated scene of structures in nature, visible under extreme magnification, and is an inventive fusion of science and design.

Group of students for the project "Echoes of Tomorrow"

Zoja Čepin, Hana Jelovšek, Domen Klinc, Jure Kralj, Maša Kralj, Andrija Mihailović, Gal Šnajder and Črt Štrubelj

Proposed by: Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana

An interdisciplinary team of industrial and graphic design students at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana successfully participated in the Milan Design Week's international call for proposals "In—difference" with their project "Echoes of Tomorrow". This outstanding exhibition brings a fresh perspective to the topics of drinking water and aquatic ecosystems, and questions in a thoughtful, creative and sustainable way various methods of coexistence in times of environmental and social crises.

Group of students from the Biotechnical Faculty

Gašper Korat, Luka Korošec and Eva Mustafa

Proposed by: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana

A team of students from the Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana has won several awards with its innovative approaches, knowledge and dedication. On their path of entrepreneurship and creating sustainable, innovative and healthy foods, the team members have achieved outstanding results in a competitive international environment. In December 2023, they founded the company NONSTOP FOOD d.o.o. and now regularly supply the Slovenian market with their products.

Miha Kosec

Proposed by: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana

Miha Kosec is an active student at the Biotechnical Faculty and the University of Ljubljana, having acted as President of the Faculty's Student Council from 2021 to 2023. He has served as Secretary, President and Vice President of the University of Ljubljana Student Council and as a member of several committees. Today, he serves as a student representative on the EUTOPIA Student Council and continues to advocate for student rights and improved study conditions at both the Faculty and the University of Ljubljana.

Lenart Piano

Proposed by: Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana

Lenart Piano is one of the most talented students of the Faculty of Architecture, the University of Ljubljana. His master's thesis, which deals with the production of concrete from industrial hemp and explores the possibilities of using this natural material in architecture, has achieved an incredible response both at home and abroad. He won the Plečnik Award for Student Achievements, was shortlisted for three Piranesi Award Student Honourable Mentions, and was one of the nine finalists for the EU Mies van der Rohe Young Talent Award.

Group of students taking part in the Simon Marais Mathematics Competition

Nejc Domnik, Lovro Drofenik, Katarina Grilj, Luka Horjak, Anja Laharnar, Tanja Luštrek, Jon Mikoš, Matevž Miščič, Jan Pantner, Luka Peruš, Job Petrovčič, Jošt Plevel, Kaja Rajter, Anej Rozman, Anja Rupnik, Matija Skrt, Jakob Šega, Tilen Šket, Hugo Trebše, Beno Učakar, Jaka Vrhovnik and Maša Žaucer

Proposed by: Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana

A group of 22 students from the Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Ljubljana took part in the Simon Marais Mathematics Competition in October 2023. They won the team prize in a competition between students from 18 universities from seven countries in the West Division of the competition. A lot of effort was put into this outstanding achievement imbued with team spirit. The students proudly represented the University of Ljubljana and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics.

Andrej Skočir

Proposed by: Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana

Andrej Skočir, a student of Computer and Information Science at the University of Ljubljana, is an elite athlete with top rankings in several running disciplines. At the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships Second Division in Poland he was part of the 4 x 100 m relay team that set a new national U23 record. In the same year, he became national champion in the 200 m, and took second place in the 100 m.

Zala Urh

Proposed by: Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana

Zala Urh, a student of Computer and Information Science, is an extremely successful chess player, currently second in the absolute ranking of women chess players in Slovenia. In 2024 she became a two-time national champion and won bronze. Internationally, she won the Mediterranean Flower Women's Chess Tournament and achieved high rankings at the European Chess Club Cup in Albania and the Mitropa Cup in Germany.

Danilo Češljarac and Aljaž Renko

Proposed by: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana

The two recipients are sixth-year students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana. In order to promote social dialogue, they organised and moderated a Medical Students' Consultation on Issues and Dilemmas on Euthanasia in June 2023, which was also supported by the management of our Faculty. This was the first event of its kind in the Slovenian higher education space, which provided a safe and professional environment for all students of the Faculty to expand their knowledge on this important topic.

Tasja Videmšek

Proposed by: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana

Tasja Videmšek, a final-year student of the master’s programme in Textile and Fashion Design, won over the jury of the Heimtextil University Contest with her innovative project Home textiles inspired by Bauhaus, and successfully presented herself as one of the three awarded finalists to the international public at the world's largest trade fair for decorative textiles, Heimtextil, in Frankfurt in January 2024.

Kristijan Briški

Proposed by: Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana

Throughout his studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana, Kristijan Briški has been proactive and involved in the organisation and coordination of numerous high-profile and successful projects. He is the Vice-President of the Faculty's Student Council, which he presided over in the academic years 2021/22 and 2022/23. He is a member of the Faculty Senate, the Student Affairs Committee and the Disciplinary Committee.  At the University of Ljubljana, he is a member of the Senate and Level II Student Disciplinary Board. He is also active at the level of the Student Organisation of the University of Ljubljana and the Student Organisation of Slovenia.

Flora Hawlina

Proposed by: Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana

Flora Hawlina is a fourth-year student and complements her studies by participating in various competitions and conferences, where she gains valuable experience and broadens her knowledge. She has been a member of the Senate of the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana (UL PF), a member of the Quality Assurance Committee and a member of the Board of the Student Organisation of the UL PF. In her final year she also took over the organisation of the UL Faculty of Law Concert.

Group of students taking part in the "CEEMC" competition

Peter Grašič, Ana Mestinšek Mubi and Lea Zahrastnik

Proposed by: Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana

Under the mentorship of Associate Prof. Dr Ana Vlahek, Assistant Masha Korošec, Žana Lapajna and Walter Maj Vidmar, students of the UL Faculty of Law – Lea Zahrastnik, Ana Mestinšek Mubi and Peter Grašič – won 1st place in the team competition at the Central and Eastern Europe Moot Competition – an international competition on the knowledge of EU law and the preliminary ruling procedure at the Court of Justice of the EU, which took place in Dubrovnik in April 2023.

Group of students taking part in the "PAX Moot" competition

Matej Igličar, Kaja Leban and Vid Lobnik

Proposed by: Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana

On 5 May 2023, the team of the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana won the prestigious international student competition "PAX Moot Court" in Antwerp. They prepared for the competition under the guidance of Urša Pirc and Tjaša Kalin, and under the mentorship of Assistant Filip Dougan. In addition to the team’s overall victory, Matej Igličar won the award for the best speaker.

Group of students for the SpaceDent project

Mitja Dergan, Rok Gerbec, Matic Hvala, Hana Prtenjak, Tine Šefic, Tomaž Škapin, Tomi Štucin and Tomaž Tomšič

Proposed by: Rector's Office, University of Ljubljana

Students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, are part of the multi-disciplinary research team of the SpaceDent project, which is part of the Academy Experiments programme. The project aims to take the first step in preparing dental medicine for multi-year missions to the Moon and Mars. Within the project, an extensive media campaign was also carried out to inspire students and the younger generation to get involved in space projects.

Group of students, members of the IVSA Organising Committee

Tara Česnik, Domen Maj Fras, Todorka Gjorgieva, Mia Hren, Dorian Ipavic, Špela Janežič, Metod Kolč, Gaj Kren Gorše, Samo Krivec, Jerneja Kuzma, Maj Lipnik, Rok Ojsteršek, Blaž Petelinek Ledinski, Nejc Peternelj, Ana Rošer, Franci Stopar and Nejc Trobevšek

Proposed by: Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana

In January 2023, students from the Veterinary Faculty at the University of Ljubljana organised the IVSA Symposium (IVSA – International Veterinary Students Association). They hosted around 150 veterinary students and veterinarians from all over the world. The symposium included expert presentations and workshops, as well as cultural and social events. The students created an outstanding blend of hospitality, professional education, and socialising through cultural and entertainment events.

Katja Benčin and Lara Erjavec

Proposed by: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana

Katja Benčin and Lara Erjavec's idea "T2T – From Trash to Treasure" won first place in the European "Pitch your Project” competition. Their idea promotes the circular economy in the Alpine region through a special app for the exchange of secondary raw materials between craftsmen and farmers. Their victory in the competition should be seen as a remarkable achievement, and recognition of their innovation and commitment to sustainable development.