Eina Foundation gives Grants for New Access students to the Bachelor of Design with the intention of stimulating vocation and excellence in the field of design, awards that have been obtained for the academic year 2024-2025 by Oscar Martínez García- Villarrubia, Talent Grant; together with Oriol Garcia Tomas, Danna Piernas Alcarria and Maria Sansone Bergamo, New Access Grant.
This academic year Laura Lange i Fernadez has also been awarded the Extraordinary Prize of the Eina Foundation, which values excellence in the achievement of objectives, talent, motivation and effort, and is a recognition of the academic and personal merits of this first-year student of the Bachelor of Design.
From left to right: Danna Piernas Alcarria, Oscar Martínez García-Villarrubia, Oriol Garcia Tomas, Laura Lange i Fernadez, and Maria Sansone Bergamo.
All of them comment on what winning these awards has meant for them and why they have chosen Eina to study the Bachelor of Design:
Oscar Martínez García-Villarrubia, Eina Foundation Talent Grant
Oscar stresses that the reason for choosing Eina ‘is because of its curriculum, which allows students to choose their path within the field of design and discover what they really like. In addition, in the open doors and information sessions I have perceived a warmth on the part of the centre's staff that has made me feel very comfortable and this has been the decisive point for my choice’.
He has studied at the Ramon Barbat i Miracle Institute in Vila-Seca, Tarragona, and will now move to Barcelona to do the Bachelor of Design at Eina. ‘The fact that the centre provides these scholarships to students is a great help to families and I am very grateful for the trust that has been placed in me,’ he says. And he adds that receiving this award ‘is a great honour, and it makes me start the degree with the desire to give shape to the creative spirit that we all carry inside us, and thus be able to contribute to this beautiful world of design’.
Oriol Garcia Tomas, Eina Foundation New Access Grant
Oriol studied the technological baccalaureate at the Claver School in Lleida. ‘I chose Eina because I really liked the idea of being able, from the beginning, to experience the different mentions of design in order to be able to specialise later,’ he comments.
‘I am very happy and grateful to have been one of the four chosen for the new Eina scholarships. This opportunity gives me the strength to develop my artistic and technical skills in design to the maximum,’ says Oriol.
Danna Piernas Alcarria, Eina Foundation New Access Grant
Danna studied at the Alexandre Satorras Institute in Mataró. ‘It is a pleasure for me to be able to start my career at Eina. From the first moment I set foot in the university on the open day I knew that this was the place where I wanted to start my training as a designer. I remember that day I was fascinated by the place and the teaching staff, as well as the camaraderie and the desire to learn that the students who were currently studying there transmitted’.
For her: ‘A key aspect that led me to choose Eina is its wide range of programmes and courses that allow students to explore and develop their skills in various areas of design and art. In addition, the collaborative learning environment and the constant support from professors and industry professionals are elements that I consider fundamental to my academic and personal growth’.
She says: ‘Winning the new access scholarship is a huge opportunity and recognition for which I am deeply grateful. This scholarship not only eases the financial burden, but also opens doors to my full range of opportunities. I am motivated and committed to make the most of this opportunity to develop my skills. I thank Eina for giving me this great opportunity and look forward to all that is to come.
Maria Sansone Bergamo, Eina Foundation New Access Grant
Maria completed her training at the European International School of Barcelona two years ago. ‘Before finishing my studies, I had already visited Eina, but after graduating, I took a gap year to work and study Catalan. Later, I started studying at another university at the end for various reasons, but during that year I realised that what I am really passionate about is design, and I know that there is no better place to study it than Eina,’ she assures.
‘Receiving this scholarship was amazing, I honestly never expected to get it when I applied for it. I visited Eina a few days before the application deadline, and Jordi Peraferrer, the coordinator of the Bachelor of Design, told me about the scholarship and encouraged me to give it a try. After applying, I was contacted for an interview, which was already a great honour for me. So, imagine how I felt when I received the email informing me that I had won the scholarship,’ Maria explains.
For her, the scholarship is an opportunity to explore and fully develop her creativity. ‘I am committed to actively contribute to the Eina community and to strive for excellence in my field of study, but I also know that at Eina I am not only looking for excellence but to explore and learn as much knowledge as possible,’ she remarks.
Laura Lange i Fernadez, Eina Foundation Extraordinary Award
Laura did a mixed baccalaureate: the first year she chose social sciences at Vila Romana Institute in La Garriga, and the second year she opted for art at the EART centre in Vic. ‘I chose Eina for many reasons, but the main one was the welcoming community they have managed to create. I was particularly attracted by the sense of belonging and the connection to an environment that transcends the traditional university environment,’ she says.
‘Being the winner of the Foundation's Extraordinary Award is not only a significant financial support, but also a nice token of recognition and appreciation from the school for my involvement and effort during this academic year. I feel fortunate, not only for the recognition itself, but also for the opportunity to share this space with people who have similar interests and motivations,’ she explains.
‘At the end of the day, this award is a testament to my commitment to my studies and the work I have put in to achieve my academic goals, but I know for a fact that many of my peers have also proven themselves worthy of the award. I am sincerely grateful to be part of this environment and to be surrounded by such talented people, as it is a constant source of inspiration and motivates me to keep improving and learning. Finally, the award serves as a reminder of my potential and what I can achieve in the future,’ says Laura.