The Francisco de Vitoria Residential College officially kicked off the academic year with an event that emphasized the meaning of the college experience and the responsibility that comes with being part of a community.
Under the slogan “Feet on the ground, eyes on the sky”, the event invited the students to begin the school year with a dual perspective: committed to the concrete reality around them and, at the same time, open to reflecting on the horizon and the meaning of their education.
A College Education Geared Toward a Fulfilling Life
The day began with a Mass celebrated in the Chapel of Wisdom at Francisco de Vitoria University, presided over by the chaplain of the College of Higher Education, Fr. Julio Muñoz, LC.
Later, the Aula Magna hosted the academic ceremony, presided over by Fernando Viñado, UFV’s Vice Rector for Students and Holistic Education, who was accompanied by José Carlos Villamuelas, director of the Francisco de Vitoria Residence Hall; Father Julio, L.C.; Carola Díaz de Lope-Díaz, director of COR UFV, and José Alberto Rosas, associate director of education. One of the highlights was the keynote lecture delivered by Carola Díaz de Lope-Díaz, titled Path and Horizon: University Education for a Fulfilling Life.
The presentation thus brought into sharp focus one of the central questions underlying the Colegio Mayor’s educational mission: how to make the most of one’s college years not only to acquire knowledge, but also to learn how to guide one’s own decisions and responsibly embrace the life path that each student is called to build.
Community, Responsibility, and Service
The Opening Ceremony also served to highlight the addition of new responsibilities within the student body. During the ceremony, scholarships were awarded to the new members of the professional staff, and the students who will assume representative and service roles on the Student Council this academic year formalized their commitment.
These responsibilities will be carried out in areas related to the academic and community life of the Colegio Mayor, ranging from social engagement and culture to sports, pastoral care, and education.
The event concluded with speeches by university officials and a performance of Gaudeamus Igitur, which officially marked the opening of the academic year. Afterward, the college community gathered for a get-together on the esplanade of Francisco de Vitoria University.
