Created: 2026.01.19. 13:25
Széchenyi István University began 2026 with the most prestigious event in the region’s social calendar: at the University Awards Gala and Media Ball, awards were presented to the institution’s outstanding lecturers, students and alumni, as well as the Media Personality of the Year Award. At the event held on 17 January, star performers, dancers and lively groups filled the Győr City University Hall.
The University Awards Gala and Media Ball offers unforgettable entertainment to its participants year after year. Regarded as the highlight of the ball season, this year’s event was built around the theme of the universe, which was reflected throughout the programme, alongside the music and spectacular visual elements.
In his welcome address, Dr Bálint Filep, President of Széchenyi István University, the host of the event, spoke about how the role of higher education institutions today goes far beyond teaching. “We must create a high-quality and safe environment where young adults – who have only just turned 18 – receive inspiration. Where they learn to think, become familiar with new methods and perspectives. Where they can take part in complex business and technological developments in cooperation with economic and social partners. Yet the greatest achievement is that, while achieving independent successes and perhaps experiencing smaller failures, they find their own path. This is how they can become well-prepared professionals, entrepreneurs and happy people,” he mentioned. He emphasised that, looking around the hall, it was a source of pride for him to see what excellent partners and role models Széchenyi István University has on both the national and international stage. “These collaborations and friendships give our institution its true strength and ability to look to the future. It is thanks to you, as well as to our excellent colleagues and students, that with its community of nearly 20,000 members, Széchenyi István University now ranks among the top five per cent of universities worldwide,” he stated, with a special welcome to two internationally renowned professors, Martha Gray from MIT in the United States, and Srinivasan Madhavi from NTU in Singapore, who were present at the event.
Dr Bálint Filep, President of the host Széchenyi István University (Photo: Máté Dudás)
Imre Pintér-Péntek, Vice-President for General Affairs of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and President of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that cooperation characterises this evening. “The Media Ball was created in the early 2000s when people working in the media thought they would organise a celebration for themselves. From this grew the region’s largest social event, which Széchenyi István University joined three years ago. Thus, the circle has closed: the people of Győr, the economy, the arts and science have merged,” he recalled.
Imre Pintér-Péntek, Vice-President for General Affairs of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Photo: Máté Dudás)
Building on this thought, Attila Turi, President of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, put it as follows: at the ball, distinguished representatives of enterprise, science and education, and the arts meet. “What is it that can bring these three fields onto common ground? Mutual respect – respect for the other’s achievements, outlook and way of thinking,” he said.
Attila Turi, President of the Hungarian Academy of Arts (Photo: Máté Dudás)
At the event, the Student of the Year 2025 Award was presented to Réka Hruby, a student of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, who combines academic excellence with public engagement in an exemplary way. In addition to her outstanding academic results, she can also boast a first-place finish at the Scientific and Artistic Students’ Conference and the National Higher Education Scholarship, while actively shaping community life as a senior member of the University Student Union.
The Lecturer of the Year 2025 Award was given, on the one hand, to Dr Judit Petra Koltay, Associate Professor and Vice-Dean of the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics, who has been a defining figure in the Faculty’s professional and community life for more than two decades. Her teaching is characterised by precision and commitment to students, as evidenced by her successful talent development activities and the outstanding achievements of her mentees. As a leader, she plays a key role in the Faculty’s international accreditation processes, while her scientific publications have also made a lasting contribution in the fields of finance and statistics.
The Lecturer of the Year 2025 Award was also presented to Antal Lukács, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Informatics and Electrical Engineering, who, through his dedicated work and love of mathematics, leads his students to success semester after semester. Thanks to his excellent interpersonal skills and student-centred approach, he makes his subject engaging and understandable.
The International Student of the Year 2025 Award was received by Juliet Adongo Omondi, an MSc in Marketing student and Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder. The young Kenyan student last year won the Stipendium Hungaricum Award of Excellence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Alongside her studies, she takes exemplary part in the University’s community and practical programmes.
The International Lecturer of the Year 2025 Award was presented to Dr László Buics, Associate Professor at the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics. Despite his young age, he has provided professional support for more than 50 scientific student research papers and is currently the supervisor of six doctoral candidates. His teaching and scientific excellence is demonstrated by the fact that in 2023 he won the Hegedűs Gyula Scientific Scholarship, and he also actively contributes to the development of the University’s international programmes.
The Alumni of the Year 2025 was Bettina Szelezsán, a former student of the University’s Vehicle Engineering master’s programme, who laid the foundations of her professional career at the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Vehicle Engineering and as a member of the Arrabona Racing Team student team. She currently works as an engineer at Hyundai Motorsport in Germany. In addition to her international professional successes, she also strengthens her alma mater as a lecturer, sharing her practical experience with students of the English-taught Motorsport Engineering master’s programme.
Zhangeldy Sarzhanov, a former Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship student of Széchenyi István University, received the International Alumni of the Year 2025 Award at the event. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in International Relations and, after his studies, returned to Kazakhstan, where he works as an economic adviser in a ministry and as a national adviser to the FAO – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – in Astana. He speaks six languages and still maintains a close relationship with his former University.
The Media Personality of the Year Award was presented to research astronaut Tibor Kapu, who reached space last year within the framework of the HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) Hungarian Astronaut Programme, 45 years after Bertalan Farkas, the first Hungarian astronaut. He spent eighteen days on the International Space Station, where he tested space research equipment and carried out numerous experiments, and during his mission – at an event organised by Széchenyi István University – he also spoke with primary and secondary school students via live radio connection.
Numerous awards were presented during the evening to those who deserved them (Photo: András Adorján)
The high-spirited evening featured performers such as the Győr Ballet, the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra, Bence Vavra, Heni Dér, Johanna Lengyel – the latest winner of Megasztár – 64U, Hoppáré and the Smile band. The hosts of the evening were well-known television personalities Ramóna Lékai-Kiss and Gábor Gönczi. Distinguished guests at the event included Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Turkey’s Ambassador to Hungary; Edgard Arturo Perez Alvan, Peru’s Ambassador to Hungary; Anshuman Gaur, India’s Ambassador to Hungary; Anita Kiss-Hegyi, State Secretary responsible for cultural relations; Michael Breme, Chairman of the Board of Audi Hungaria; Bertalan Farkas, Hungary’s first astronaut; television presenter Nóra Ördög; actress Enikő Eszenyi; singer Adrien Szekeres; László Fábián, Secretary General of the Hungarian Olympic Committee; and Zoltán Szujó, President of the Hungarian National Motorsport Association.
This year’s ball once again brought unforgettable moments and an excellent atmosphere (Photo: András Adorján, Máté Dudás)
