This year, 29 students from nine Lithuanian higher education institutions have been awarded Presidential Scholarships in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and involvement in research and community activities. Among the recipients is Žygimantas Vareikis, a student at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC), who has been awarded the President Kazys Grinius Scholarship.
The President Kazys Grinius Scholarship is awarded to students studying life sciences, health sciences, veterinary sciences, agricultural sciences and sports. This year, five students from Lithuanian higher education institutions received the scholarship.
Žygimantas Vareikis admits that receiving the scholarship came as a surprise and that it was his bachelor's thesis supervisor who encouraged him to apply.
“I never expected to receive this scholarship. I only applied because my supervisor encouraged me to do so. This scholarship has shown me that it is worth believing in people who believe in you,” says Ž. Vareikis.
According to his thesis supervisor, Bernadeta Kaminskaitė-Mačė, Ž. Vareikis stands out for his curiosity, initiative and motivation. While working on his bachelor's thesis as part of a research group, he actively participates in various activities, willingly takes on new tasks and shows an interest in subjects beyond his own research topic.
“When preparing presentations, he does not limit himself to the basic information expected of a student. Instead, he explores the subject more deeply, looks for interesting angles and additional facts, and tries to approach the topic from different perspectives. This is what makes his presentations so engaging,” explains B. Kaminskaitė-Mačė.
According to his supervisor, this approach to studying and research is also reflected in Ž. Vareikis' achievements.
“I believe it is precisely this curiosity, desire to understand more, initiative and motivation that make Žygimantas an exceptional student. I am confident that his enthusiasm for learning, exploring and discovering new things will help him become an excellent scientist in the future,” she says.
About the Presidential Scholarships
The Presidential Scholarships are awarded annually by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania to recognise outstanding students and honour the memory of Lithuania's presidents.
Candidates are evaluated based on their academic performance, research, social and artistic activities, participation in competitions and research internships, as well as their published scientific work. Nominations are submitted by higher education institutions and assessed by experts from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.
Established in 1995, the Presidential Scholarships are awarded for one academic year. Up to 30 students from Lithuanian higher education institutions may receive these scholarships each year.