Ricardo Martínez, honorary president of the association opened the event, which was held at UCAM, with these words. “We value a lot the human aspect, beyond the financial one, and we reward people who has an important career, who are self-made people who created a trajectory for themselves based on daily effort, and that is why in 2016 we recognised  José Luis Mendoza. Furthermore, we name as honorary member the people we admire, who are a close model for us, who help us on a daily basis, which is why we are appointing him and we give him the golden shield of our association”, said Jordi Paniello, president of AIF.

The event saw the participation of a delegation of this association, led by Ricardo Martínez and Jordi Paniello; the members of the Governing Board of UCAM and of the board of San Antonio University Foundation; Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE); Vicente del Bosque, World and European champion of the Spanish football selection; Antonia González, president of Roldán Fútbol Sala Femenino, as well as of José Luis Mendoza’s wife and children.

Ricardo Martínez dedicated some moving words to the president of UCAM: “I know what Los Jerónimos was before and I know what it is now, thanks to you, who are bringing the brands of Murcia and of Spain to the ends of the world”- “This university is widely recognised at an international level, more than in Murcia; but do not worry, José Luis, because envy is actually wrongly-conceived admiration”, he concluded.

International recognition

Alejandro Blanco, president of COE, assured that “you had a dream, which consisted in creating this university, that according to me is the most important one in the world; you have a philosophy of life and you build your own path to train and teach values”. Vicente del Bosque, former manager of the Spanish National football team and who received a Doctor Honoris Causa degree by UCAM highlighted that “this homage is totally deserved; it is an honour for me to participate in this event and congratulate José Luis for this recognition”. Throughout the act, the t-shirts of the Spanish Selection and of Real Madrid with the dedication of their presidents, Luis Rubiales and Florentino Pérez, were delivered as well.

The president assures, in his intervention, that “I can only say thank you for the celebration of this event, which recognises the work that we carry out in this university, which has 3.812 workers, including athletes, schools and other services” and he reminded that, ever since its foundation, “it has given 240 million Euro to charities and 140 million to research”. “What a wonderful University God gave us. With a lot of suffering, that is for sure, but that is how God’s works must be”, he said.