Six talented young Hungarian professionals receive the 2011 Andras Felkai Academic Award in the year celebrating the program's 10th anniversary

September 5, 2011

Six talented university graduate professionals received the 2011 Andras Felkai Academic Award, in the year celebrating the 10th anniversary of the program. The awards were handed over by Citibank Hungary's Citi Country Officer Mr. Batara Sianturi, Mr. Tamas Felkai, representing the Judging Committee, and Prof. Dr. Laszlo Palkovics, representing the organization joining the program as a new donor.

Irina Czako, Imre Szilvacsku and Ferenc Szolosi who graduated at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Veronika Kontra and Orsolya Palinko who graduated at the Corvinus University of Budapest and Balazs Kovacs holding a degree from the University of Pecs will use the funds to sponsor their postgraduate studies in the field of economics and finance. Since its foundation the Andras Felkai Academic Award Fund has supported 23 young professionals in their postgraduate studies.

Senior representatives of Citibank Hungary, the Judging Committee and the donors together with the awardees at the 2011 Andras Felkai Academic Award Ceremony on 25 August

The number of awards was increased this year thanks to the generous donation of The Hungarian Automotive Education Foundation, an organization initiated by Academician Professor Laszlo Palkovics. The organization has committed a HUF 1 million donation annually in the next ten years that will allow further three students to receive the Andras Felkai Academic Award every year. The need for financial professionals in the automotive industry is increasing and this program can contribute to making the industry attractive among young talented financial professionals.

Orsolya Palinko, one of this year's awardees said at the award ceremony, “An increasing number of university students and graduates participate every year in this program. I will use the received funds to complete a half-year post graduate course at the Hongkong University of Science and Technology in the Spring of 2012. At this course I will be able to develop new competences and gain knowledge and skills in the field of finance, with special focus on the exotic financial products while I will have the opportunity to get an insight into the local culture and languages of the country. This will certainly help me to enhance my career opportunities and perspectives.”

Batara Sianturi, Citi Country Officer for Hungary said, “This is an important program for us, since by supporting the postgraduate studies of talented university students we can also contribute to the enrichment of the Hungarian economic and financial sector with highly qualified professionals who display personal qualities similar to those of Andras Felkai, including his open-minded, positive attitude, competence, leadership and international outlook.”

In March 2002 Citibank Hungary, together with the Foundation for Developing Financial Culture nonprofit organization, co-founded the Andras Felkai Academic Award as a tribute to Andras Felkai, a highly trained professional and a prominent and respected member of the Hungarian financial sector, who passed away in a tragic accident. In addition to Citibank Hungary, the family of Andras Felkai, several financial institutions and individual donors have also contributed to the fund.

The annual award, which is paid from the interest of the fund, supports the studies of talented students and young professionals selected by the Judging Committee from the applicants based on developed evaluation criteria.