The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) held an event to recognize students who obtained the most outstanding grades in the recent University Access Exam (PAU). Rector Lluís Serra and Vice-Rector for Students David Sánchez congratulated the young individuals for their achievements, the result of years of work, and extended their gratitude to families and teachers for their support.
Among those honored are Catalina Pimentel, Rafael Estupiñán, and Laura Falcón, who achieved the top three overall scores in the province of Las Palmas. These students agree that success stems not from last-minute preparation, but from consistent effort throughout their Baccalaureate studies. Catalina Pimentel, a student from Claret, will pursue Renewable Energy Engineering, while Laura Falcón, from IES Politécnico de Las Palmas, is opting for Computer Engineering at ULPGC. Rafael Estupiñán, from IES Playa de Arinaga, is still considering options related to languages and translation.
ULPGC reported that a total of 16 students (eleven female and five male) achieved the highest grades across the three islands of the Las Palmas province. Of these, twelve studied at public institutions and four at private centers. In total, 91.6% of the over 4,200 students who took the ordinary PAU in the province passed, a one percentage point decrease from the previous year's examination.
The honored students also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between study and personal life. Laura Falcón, for instance, used the violin and her conservatory studies as a way to disconnect from academic pressure, which forced her to organize her time more effectively. They acknowledged moments of doubt and stress, particularly during their second year of Baccalaureate, but highlighted family support as a crucial pillar in overcoming difficulties.
The Mathematics II exam was one of the tests that caused the most caution for Catalina and Laura, both from the technology and science branch. For Rafael, a humanities student, the Spanish Language and Latin subjects were the ones that generated the most uncertainty. With their sights set on university, they aim to continue their trajectory of academic excellence.
The event concluded with the presentation of institutional gifts by ULPGC, such as pens and notebooks, as an incentive for students to choose the Gran Canarian public university for their further education.
