The LSE Alumni Association in Colombia held its Fourth National Meeting on November 30th at the residence of the UK Ambassador in Bogota. The event included a video by the LSE Director, Dame Minouche Shafik, who thanked the alumni for their support to the LSE and to the ambassador, Dr Peter Tibber.
Ms Beatriz Lorenzo of LSE commented, “This is a remarkable event and it is a real pleasure to be here this evening. The Association is constantly innovating and the new Conocimiento prize is a fantastic idea. LSE is very grateful for the activities of the Association and looks forward to further collaboration in the future.”
Highlights of the event included an award to Raul Eduardo Sanchez Sanchez for his work as the outgoing president of the Alumni Association, to Leonardo Villar, an LSE alumnus and Executive Director of Fedesarrollo, to Felipe Jaramillo, President of ProColombia, for his public service, to Ms Carmen Sanabria Gómez for her private service and to Dr Carlos Humberto Ortíz Quevedo for his academic service.
A special award was presented to Luis Carlos Sarmiento by the new president of the Alumni Association, Hernan Cadavid, in recognition of his support to Colfuturo and the scholarships that have benefited nearly 2.500 Colombian students to study in the U.K. For LSE specifically, over two-thirds of all Colombian students have received grants for their studies. Speaking of the award, Hernan Cadavid said: “Mr Sarmiento has been a leading figure of Colfuturo. Not only through his economic support that continuously benefits thousands of Colombians to study abroad, and at the LSE, but also as President of the Board of Directors from 1994 to 2016”.
Articles marking the award appeared in El Tiempo and Semana newspapers.