The auditorium of the Gandia Campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) was filled for the ninth edition of 'Magistrales'. This annual event by the UPV pays tribute to secondary school teachers who, according to students, have transformed their lives through their vocation, effort, and generosity. This year, the event was held at the Gandia campus for the first time, as it is where the UPV offers the Master's Degree in Secondary Education Teaching.
In this edition, the UPV selected 13 women and 12 men, based on a survey conducted among first-year students. It is the students themselves who recommend a teacher who has made a significant impact due to their exceptional abilities, dedication, patience, involvement, and skill in motivating students. Over its nine editions, the UPV has recognized a total of 225 teachers from 160 educational centers across the Valencian Community.
The awarded teachers come from various parts of the Valencian Community, including Sedaví, Godella, Albaida, Calpe, Oliva, Betxí, Alcoy, La Vall d’Uixó, and Vilamarxant. The majority of the honorees are experts in technical subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Technical Drawing, while a few teach Biology, Plastic Arts, Physical Education, Valencian, Accounting, and Business and Business Model Design. There are also teachers from public, subsidized, and private schools, as well as from baccalaureate and vocational training programs.
“"Educating is honestly telling a student: you can do better. Because the student not only needs understanding; they also need limits, role models, rigor, and, above all, truth."
On behalf of the honorees, Francesc Sanfélix, from the IES María Ibars in Dénia, advocated for the value of effort, perseverance, and resilience. He pointed out that "we have often confused educating with overprotecting," and stressed that "there is no learning without effort, nor growth without discomfort." Sanfélix recalled the importance of being demanding and stated that "educating is honestly telling a student: you can do better." He emphasized that students need not only understanding but also limits, role models, rigor, and truth.
“"You manage to make a 17-year-old student stop looking at the clock waiting for the bell, and start looking at their own future with ambition."
For his part, Iván Sevilla, a student of the Degree in Computer Engineering at the UPV, thanked the teachers for their fundamental role. "The spark that made us believe we could be here today was born in your classrooms," he declared. Sevilla highlighted that teachers manage to make students "stop looking at the clock waiting for the bell to ring, and start looking at their own future with ambition." He thanked them for their patience and their ability to see students' potential.
“"The Polytechnic University of Valencia is what it is thanks to its students, and those students have been trained and inspired by you. For all this, thank you. Nothing, nothing is possible without the previous stages."
The rector of the UPV, José E. Capilla, presided over the event and emphasized the importance of teachers in student training. "The Polytechnic University of Valencia is what it is thanks to its students, and those students have been trained and inspired by you," he stated, remarking that "nothing is possible without the previous stages."
